1892.] H. G. Raverty— The Mihrdn of Sind and its Tributaries. 423 
but which some recent writers confound with the name of the river 
Chitang ( ), between which two words there is no affinity 
whatever. 
Under the head of Jasal-mir, the author of the Survey says : 
This Zamin-i-Chitr-ang is a waterless waste or wilderness wherein the 
mirage prevails, extending from Bhatnir down into Jasal-mir for a 
distance of some two hundred kuroh in length, with a breadth of about 
twenty-five kuroh, and which crops up in other directions on both sides 
of which are vast deserts of sand. Here, as before stated, the mirage 
prevails; and great lakes and trees appear to view, only to vanish when 
one approaches them. By digging in this Chitr-ang, water is obtainable, 
but it lies very deep, and, after all, is brackish. But few wells are 
sunk in these parts on account of the excess of sand, which appears 
like unto a vast sea. Snakes and scorpions abound ; and the only trees 
are the pilu [Salvador Persica], and the sanji [red jujube or ber~\. The 
jpilu grows to a large size ; and the other, which in Hindustan they 
call butah-i-sanji , attains to about the height of a man.” 
In another place he says : “The surface of the ground of this tract 
is, for the most part, bare and even [and its surface is clear of any 
growth], and such ground or land they style in this locality ‘ Zamin-i 
Chitr-ang.’ In former times, according to all the traditions of these 
parts, a great river used to flow out of the Siwalik mountains, and 
running through these parts used to unite with the Sind darydf b7 and 
which was known as the Chitang, and, lower down, as the Hakra; and, 
from the time this river became obstructed, this tract of country ceased 
to be cultivated and to be inhabited.” 
£; This vast tract has been called Chitr-ang on account of its hard¬ 
ness, and the flatness of its surface. It is also stated that part of it is 
the old channel of the Ghag-ghar, which runs, through Sahrind, and 
which used to unite with the Hakra. In short, at the present time, 
the first-mentioned river does not flow much beyond Bhatnir, Moj Garh 
Marut, Phulra, Chuhrhu or Chuhr-hu, Sudar-har, etc., are places situ¬ 
ated in this Chitr-ang. The inhabitants of this part do not dwell in 
masonry houses, but in huts or shanties ; and their wealth consists of 
a great number of cattle of different kinds.” 
I have said that this Chitr-ang Zamin crops up every here and 
there, but it seems to prevail chiefly where the channels of these dried 
up rivers occur, and in parts over which their waters appear to have 
flowed or to have spread. 453 * For example: “ In going from Bikanir 
457 The Rud-i-Sind wo Hind. See the extracts from the old ’Arab travellers, at 
pages 211 to 218 
453 * Tod notices this Ch itr-ang Zamin, but, under a wrong name, and under 
the supposition that it was temporary, instead of which it is permanent. He says : 
