IRRIGATION IN UPPER INDIA. 141 
in the width of the khadir are frequent and abrupt. For instance, 
in the case of the Sutlej, in a length of less than 40 miles, the khadir 
widens out from less than a mile to more than 16 miles, 
In 18 isiti 
m, I witnessed a striking instance of the instability of 
Indian river beds. The Sutlej at the time of my visit was flowi 
over a considerable portion of what had been the battle-field, and 
partially destroyed cemetery on the bank showed that at no very 
distant period the village had been in imminent danger of being 
Swept away. 
A remarkable point in connection with the rivers is that the 
highest. Unfortunately there are very few lakes to exercise & 
their level, and utilize the flood-waters for the irrigation of such 
Works of the second class now “inundation 
> . ‘ da over- ‘ 
come in its construction, in the area of land irrigated, and in the 
sie nm, in the area gi nd in t 
‘Mantity wy Of water it di stands first among the irrigation 
“mals of the world, The head of the canal is beside the sacred 
