228 The Flooding of the Indus. [No. 3. 



It seems then, from what has happened within our knowledge 

 and from the character of the many tributaries of the Indus, and of 

 the mountains, and rocks and glaciers which confine and check their 

 course, that these accidents may often occur, and in many different 

 places ; it must always be exceedingly difficult to obtain accurate 

 and timety information, and scarcely possible always to determine 

 the exact place, but as I believe that a stoppage of any tributary 

 above Iskardo or at least Ladakh, would hardly affect our territories 

 on the Indus, and as the Maha Raja of Cashmere lias posts along the 

 main river, I think that information may always be had through 

 Cashmere, the authorities being enjoined particularly to observe the 

 river, and in the event of any suspicious fall or rise to communicate 

 with Gilgit, Nuggur, Yussun, Hoonza and other countries beyond 

 their border, with some parties in which, the stronger or the weaker, 

 they have generally some relations.* 



The Deputy Commissioner of Huzara, in the event of a rumour, 

 should endeavour to obtain intelligence from Chilass and from Koli 

 and Palus in the Kohistan country, which may best be managed 

 through the Syuds of Khagan. The Khan of Umb also should 

 endeavour to cultivate some acquaintance with influential men, or 

 Moollahs of the Kohistan, and Gilgit country, and the Akhoonzada 

 of Kotah in Yusoofzye, who has great religious influence, is also a 

 man likely to acquire the best information, if the several chiefs near 

 Indus who are his votaries will press the matter on his attention, as 

 it has now been proved that these calamities may occur at any time. 



A little exertion will generate a valuable intercourse, and dispel 

 the ignorance and marvellous indifference which now exists, and 

 almost peoples with " anthropophagi" the " upper regions" of the 

 Indus. 



* I may add to the difficulties of communication, that for half the year 

 the passes in the mountains are closed by snow, and intercourse is nearly impos- 

 sible. 



