1831.] 
165 
as applicable to the Dekhan . 
It would be sufficient, at first, to repair all the ancient reservoirs and dams or 
weirs, and search for all such streams as have rocky falls, making the waters 
retain the upper level, and flow along the banks, (or intermediately between the 
bank and bed,) until they can be passed over ground fit for cultivation, or to fill 
such natural or artificial tanks and reservoirs, as may be formed, or be available 
within their course. 
The rocky falls are the places from which the side irrigating canals should 
branch off; their mouths being cut in the solid rock, so that there would be no 
danger of the stream enlarging the aperture. 
In some cases, where a waterfall is far distant from lower ground, and that 
high banks intervene, intersected by ravines, it might be adviseable to put down 
nal (pipe) or pipewoi’k, (embedded in the solid rock of the bed of the stream,) suffi- 
ciently large for the stream required, so as to convey it from the waterfall 
heighth to the part of the river, or nala , opposite the lower ground requiring 
to be irrigated ; then by raising a pillar, with pipework within it, the water 
will rise to its original level, and pass over the bank to the lower ground. 
Nor would this be so expensive as might at first be imagined ; the natives of 
the Dek,han are particularly expert in excavating rocks ; they do not, (as might 
be supposed,) confine themselves to small tools, but on the contrary, when 
they have extensive works on hand, they use large sledge hammers, in which 
sets of steel pointed chisels may be fixed ; and they cover their legs with thick 
leathern covers, whilst working with them. 
About twelve thousand Rupees per mile, might be calculated for nal or pipe- 
work, imbedded, air-tight, in solid rock, to admit a stream, twelve inches in 
diameter, allowing that chunam could be obtained near the spot. 
For this method of conveying a stream, it matters not what dips or inequa- 
lities are passed over ; the confined water will always attain its original level, or 
nearly so, when a pillar (with a continuation of the air-tight pipes,) is made 
for it to rise in. 
Particular localities would determine the mode of conveyance ; what is par- 
ticularly advocated in this paper, is, that the streams of the Deck,han, instead of 
being allowed, as at present, to run waste to the ocean, should at every rocky 
fall, he retained at their then existing level, and be turned off to the right and 
left, to irrigate all lands, and to fill and replenish all the artificial or natural 
tanks or reservoirs, that the stream will run to. 
The beds of every broad nala offer ready-made reservoirs; they should 
be bunded off by successive weirs at all the rocky waterfalls, as well to retain 
a supply of water as to turn the surplus stream over the country lower down. 
* Remarks on Navigation. 
Now, with regard to the larger rivers of the Dek,han, such as the Godavery, the 
Kistnah, and the Nerbudda, it is believed that the time approaches, when if capi- 
talists of respectable character and funds are permitted to speculate extensively in 
the interior of India, such rivers may be made navigable. 
The benefits which would accrue to the Government and country, therefrom, are 
too evident to require elucidation. 
The obstacles to the navigation of the larger rivers appear to be, 
1st. Want of available capital, population, and produce. 
2nd. The unsettled state of the tribes who occupy some parts of the banks* 
3rd. The rocky falls in the rivers. 
