'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎131] (240/496)

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The following compilation has been made with a view to exhibiting, in a concise
form, all the authentic information which has been obtained up to the present time
regarding this important river.
The materials from which it has been drawn consist chiefly of official docu
ments on the records of Government, extending from 1820 to
Information whence ^| le p resen fc time. An extract has, however, been appended
from an interesting report, to be found in Appendix No. II. of
Malcolm’s Central India, on the Geology of that part of the country, furnished by
Captain Dangerfield.
The map (reduced from one compiled in the Office of the Surveyor-General of
India,) which will be found attached, shews the course of the river from Hosun-
gabad to the sea. On it the principal obstacles to the navigation are noted.
The amount of information already acquired may be best exhibited by dividing
The information w ^°^ e length of the river, from Ilosungabad to the sea,
how to be exhibited, into three portions, and treating each separately.
1st.—From Ilosungabad to Mundleysir.
2nd.—From Mundleysir to Tulluckwara, and
3d.—From Tulluckwara to Baroche.
Ilosungabad to Mundleysir.—The river taking its rise in Gondwarra, passes Ho-
sungabad in a stream of about 900 yards broad, and is at this
lyt Portion. point distant about 318 miles in a direct line from the sea.
Between Hosungabad and Mundleysir our first information regarding the stream
is derived from a report made by a native surveyor employed
by Captain Ouseley, Principal Assistant to the Governor-Ge
neral’s Agent at Hosungabad.
1st. Native Survey
or in 1&33-34,
This surveywas made in 1833-34, and from it Captain Ouseley considered
that “ the possibility of making the whole river navigable exists, but the expenses
would be great, with the exception of Dhadree, where a lock would be requisite,
or portage if an uninterrupted navigation were adopted. There is no place from
Beliraghur near Jubbulpoor to the mouth of the river, that might not he rendered
passable for such boats as are now used, thirty or forty feet long and eight or ten
wide, flat bottoms- All the places in the sketch marked as rapids, could, with
trifling expence, be rendered passable. Mundhar, twenty or twenty-five miles
east of Dhadree, is a fall of ten feet, but on one side a rapid only, and could be
cleared. From Dowlutpoor to Oonkcrjee, the sides are high rocks generally, and a
contracted and very rapid current running among detached rocks and islets.”
The rest of this portion he speaks of as wide and navigable. Regarding tire
fall of forty feet at Dhadree, he considered, that even if this proved an insur
mountable obstacle to a continued navigation, it might be made a place for un
loading above and replacing the goods in other boats below the fall; a portage of
half a mile only would be required.
It must be borne in mind, however, that these opinions wore expressed upon the
report of a native surveyor, who, although a man of apparent intelligence, could
have had no experience, and very limited knowledge, of the means available for
improving navigation. It docs not appear, moreover, that he took any steps for
ascertaining with accuracy the fall of the river, or making such observations as
would afford grounds for deciding on the steps which would be necessary for over
coming tho obstructions to bo met with.
In I340j in consequence of the repeated representations of Lieutenant Ilore,
2 nd TWit Hire’ Junior Assistant at Saugor, an experimental trial, t to trans-
experiineutai trials * F 01 ^ coa l by rafts from Ilosungabad, was made on a small scale
by Lieutenant Browne, Principal Assistant at Hosungabad.
* The original survey is not to be found on record Capt. Ouseley appears only to have sub
mitted the result oiit with his opinions.
f Made between August and November, 18i0.