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



been under an average, Captain Fenwick left Chikulda with about 400 

 maunds of coal on 8 boats. Captain Fenwick led the fleet, and a spare 

 boat with a native writer, brought up the rear ; to the Harunphal, 1 3 

 miles, the fleet dropt down easily, not a rock or a ripple to be seen, and 

 passed the Bhore Kheeree rapids, extending for about 5 miles, under 

 great apprehension from numerous half sunken rocks, and the current 

 running with great rapidity. At the mouth of this channel one of the 

 boats was dashed on a rock and instantly turned over ; nothing more 

 was seen of it until the next day, when it was found broken and swamp- 

 ed. The boatmen swam to the shore ; 38 maunds of coal were lost* 

 This was the first casualty ; the boatmen were alarmed, it however 

 served to render them more cautious. 



The fleet proceeded on the 30th July, and passed first through a 

 channel 30 feet wide at Kulakurar, the current rushing with great 

 force, then the Dussana rapids, which were rather dangerous — the boats 

 shipping water from the high waves to Bhutara, which place was reached 

 without any damage. Total distance 20 miles. 



On the 3 1 st, for about -J- mile the boats were eased down with ropes 

 under high precipitous clifts, over shallow rocks. The passage of the 

 Bhutara rapid, 2\ miles, occupied the day. The boats were first light- 

 ened and then passed down by two distinct channels — that on the left 

 being the most formidable. 



On the 1st August, at two miles below Bhutara the fleet passed 

 through the Hailkurree Gap, the current not strong, between perpendi- 

 cular cliffs for half a mile, to the Serkuree shoal and rapids, extending 

 from bank to bank, leading to the formidable Noukoghat — one of the 

 worst places in the river, in getting through which some of the boats 

 had a very narrow escape. The progress this day was only b\ miles. 



On the 2nd, about a mile above Hanep two of the boats became 

 unmanageable in the high waves of a rapid and were swamped, with 6 1 

 maunds of coal ; the boatmen saved themselves by swimming. This is 

 a very difficult part of the river, and about 6 miles of progress was only 

 made this day. The distance from Chikuldah Hanp is computed to be 

 51^ miles. 



On the 3d, shortly after leaving Hanep, is the narrow and dangerous 

 channel of Bhallagoree running between high precipitous rocks, and 

 extending for about 3 miles, and at the outlet a very formidable whirl- 



