596 Note on the transport of coal from the [June, 



At Dharee the coal was shipped, Captain Fenwick started on the 5th 

 of April in a small boat with three men and reached Mundlaisir on the 

 9th ; the coal came down in separate batches on boats of various sizes, 

 the largest carrying 2\ manees, equal to 30 Bengal maunds. The 

 whole of the coal, about 400 maunds, reached the Sahesurdarrah barrier 

 and falls, below Mundlaisir, the first serious obstacle, on the 14th, 

 having been 8 whole hours in transit. 



The following remarks explain the nature of the navigation. After 

 leaving Dharee the stream for a mile is narrow and confined between 

 high perpendicular rocks, when the river is very full whirlpools are 

 formed, but at this season the water was shallow. From Dharee to 

 Sillana, about 9f miles, no particular difficulty was met with ; from 

 Sillana to Alliagan, about 12^ miles, two difficult channels were en- 

 countered at Bhyroopuran, and at Bhaleran-tur (tur denotes rapids 

 and shallows) through which the laden boats were passed with much 

 labour ; from Alliagan to Murdana Ghat, about 7f miles, several bad 

 places occur, the worst being Surkurree-tur ; from Murdana Ghat to 

 Mundlaisir, 1 2 miles, the whole way is obstructed by rocks, the water 

 in several places very shallow, but the navigation not particularly 

 dangerous ; from Mundlaisir to the top of the Sahesurdarrah falls, 4^ 

 miles, the river is quite clear and deep. The falls and rapids at Sahesur- 

 darrah are impracticable for laden boats ; empty ones are let down with 

 considerable difficulty, with the help of ropes and bamboo poles. 



It was necessary to take the coal over the rocks for about 600 yards 

 in bags on men's shoulders, and re-ship it at the bottom of the rapids. 



This may be termed the second division of the trip, and here there 

 should be a second store or depot on the high bank, which affords a 

 favorable site. 



On the 1 6th April Captain Fenwick left Sahesurdarrah with a fleet 

 of 15 boats, the coal being distributed among them according to their 

 sizes, — 30 maunds was the largest cargo. 



Between Sahesurdarrah and Akbarpore* (5 miles) the chief obstacle 

 met with was at Manawapat-tur ; the boats were half emptied and 

 eased down the rapids with ropes, the villagers readily assisting and 

 holding on the ropes. The coal was carried over the rocks by the 

 boatmen. 



* The ferry of the Agra and Bombay road. 



