1849.] • from Chikuldah to Baroach. 479 



" The right hand channel is dangerous from not being more than 18 

 feet wide, with pointed, projecting rocks on either hand. In one place 

 the waves here too were very high. Almost a direct fall. The water 

 several feet deep. The coal which was landed was carried over the 

 rocks for some 500 yards." 



Put up on the rocks on the right bank, a little below the village of 

 Bheetara and the rapids, the boatmen being knocked up and it being late. 

 Distance traversed in the day, 2 miles by guess. 



August 1st. — The river had fallen about 2 feet since the preceding 

 evening. Leaving the rest of the boats moored, Capt. Fenwick pro- 

 ceeded in his boat to examine the passage below, which appeared to be 

 full of rocks and rapids. Rocks and rapids and usual obstacles met 

 with for about 2\ miles, and then an extremely bad barrier and rapid at 

 Sirkurree. Half the day spent in bringing the boats over. 



At \ mile from Silakda, where they put to, another extremely diffi- 

 cult barrier Nanka ghat. "The boatmen compared it to Sahesur- 

 darah. I examined the largest channel, which is in the centre, in my 

 boat, and found it fearfully obstructed with rocks, rapids, rushing cur- 

 rent and their attendant perils ; waves peculiarly high, and little whirl- 

 pools or eddies : the water swelling and curving over the rocks and 

 then falling headlong into a deep trough. All this extends for \ mile. 

 Rewa Sunkur (the largest boat) was dashed against a rock and nearly 

 lost. Luckily none of the laden boats came down by this channel. 

 Signals were made in time to prevent them. They took to the left 

 bank and came through another passage along the shore. Shallow, 

 with rocks and waves, but nothing compared to the other." 



Distance gone in the day 5^ miles by guess. 



August 2nd. — The whole distance of six miles traversed on this day 

 was characterized by serious impediments, several of which were hap" 

 pily surmounted without mishap, but at one mile from Hanep they 

 were not so fortunate. On examining Captain Fenwick found that the 

 left hand channel was not practicable for laden boats, and the right was 

 selected. " To prepare for accidents," Captain Fenwick writes, " I 

 had my boat ready below the rapid in the worst place. Ropes could 

 not be used. There is a whirlpool under the fall or rapid. One of the 

 laden boats, first coming down, struck on the rock in the middle and 

 head of the channel, but got off and was enabled to reach the shore 



