66 On the Identity of the Sanpu and Irawadi Rivers. [Feb. 
VIII . — On the Identity of the Sanpu and Irawadi Rivers. 
In our first number we gave a short notice of a controversy which has originated 
on the subject ot the identity of these rivers between our Calcutta geographers and 
M. J. Klaproth, editor of the Journal Asiatique of Paris. In that notice we hinted 
at the contemplated publication of some details on the subject, which bid fair to sa- 
tisfy M. Klaproth’s doubts, and convince him that the Sanpu is not the Irawadi 
but the Brahmaputra. The details in question form part of a paper on the Geogra- 
phy of Assam, by Lieut. R. Wilcox, lately employed there as Surveyor, and of 
whose researches and joint travels, with the late Lieut. Burlton, there appeared 
some very interesting accounts in the Oriental Quarterly Magazine. The paper in 
question, which was presented to the Asiatic Society, is now, we believe, in course of 
publication, and will, doubtless, ere long, put the finishing stroke to this controversy, 
and add another to the many proofs we have of the sagacity of the father of our 
Indian Geography, Major Rennell, whose very guesses appear better founded than 
the laboured erudition of other men. 
In the mean time we have much pleasure in laying before our readers the follow- 
ing note and enclosure, for which we acknowledge ourselves much indebted to a 
gentleman whose contributions to the various branches of natural science have been 
so often recorded in our work. 
My dear Sir, — I got the enclosed an hour ago from a fine young Chinese priest, 
who for the last 10 years has been visiting all the holy places of his religion. I gave 
him no hint as to what I wanted, but merely asked his route from Lhassa to 
Bengal ; and when he named the Eri-changbo, or river of Tibet, I desired to 
know what its course was from Lhassa to Assam. He asked a pencil, and instantly 
drew the sketch I send you. He was not learned, but seemed ingenuous and 
candid, and I am inclined to think his sketch not bad evidence of the course of the 
river at the point controverted. 
