478 Journal of a passage down the Nerbudda, [May, 



bank, where the falls and rapids were very bad. " The river studded 

 with low rocks, from bank to bank, and apparently no passage. The 

 cargo of the large boat was here increased by 4 maunds, (taken out of 

 the double boat, making her cargo 5 marries and 10 maunds.) Dis- 

 tance traversed 20 miles by guess. Put to on rocks on the left bank 

 opposite to Bheetara, 



July 3lst. — At \ mile distant " a strong current. The boats let down 

 with ropes, brushing along the sides of perpendicular precipices, 20 or 

 30 feet high, along the left bank. The current rushing towards the 

 barrier. This barrier, or ridge of rocks, extends for about 300 yards, 

 studded with rocks, some just above the water, some under, no prac- 

 ticable channel. The boats were let down with ropes and by the hand, 

 knocking and bumping on the rocks the whole way, and in some places 

 dragged over. Twenty bags were taken out of Rewa Sunkur (the large 

 boat) and carried over the rocks for about 150 yards. It and the double 

 boat were take over with much labour and difficulty, and we did not get 

 over the work before 12 o'clock. This passage is very tedious, but not 

 so dangerous or attended with the same risk as in that below the 

 Hirunphal for about 6 miles. There ropes cannot be used, nor punting 

 be resorted to, and the oars are not powerful enough to command the 

 boats through the winding channels, the current rushing on rocks on 

 all hands." For half a mile, pretty good and then the " Bey tana 

 Ghat barrier. Rapids and falls. Put to on the right bank to examine 

 them. Forbidding and fearful. The main stream on the left-hand, 

 very bad indeed for 300 yards. High waves. Almost a direct fall : 

 carried my boat over with 4 of the best boatmen to test it. The boat 

 nearly filled. The laden boats could not have been taken down by this 

 channel. Examined a narrow passage between rocks for 300 yards on 

 the right bank. This is bad too, but there is no other ; it is about 18 

 feet wide." 



All the Chikuldah boats were lightened by 12 maunds each. Rewa 

 Sunkur (the large boat) 13 maunds, and the double boat 24 maunds. 

 The two latter and two of the largest and best Chikuldah boats were 

 taken down the left or main channel and four of the latter by the nar- 

 row one. The latter were managed with bamboos, the former with 

 oars and paddles. Ropes cannot be used here. All shipped in water, 

 and the double boat, as usual, a good deal. 



