it does not form a delta, like the Nile or the Irrawaddy; the lateral streams being absorbed by the sand before they can reach the ocean. An easterly branch called the Fullalee, rejoins the main stream, forming the island of Hyderabad. Below this point, the breadth of the Indus is generally about a mile, varying in depth from two to five fathoms, and it at length reaches the sea by one mouth. The tides are not perceptible higher up than sixty or sixty-five miles; but, from the sea to Lahore, a distance of 760 geographical miles, the Indus (as well as its tributary, the Ravee) is navigable for vessels of 200 tons.* its mouth, the land does not possess the fertility of the Gangetic delta, consisting only of tracts of underwood or jungle, arid sands, putrid salt swamps, or shallow muddy lakes.+

Near

The Indus is called in Sanscrit, the Sindhu or Sindhus, and by the Persians, the Aub Sinde. From Attok to Moultan, it bears the name of the Attok (limit); and further down, that of Shoor; but it is generally known to Asiatics by the name of the Sinde. Four rivers in India were formerly subject

In the time of Aurungzebe, an extensive trade was carried on by this means: the passage from Lahore occupied only 12 days. "Had Feroze's canal been completed," remarks Mr. Rennell, "there would have been a continued inland navigation from Tatta to Bengal and Assam."

+ Elphinstone's Caubul, 8vo. vol. i. pp. 174-186; vol. ii. pp. 469-472. Malte Brun, vol. iii. pp. 13-16. Hamilton's Gazetteer.

The name Sinde was not unknown to the Romans: "Indus incolis Sindus appellatus."-Pliny, b. vi. Another name by which it was formerly known, is the Nilab (Neelaub), or Blue River, which is, perhaps, only an Arabic translation of the Persian or Sanscrit word. The name of Nilab appears to have been given also to the Caubul river; for a native author says, that Jalalabad and Dakkah are situated on the Nilab. The Caubul river has, in like manner, been sometimes called the Attok; and the ancients appear to have regarded that branch as the true Indus. Pliny

each to a peculiar interdict, religiously observed by the natives. It was forbidden even to touch the waters of the Caramnassa, which divides Bahar from Benares; to bathe in the Caratoya, a river in Bengal ; to swim in the Gunduk; and to cross the Attok. The latter prohibition is evaded, however, by crossing the Indus above its confluence with the Caubul; and the Brahmins of Affghanistan cross it daily without any scruple. Notwithstanding its magnitude and importance, as well as ancient celebrity, the Indus has never obtained such reputation for sanctity in India, as many inferior streams.

The five tributary rivers which give name to the Punjaub, are equal to the largest rivers in Europe. The first, beginning from the west, and the second in size, is the Jelum, Behut, or Vidusta, the ancient Hydaspes. It takes its rise in the south-eastern corner of the valley of Cashmere, where it is called the Vidusta. It passes through two lakes east and west of the capital. Twelve miles below, it is joined by the Little Sind, and further on, by several small rivulets as it runs among the hills. After flowing nearly west, it receives, near Moozufferad, the Kishungunga stream from the northward, and forms a great curve to the south, through a mountainous district, of which little is known. At length, after a course of about 450 miles, it joins the Chunaub, in which it loses its name, at Tremmoo Ghaut, 80 miles above Mooltan.*

says: "In jugo Caucasi montis quod vocatur Paropamisus, adversus solis ortum effusus." It is, however, clear, Major Rennell remarks, that the people of Hindostan consider the north-eastern branch as the true Sinde.-RENNELL, pp. 94—6.

* The greatest breadth of the doab between the Jelum and the Indus, is from Attok to Jellalpore Ghaut on the Jelum, a distance of 114 miles. The northern part of this doab, above the parallel

The Chunaub, or Acesines, the second river of the five, and the largest in size, rises in the Alpine district of Kishtewar in the Himalaya mountains, near the south-eastern corner of Cashmere. Due N. from the city of Lahore, this river is 300 yards wide in the dry season, and nearly a mile and a half when swelled by the rains. Like the Jelum, it is not fordable, but a small part only of its channel requires to be swum over. Its junction with that river is attended with great noise; a circumstance noticed by the historians both of Alexander and of Timour. banks are low and well-wooded.*

Its

Fifty miles below this junction, and about 40 miles above the city of Moultan, the Chunaub receives the waters of the Rauvee (Iravati) or Hydraotes. This is the smallest of the five rivers, but its length is considerable. It issues from the mountainous district of Upper Lahore,+ and flowing S.W., enters the plains near Shahpoor (or Rajepoor); whence the great canal of Shah Nehr (now filled up) accompanied it to Lahore, a distance of 80 miles. The intent of this canal was, by keeping the water at a higher level, to supply that city in the dry season, when, like most of the Indian rivers, the Rauvee is from 20 to 30 feet below its banks.

The city of Lahore stands

of 33°, is hilly; and to the southward is a desert, with the exception of a few miles inward from the banks of the rivers.-ELPHINSTONE, vol. ii. p. 478.

* The space between the Chunaub and the Behut, according to Major Rennell, is nowhere more than 30 geo. miles within the limits of the Punjaub. Lieut. Macartney, however, makes the horizontal distance from Jellalpoor Ghaut to Vizeerabad Ghaut, 44 miles. The country is excessively low, the soil rich, chiefly pasture.-ELPHINSTONE, vol. ii. p. 479.

† Mr. Rennell says: "its sources are in the mountains near Nagorkote, a famous place of Hindoo worship." They do not appear to have been explored.

on the southern bank. Three other canals, for the purpose of watering the country on the S. and E. of Lahore, were drawn from the same place. This river is fordable in the dry season, being then only 4 feet deep, and its channel is very narrow; but it has a very muddy bottom, and is full of quicksands. Its banks are low and well wooded. There are few boats on this river, whereas they are numerous on the Jelum and Chunaub.*

The Chunaub, after receiving the Rauvee, still retains its name, till, nearly 100 miles below Moultan, it is joined by the united waters of the Beyah and the Sutlej, under the name of the Gharrah, Kerah, or Gavra. The Beyah (Vipasa or Beypasha), the ancient Hyphasis, rises in the mountains of Keeloo in the pergunnah of Sultanpoor. For the first 200 miles, its course is due south; it then bends to the westward, and after a course of about 350 miles, joins the Sutlej about midway between its source and the Indus, not far from Feroozpoor. It appears, however, that it formerly fell into the Sutlej much below the place where they now meet, there being still a small canal, called the old bed of the Beyah.†

"The space between the Rauvee and the Chunaub, at their entrance into the plains, is about 54 geo. miles; and they gradually approach each other during a course of 170 miles. The junction is effected nearly midway between Toolumba and Moultan.”— RENNELL. Lieut. Macartney says: "The distance from Vizeerabad Ghaut (on the Chunaub) to Meannee Ghaut on the Ravee, is 55 miles. The doab is rich and flat, but higher land than the last, and the soil not so very rich."-ELPHINSTONE, vol. ii. p. 480.

+ Hamilton's Gazetteer. Rennell, p. 102. Lieut. Macartney gives a very different account of this river. "The Beyas and the Sutluj," he says, "are nearly the same size, but the Beyas is rather the largest. Their course too is nearly the same from the snowy ridge; 150 miles to their junction, and 260 more to their junction with the Chunaub." This river measured, at Bhirowal

The Sutlej (Sutuleje, Shetooder, or Satadru), the Zaradrus or Hesudrus of the ancients, has its source in the Himalaya mountains, whence it flows, first almost due west, and then in a southerly direction, bounding the province of Lahore on the east. At Bellaspoor, where it enters Hindostan Proper, it is 100 yards broad when at the lowest. After its junction with the Beyah or Beyas, it loses its name, first in that of the confluent river, and afterwards, the united streams are called Ghara or Ghavrah; although, according to some accounts, the river again divides and resumes its former names.* M. Malte Brun con

Ghaut, 740 yards. Its right bank is very high, and its current very rapid. It is fordable in the dry season, but its channel_then contains many sand-beds, islands, and quicksands.

* See Hamilton's Gazetteer. Elphinstone, vol. ii. p. 481. Authorities are more especially at variance with regard to this fifth river, which appears under so many names. Ptolemy names the last river of the Punjaub, the Zaradrus; Pliny, the Hesudrus. Arrian says: "These rivers discharge their waters into the Indus: the Hydraotes (Rauvee) among the Cambistholi, which, receiving the Hyphasis (Beyah) among the Astrobi, the Saranges among the Mecei, and the Neudrus among the Attaceni, falls into the Acesines (Chunaub). The Hydaspes (Jelum), receiving the river Sinarus among the Arispi, falls also into the river Acesines, in the country of the Oxydrace. Tutapus, a great river, falls into the same; insomuch that the Acesines, vastly increased with all these, and still retaining its name, loses that and its waters at once, by falling into the Indus among the Malli."-ROOKE's Arrian, vol. ii. p. 192. Mr. Rennell seems to think that the Saranges may be intended for the Zaradrus; but we are inclined to think that the Sutlej must be referred to under the name of the Tutapus. "Before it is joined by the Beyah," Mr. Rennell says, "it is a very considerable river, and is navigable more than 100 miles. About 24 miles below the conflux, a separation again takes place, and four different streams are formed, the northmost and most considerable of which recovers the name of Beyah, and is a deep and rapid river. The others are named Herari, (Sinarus ?) Dond, and Noorney; and near Moultan they unite again, and bear the name of the Setlege, until both the substance and name are lost in the Indus, about 80 miles below the mouth of the Chunaub. It is owing to the sepa