1892.] H. G. Raverty —The Mihrdn of Sind and its Tributaries. 343 
stituting, at present, the lower extremity of the Rachin-ab Do-abah 
is, without doubt, of comparatively recent formation. More respect¬ 
ing this tract will be mentioned in the notice of the river Rawi. 
There are several canals from the Chin-ab, in the Rachin-ab Do-abah 
in the present Jhang district, some of which are certainly very old, 
from the fact that their levels are much higher than the present level 
of its channel; and it is clear that, at a former period, the river must 
have flowed at a much higher level to have enabled water to reach 
them. There is one about a mile distant from Shor Kot, on the west, 
which, even at the period of the greatest inundations, water can 
scarcely enter. It is styled the Rani Wa-hah or Rani’s Canal. 
Traces of another ancient canal remain in the middle of the 
Sandal Bar, near the site of an ancient city, said to have been, in by¬ 
gone times, the chief place and seat of government of these parts, called 
Asraur or Saraur (the “ Khangah Asroor ” of the maps, meant, probably, 
for the Khankah or Monastery near Asraur). It runs in the direction 
of south-west for upwards of forty miles, passing about four miles to 
the southward of the Tall of Sangala. It is known as the Nannan 
Wa-hah (the “ Nunnunwah Canal ” of the maps), because Wd-hah 
( vul . “ Wall ” and “ Vali ”) means a canal. 
The Chin-ab has changed its course very considerably, and its 
valley, or rather, the tract over which it has flowed at different periods, 
is thirty miles broad. In by-gone days, at about the point where the 
Shaikhan Patan now is, some fourteen miles north-east of Chatidani-ot 
or Chandan-ot, instead of turning more to the westwards as at 
present, it kept a course more towards the south-south-west, and 
passed five miles east of Chandan-ot; while now it passes it two 
miles and a half on the west. Its old bed is very distinct, and runs 
within a mile of Raju-a. The whole space between this ancient channel 
and the present one below Chandan-ot is seamed with other old channels 
running in the direction of Jhang-i-Sialan, one of which lies within 
four miles of it on the east. These channels, lower down towards 
Shor Kot, again unite with the ancient bed. 345 At one place, a point 
345 Cunningham, in his “ Ancient Geography of India,” like all others, traces 
the movements of Alexander and his Greeks, according to the present courses of 
the rivers of the Panj-ab, to judge from the maps at pages 101 and 248 ; but, in 
some places, his descriptions do not appear to agree with his maps. When we see 
what great changes have taken place in the courses of these rivers within the short 
space of one hundred years, what may have occurred in the space of two thousand 
two hundred ? lie also traces the travels of Hwen Thsang in the same way, from 
Shor Kot, according to the present course of the Ch in-ab, and along what is known 
as the Panch Nad, that is, five rivers, or Panj-Ab, united into one giving name 
to the territory. This Panch Nad noiv extends from the junction of the Gharah 
