384 H. Gr. Raverty —The Mihrdn of Sind and its Tributaries. [Ex. No. 
is only about twenty, and the Rawi, at present, flows about sixteen 
miles from it farther north ; but, from Chichawatni as far as about 
twelve miles lower down, the Rawi flows close under the high bank. 
On the opposite or Biah side, the Hariari, Nili, or Grharah (always 
miscalled Sutlaj), has not yet approached this plateau nearer than 
twenty-three miles, and that only at one point, some twelve miles west 
of Ludlian in the Multan district, and about four miles south of 
Karam-pur, where it makes a sudden bend from west towards the south. 
On the south side of the plateau, and between it and the southern¬ 
most of the old channels of the Biah, and between that again and 
the banks of the Hariari, Nili, or Grharah, and the tract of country which 
is locally called the Nili Bar , is quite different from that on the other 
side through which the Rawi has at different times flowed, known as 
the Rawi Bar. This tract is but slightly elevated above the banks of 
the Hariari, Nili, or Grharah ; and, in the south-western part of the 
Multan district, the ridge of the Chit Dhu’an, subsequently noticed, 
appears to have prevented the above mentioned river from approaching 
nearer to the bed of the Biah in that direction ; for, near Karam-pur, 
as before stated, it seems to have made an effort in that direction, but, 
finding an obstacle, it turned suddenly from west to the south-south¬ 
east, and then to the south-west, and west again. 
This tract, the Nili Bar, bears evidence of comparatively recent 
formation, and the action of water; for, a few feet below the surface, 
deep beds of sand are found, and consequently, wells are with difficulty 
sunk, and when sunk are very liable to fall in ; yet, it seems strange 
to those unacquainted with the past history of these parts, that this 
very tract of now dreary waste, without signs of vegetation, should 
contain so many remains of towns, forts, and villages, 391 water-courses, 
and canals. They are most numerous perhaps along the old bed of 
the Biah and the parts around Kot Kamaliah in the Gfhugherah or 
Montgomery district. As already mentioned, there is no land fit for 
cultivation, or very little, except a belt or fringe of /chadar or sail-abi 
land along the banks of the Hariari, Nili, or Grharah, which, as the 
term indicates, is under the influence of the periodical inundations, and 
which is also known locally as kachchhi , presently to be explained, or 
kind, about twelve cubits in length, and three or four in breadth';'and the tradition 
handed down respecting it is, that this is the resting-place in the sleep of death 
of one of the companions of “ Sikandar-i-Zu-l-Karanain ” [as Oriental writers call 
Alexander the Macedonian].” r lhe Rawi at the time of the Survey flowed at much 
the same distance from it as now. 
S91 These remains are locally known under the name or term of khofa — *y(- 
signifying, in Hindi, ‘ defective,’ ‘ faulty,’ ‘ ruinous,’ etc. 
