480 Journal of a passage down the Nerbudda, • [May, 



and land the coal before the boat filled. Shortly afterwards two boats, 

 although they avoided the rock, were dragged into the rapid and waves, 

 swamped and went down bodily, nothing more seen of them then. 

 Some of the boatmen swam ashore, some were picked up by my boat* 

 One young man got into the whirlpool and I gave him up for lost* 

 Fortunately he got hold of one oar, and being an expert swimmer, land- 

 ed himself low down. One of the two latter boats being under water 

 for some time, rose again to the surface, almost erect, in the centre of 

 the whirlpool, and was brought to land. All this happened in the even- 

 ing about 1 mile above Hanep." 61 maunds of coal were lost on this 

 occasion, several of the boatmen and bildars losing every thing they 

 had. 



August 3rd, — Before starting "the two boats (which had been 

 damaged) were repaired ; 1 3 bags of coal put on the small one and 23 

 bags on the other, and 7 bags were taken in my boat. The Saugor, 

 a double boat, was also considerably lightened. At Bhallagooree, a 

 very narrow passage, high rocks on each hand, a very bad and dan, 

 gerous whirlpool ; very high waves ; some of the boats had very narrow 

 escapes." Similar difficulties were found in the whole of this day's voy- 

 age, which was calculated at 8f miles. 



August 4th. — Left below Peepulchope and went about 14 miles to 

 Soolpan, about 5 miles from which place Capt. Fenwick's boat had a 

 narrow escape — "A laden boat would have gone down." At a short 

 distance below this almost all the boats got into a formidable whirlpool, 

 in which " they were taken round and round for several times ; dashed 

 against each other and got jammed in the vortex for a minute or two." 

 Some very bad rocks, a rapid and whirlpools near Soolpan. 



August 5th. — To Emrio, on the right bank, about 10^ miles. At 

 the Mokree barrier, "rocks all over and across the river." After 

 passing the village, a large rock island in the middle of the river. " My 

 boat took the left channel, which proved to be very bad and dangerous, 

 whirlpools, waves, strong current, &c. All very formidable. We thought 

 ourselves in peril for a while. The boat was whirled and spun round 

 and round, nearly filled by the waves, and was dragged towards some 

 rocks on the right hand and just escaped by a few feet from being 

 dashed to pieces. The boatmen, especially Bholoo, shewed great energy 

 and presence of mind, and expertness on this occasion. His coolness 



