134 Memorándum on tlie great flood of the river Indus. [No. 2, 



3. According to accounts of the cataclysm of 1841 the river 

 Indus vvas observed to be unusually low in December 1840 and Janu- 

 ary 1841 at Attok and lower still in February and March. If tbat 

 was the case it would point to the damming up of something tbat 

 contributed more water than the head of the Shayok possibly could. 

 Indeed when the channel was open but little water could descend 

 during December and January from such a cold tract as tbat of the 

 Shayok above Sassar, when snow only falls and when the melting 

 of the glaciers must have almost ceased. Moreover the área drained 

 by the Shayok at Sassar is comparatively speaking insignificant. 



It is a question whether it was not simply a matter of gossip 

 as to the Indus having been unusually low* both in 1841 and in 

 1S58. In the latter case the fact is very doubtful. People on the 

 river would naturally say " we noticed tbat it was very low, &c." 



It would require a very careful registration of the height of the 

 river for several years in order to come to any trustworthy conclusión 

 as to whether the Indus was at any period lower or higher than the 

 average. 



If some sort of daily register was kept at Attok light might possibly 

 be thrown upon any future cataclysm tbat may occur. Observations 

 should be made as to the heightf giving the daily máximum and mini* 

 mum heights and noting the time, velocity, temperature, colour, &c. of 

 the water with general remarks on the weather. 



As to getting timely warning of the damming up of the Indus 

 or any of its tributarles, the Lieut.-Governor of the Punjab will I 

 have no doubt be able to get the necessary information from the 

 Máharájah's oíncials if it arises in the Máharájah's territories. 

 Should it however arise in the Gilgit river or its tributarles, there is 

 no hope of getting any, as I have explained in my memorándum on 

 the flood. As far as the Máharájah's territories are concerned I 



* The Indus is, I believe, generally very low in December and January. 



f The height to be referred to some permanent bench rnark not hable to 

 destruction. 



All the rivers in the Punjab have a tide or daily máximum and minimum 

 height in the mountains caused by the difference between the amount of snow 

 melted during the night and during the day. 



