1859.] The Flooding of the Indus. 221 



He (Khuzana) did not know who this Raja was, or where he ruled ; 

 he believed he was somewhere "high up the river?''* 



Jehandad Khan had died in the interim, but his minister Mahamud 

 Ruffahn stated that the Khan had received no message or writing 

 from any Raja, and no more authentic account, in support of com- 

 mon rumour, than a letter from " Nasir Shah" of the Akazye tribe, 

 brother of Gholam Khan, one of the Khan's servants, which contained 

 no particulars beyond the information of persons coming "from above" 

 that the river was somewhere closed. The Khan, however, took the 

 precaution to remove his effects from the river's edge to Dogana. He 

 had no means of acquiring certain information, having no communi- 

 cation with the Chiefs above ; but in 1840-41, just before the former 

 great flood, a writing on the bark of the birch tree (bhoj putta) was 

 sent down the river from above as a warning ; it was not known from 

 whence ; but was said to come from a tribe of some name like 

 " Hoodur."f It conjured all men, Hindoo and Musulman, to fly from 

 the river's side, and w r as couched in general terms." 



I then addressed Syud Umran of Sultanuh on the Indus, a man of 

 great repute, as the brother of Syud Ukbur Badshah of Swat, asking 

 him, if he had received intimation of the recent flood of 1858. He 

 answered that he had received none in this instance ; but that, in 1841 

 Syud Ukbur had received several communications from priests (Ool- 

 mah) of Gilgit. 



Hence then, as to the writing sent down from somewhere near the 

 site of the barrier of 1841, there is no doubt, it is universally spoken 

 of in Huzara ; and, since I have been in Cashmere, I have learnt that 

 Raja "Kurreem Khan" of Gilgit sent a warning written on hark 

 to the inhabitants of the plains, the bark being used to convey greater 

 credit. But as regards the late inundation of 1858, no such com- 

 munication from the spot seems to have been made. 



* Gohr Aman is the Raja of Yussim who lately defeated the Garrison of Maha 

 Eaja Golab Singh in Gilgit, deposed the protected Raja of Gilgit (a minor,) 

 and seized his country. He is chiefly known from his custom of selling men as 

 slaves or exchanging them for dogs. 



f There is said to be a village named " Hoodur" under Gilgit on the borders 

 of Chilass on the right bank of the Indus ; though it does not appear in the 

 map. 



