1110 Report on a Passage made on the Nurbudda River. [Nov. 



But with the raft, the waves washing in filled the canoes, and swamped 

 them, and we had to swim for it. Whereas the flat bottomed boat 

 passed without trouble ; nevertheless, it is a place that would always re- 

 quire care, yet, as it become known, I have little doubt it would be 

 scarcely thought of. 



11th. As far as Soolpan, 27 miles from Haump, the river is, as I 

 have described it. About 6 miles below Soolpan are the Mookree falls, 

 These being always mentioned as nearly, if not totally insurmountable, 

 I examined carefully. The river at its ordinary rainy height, about 

 25 feet above hot weather mark, covers the rapids entirely, and we 

 shot past them with little trouble. But when the river is low, there is a 

 fall of 8 or 10 feet. Now all the people spoke of the existence of a 

 backwater, by which, as at the Suheshur Dharrah, I can conceive no 

 obstacle to boats passing either up or down. Moreover, from my own 

 inquiries, and as mentioned by Lieut. Elwan, of the Hon. Company's 

 Marine (vide his report) it seems that small boats do actually uow 

 ascend, and carry Kupra-kerana, and salt to Haump, whence they re- 

 turn with timber. Lieut. Elwan says that toonies drawing 3 feet 

 water go up, but my informants only spoke of canoes, which draw 

 when loaded 6 inches. However, all whom I conversed with agreed 

 that nothing exists to prevent large boats from going up. With Mokree 

 end the hills and therefore the difficulties, from thence to Telluckwara, 

 about 20 miles, is plain sailing, and below that boats of large size come 

 up constantly. 



12th. On carefully considering the character of the river, I may, 

 I think, venture an opinion that it would take very little to render it 

 navigable, in the following manner ; although I should like to see it 

 as well in the fair season, when it is low, so as to leave no room for 

 doubt, as during my voyage it was swollen. 



13th. At the Suheshur Dharra, the Hirn Phal, and Mokree, perhaps 

 also at the Beytala Ghat, a road along the bank might be formed, for 

 which the nature of the bank offers great facilities. There would be 

 objections to the plan chiefly on account of the trouble and delay of 

 unloading and reloading above and below ; but when the difference of 

 expense between a road and locks is considered, I think the former 

 will be considered preferable. Moreover, by it the boatmen on the 

 river would only have to work in their respective districts. The Bur- 



