140 STATISTICAL SKETCH 



Chakata district, near the Bhamouri pass. The first, which is the largest, mea- 

 sures, one mile in length and three quarters of a mile in breadth. The water of 

 this and other lakes is perfectly clear, being the produce of internal springs, and 

 the depth in the centre is represented as being exceedingly great. The Hima- 

 laya range also presents several lakes, which are fed from the melted snow. 



The bases of the mountains are invariably separated from each other 

 by streams of greater or less magnitude, formed principally by the innume- 

 rable springs and fountains which pour down on each side. Of these the 

 principal, entitled to the rank of rivers, commencing from the N. W., are the 

 Kali, or Mandakmi, the Bishengangat the Dull, the Nandaki?2i, and the 

 Pindar, all rising in the Himalaya, and forming, after a junction with each 

 other, the united stream of the Alalmnanda or Ganges, which river, in its 

 course throughout the province, from the depth and impetuosity of its cur- 

 rent, is no where fordable. To the east, the Kalif the Dhauli, the Gauriy 

 the Ramganga, and the Sarju, having also their origin in their snowy range, 

 form, by their junction, the Sarda; or Gogra, and in addition to these, are the 

 Ramganga, two Nyars, the Kosilla, the Suab, the Gourmati, the Ladhia, and 

 the Ballia, all of which derive their source from springs in the interior of 

 the province. The small Nullas are extremely numerous, but do not merit 

 particular detail. 



The hill rivers in their descent to the plains, immediately on entering 

 the Tarai, lose a considerable portion of their body of water, and, in numerous 

 instances, totally disappear at that point, during the hot and cold season, when 

 the bed of the river continues perfectly dry for the space of nine to ten miles, 

 after which it again fills j while at the same distance from the hills, numerous 

 other petty nullahs are formed by the copious springs which gush out of the 

 earth. These phenomena may be accounted for by the nature of the soil at 

 the foot of the hills, which consists of a deep bed of alluvial shino-le. 



