1892.] H. G. Raverty— The Mihran of Sind and its Tributaries. 403 
depression is about twenty-five feet below the level of this part of the 
district. 
In the space between these high banks there is another old channel, 
running in this great depression near the southern high bank here 
referred to, which runs a little north of west from near Tiharah, 
and with a very winding course for some twenty-six miles. It then 
bends more towards the south-west, passes close to Firuz-pur, and from 
thence on to within about two miles and a half of Klia’e, and almost 
parallel to the present course of the Hariari or Hill, but about five 
miles east of it, down to within seven and a half miles of Fazil ka, 
when it unites with the present channel. The northern part of this 
channel in the Firuz-pur district, is what is referred to by Mr. E. L. 
Brandeth, C. S., in his Settlement Report of that district, dated 1854, 
under the name of “ Suklia Nai ” — Sukha Na’e— Dry Channel 423 — but 
the lower part, where it turns to the south-west from Firuz-pur, and 
passes between Bazicl-pur and Kha’e, is what he also refers to, as far 
as the Firuz-pur district extends, as “a still lower danda marking a 
later river course.” The ancient channel of the Sutlaj farther east 
he distinguishes from this one, as the “ great danda” which is “ very 
strongly marked ” in the Firuz-pur district. 
This “lower” or lesser “danda” evidently marks the later 
channel in which the united streams flowed after their first junction, 
when they became the Machhu-Wah, Hariari, or Hili, and when, after 
running in one channel for about twelve kuroh or twenty-one miles, 
they again separated, as previously described, the Biah returning to 
its old channel and retaining its old name ; while the other turned 
southwards into the low sandy tract between the ancient bed of the 
Sutlaj and the present Hariari or Nili, and cut this intermediate 
channel, which retained the latter names. The soil along this inter¬ 
mediate bank or lower dandali , is sandy, and covered with sand hil¬ 
locks. 423 It will also be noticed that part of this intermediate channel 
422 Mr. Brandeth says : “ There is a curious old channel, called the Sakha Nai, 
or “ dry channel,” between the new and the old beds of the river [Sutlaj], which 
has its origin near Tihara, whence it runs in a very serpentine course along the 
whole length of the district to near Maradot. Notwithstanding its winding course, 
the banks of the channel are so regularly formed as to have induced many to think 
it entirely artificial [just like the Sidli or Sid.hu Na’e mentioned at page 370], 
More probably, however, it was originally a natural water-course, afterwards shaped 
into a canal. Its breadth is 100 feet, and its depth 7 or 8 feet. As recently as 
forty years ago, it is stated that some little water flowed into it, but since then 
it has remained quite dry.” 
Parts of this old channel have since been utilized for inundation canals. 
423 The whole tract of country around, near the present place of junction of 
the Blah and Sutlaj, is seamed with old channels of the latter river, and abandoned 
