1844.] the Kumaon and Rohilcund Turaee. 913 



in the river beds, and the rushing out of the numerous springs being 

 determined by the thinning out of the porous gravelly detritus, and 

 the approach of the clay, or impervious stratum to the surface, thus : 



N. 

 S. Sandstone Hills. 



-of reappearance of water 

 Waterless Forest. 



X 



Clay. Point of disappearance 



of water. 



The Lower Bhabur, or special Terrai, succeeds, and reflection and 

 Lower Terrai. observation both shew, that if left to itself, this region 

 must become one of swamps and malaria, and only partial cultivation ; 

 whereas, if carefully watched, its evils of climate may be vastly 

 amended, and its agriculture be only limited by its amount of popula- 

 tion. A careful guidance of the waters from their several sources 

 would prevent the formation of the swamps on the lower edge of the 

 forest. The rapid slope of the country causes the streams to push 

 along the superficial gravel mixed with trees and vegetable mould, and 

 thus to form at last an obstruction a-head of themselves. This causes 

 numerous windings of the streams, and at every corner a back water 

 swamp is produced, which would have had no existence, if the current 

 had been carefully conducted, or if the obstructions in its course had been 

 removed, or an opening through them been made. In the same manner 

 the proper placing of the several bunds on the streams, and a proper 

 attention to outlets of canals thus formed, would prevent the evils now 

 arising from embankments which enrich one village, or set of villages, 

 at the expense of the whole neighbourhood ; and from water-escapes, 

 which irregularly flood all the adjacent lands, and create grass koon- 

 duls and swamps for tigers, deer, and hogs, while they drive out the 

 human inhabitant. 



These are common illustrations, and are sufficient to prove my argu- 

 ment for the absolute necessity of official and even scientific attention 

 being paid to the physical character of the Lower Terrai, the addition- 

 al benefits of a good revenue management, and a good police being, 



