'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎241] (350/496)

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Dming* nine hours fifty minutes steaming mcidle twenty-six miles by
the river, and miles direct distance. Secured for the night at the
large village of Mahomed Shah. During to-day, a range of hills
was seen to the westward, fifteen to twenty miles from the river, not
noted on any map. The highest hill of the range is a great help in the
construction of my sketch of the river, for it is very difficult, from the
level nature of the country,—the river banks being from two to eight feet
high only: to see any moderate distance, I am obliged to ascend
trees, &c.
The fuel of a Mimosa, called Kandah or Jand—it has two names, is
particularly good: the average consumption by weight per hour is less
than on the Indus. The price of wood in this town is nineteen maunds
for a rupee.
Sept, ISth —After proceeding a short distance came in sight of another
range of hills, both unnoticed in any map, which the natives assure me
extend across the river’s bed, the water passing in two channels between
them. They were first seen at a distance of about eighteen miles, by na
tive account, which will give a height of 400 feet. I may here mention,
that on repeated enquiry of natives of intelligence, the Kutcha Koss is
1360 kadum or double paces (the measure is styled the had of a man),
which might be in English rendered u the stride of a man! 9 Allowing the
double pace to be sixty-four inches, a coss will be 2390 yards, a little
more than a geographical mile One minute of arc measured along the equator. and a third (2347 yards). They have
another coss of 1600 kadum sometimes quoted hereabouts, and called
the u Nanakshai coss, which, on the same estimate of the length of a
kad, will give 2844 yards to the coss : this is not in common use.
These are the only two measures of distance I can hear of—they are adopt
ed from the Arabs. The aspect of the hills in sight is barren in the
extreme; the range through which the river passes extends five or six
miles E.S.E. and W.17.W. The other range, seen yesterday, extends JST.
and S. for seven miles, and is from five to 800 feet in elevation : they are
isolated rocks, standing in an immense plain. Though the cultivation
is most luxuriant immediately along the banks, yet we do not see as many
canals on a superior scale as are witnessed in Sinde.
Made during the day thirty-six miles in 11 J hours’ steaming, and se
cured just below the range of hills through which the river passes. Chunyat,
a large town on the left bank, is two miles distant. Enel is abundant and
good; a forest of kandah, peelee, and kurrel, trees, extends, by native