224 The Flooding of tlw Indus. [No. 3. 



The Maha Raja's Officers in the Fort of Boonjee have on my 

 applications, sent back several replies said to be from the best in- 

 formation, that the river (above Chilass) is nowhere impeded, but is 

 rolling on with its accustomed volume ; the latest report is of 8th 

 June, 1859 (28th Jait, 1916). Those whom I have seen, inhabitants 

 of that country, say the same ; the two men of Nuggur, whom I 

 have named above, only add that the bed of the Hoonza is still some- 

 what encumbered by remaining rocks, and that a guard is maintained 

 there by the Nuggur Raja to prevent the crossing of the hostile people 

 of Hoonza by throwing over a bridge of rope or timber. Nasir Shah 

 of Bimbhul, the man of the Akazye tribe whose information convey- 

 ed to the Khan of Umb proved so true — although he is very far from 

 the spot — now writes that during last April there was general alarm 

 of the flood coming anew, and all people removed their property ; 

 but that they have now brought it back, although no certain inform- 

 ation has come, one way or the other. 



My opinion is, that there is now no real cause of apprehension ; 

 it is only natural that the rumour should be revived — it was so 

 after 1841 ; but the certainty is hard of attainment in a country 

 so cut off by difficulties, political and geographical — and beset with so 

 much disunion and enmity and ignorance and jealousy and entire 

 disregard of all but immediate interests. 



As regards the removal of the obstacle (when such an accident 

 may again occur) by our scientific efforts, I think it is impracticable ; 

 the labour of removing such vast masses of mountains, or of glaciers, 

 would be immense ; and as our motives would not be understood, the 

 party would require the protection of an army if in the direction of 

 Gilgit. None of the Maha Raja's people even can venture there. 

 An expedition against Raja Gohraman is now being prepared. 



Although it is somewhat beyond the limits of the present enquiry, 

 I have taken advantage of the present occasion to endeavour to 

 make sure of the site of the obstruction of 1841, A. D. 



Captain Alexander Cunningham places it 280 miles above Iscardo, 

 near the head of the Sl^ok branch of the Indus, about half way 

 in a distance of 50 miles, along which the road to Yarkund was said 

 to be inaccessible, when he and Captain Strachey and Dr. Thomson 

 visited Ladakh in 1847 ; but none of these officers saw the spot thus 

 indicated. 



