to be the proper channel', but obstructed about 4 miles above its mouth by a large bund thrown across, near a village called "Chunnah," as well as another 3 or 4 miles further up, opposite a village named "Gaha;" about mid-way between these were the remains of an old bund, which gave us considerable trouble in consequence of the narrowness of the opening. The "Kutár" is about 5 feet broad at the entrance and 5 feet deep; it contracts a little as you proceed up towards the bund at Chunnah," but before reaching that spot, it expands to about 100 feet in width; its average depth throughout is from 5 to 8 feet. For 2 or 3 miles up from its mouth this channel is beautifully picturesque; its margin is overhung with tamarisk trees, creepers, and underwood, which line it to the water's edge, and its right bank is studded for some distance inland, with babool trees of great size. On arranging with the native authorities labourers were set to work, and an opening of about 32 or 33 feet wide in each of the above-mentioned bunds was soon effected. The upper or largest bund is, as before observed, close to "Gaha," a village situated on the right bank of the Narra, among dates, tamarisk, and barr trees of a large size, on a rising ground which forms the angle made by the Narra and Kutár. The bund crosses the latter stream in a northwesterly and south-easterly direction, shutting off the waters of the Narra, which at this place is a fine river, 104 feet broad, and 8 feet deep, with a current setting south-easterly, at the rate of 2 miles per hour. Here all our difficulties were at an end. This river, though exceedingly tortuous3, maintains nearly the same breadth as given above, contracting and expanding here and there; whilst the depth amounted from one fathom to sometimes three and a half. One mile and a half above Mír Mahomed Shírah, a branch, called the "Giddur," debouches into the main stream from the north-north-east. It averages from 18 to 26 feet broad for about 3 miles above its mouth, and then, according to the native account, expands into a broad stream of about 100 feet; some segments of the paddles were taken off, and angles of the banks cut away, for the purpose of tracking the vessel up to the broad part of the stream; but after proceeding up about 200 yards, we were obliged to abandon the attempt, after three days' hard labour. The "Giddur" would seem to be the branch taken by the native boats to get into the main stream above, when the bunds in the "Kutár" are up and entire; and I am inclined to believe this, because, though comparatively narrow at its mouth, it is of considerable depth, about 9 feet mid-channel, with a current running at the rate of 24 miles per hour. 2 By actual admeasurement. 3 The first day, in the course of our passage up from the bund of "Gaha," the vessel's head was five times on every point of the compass, so winding is the course of the stream. The vessel now answered her helm pretty well, excepting occasionally at sharp turnings of the river, when her bow was caught in the strength of the current. From Lake Manchur up to the bund of "Gaha," the country appears but moderately well cultivated, and the inhabitants seemed wretchedly poor, if we may judge from their general appearance, which had not the clean substantial aspect of those who reside higher up the river. Along the banks of the Narra, or main stream, from "Gaha" to where it joins the Indus, are many well-built large villages interspersed with those of the less permanent materials above mentioned; water-wheels in full working order are fixed at longer or shorter intervals on each side of the river; but though the cultivated lands had a very refreshing appearance and looked vigorous, it was easy to perceive from the tamarisk, milkbushes, &c., left growing here and there in full strength in the midst of the crops, that cultivation is performed in a very slovenly style; various kinds of trees of great size grow on all sides, and would yield plenty of timber for the construction of water-wheels and other agricultural purposes,-large droves of water buffaloes were passed at frequent intervals. Droves of cows, flocks of excellent sheep, and goats, were seen scattered over the country; the chief articles of cultivation at the time we passed through, and those principally close along the margin of the stream, were cotton, sugar, and rice. On the main stream, that is, between "Gaha" and the Indusmouth of the Narra, there appears considerable traffic; we passed boats of various sizes, some lying near the different villages, others proceeding down the river laden with grain and fodder, and the people in apparently better plight than their brethren lower down the river, near the Manchur; they showed fewer signs of poverty, and pestered us less with begging. In consequence of the vessels steering so badly in that part of the river between the Manchur Lake and the " 'Kutár," it is difficult to form an estimate of the distance, but I am inclined to reckon it about 60 miles, i, e., from the lake to the bund of "Gaha." From the latter place to the Indus, the vessel was under steam for 63 hours. The first 40 hours, average strength of current against us, 2 miles per hour; next 15 hours, current against us, 3 miles per hour; next 8 hours, current against us, 4 miles per hour; and assuming 7 miles per hour as the average speed of the vessel, we thus have the average distance from the village of "Gaha," to where the Narra joins the Indus, 28 miles below Sukkur, 284 miles. calculate that a vessel of the same horse-power as the "Meteor," viz., 24 horse-power, did she but steer well, might make the passage I from Sehwan, through the Narra, to the Indus, during the months when the river is high, in about 80 hours' steaming, exclusive of the time consumed in taking in fuel. Thus, from Sehwan to the "Manchur" mouth of the Narra 5 hours, from Lake Manchur to "Gaha" 12 hours, and from "Gaha" to the Indus 63 hours. A steamer to ply successfully on the Narra should, I think, not be more than 80 feet in length and 16 or 17 feet broad, measuring from the external rings of the paddles; draught from 2 to 3 feet, and she must steer well in shallows, and obey her helm quickly in her own draught of water. Plenty of fuel could be had, particularly about the upper part of the river. To native crafts or boats of any description, the navigation is remarkably easy and perfectly safe, the water being quite smooth, and the average strength of current not very great, except near to where the Narra joins the Indus. They pull along with ease or track when the jungle on the banks permits it; or take advantage of breezes when they can; and though the turnings and windings of the river are often sharp, yet the currents which sweep round them bear no comparison to those in the Indus, which render the navigation there both tedious and dangerous. ART. XXIV. On the traces of Feudalism in India, and the condition of Lands now in a comparative state of Agricultural Infancy. By the late AUGUSTUS PRINSEP, ESQ. A LARGE continent like that which is embraced by the name of India, must contain tracts of country in very different stages of cultivation; and at any given time examples might perhaps be pointed out of every progressive change, through which oriental prosperity is advancing. If then, it be an object to obtain some idea of the original state of agricultural rights and habits where history is confused and tradition silent, an observation of those provinces, which are in the less advanced stages of civilization, seems to be the only channel of intelligence that is open. A dependence upon such a means of knowledge, with regard to the progress of society and wealth in European nations, might lead indeed to very mistaken conjectures; but in Hindustan there are many circumstances which render this process, though always to a certain degree fallacious, still comparatively less unsafe. Indian agriculture, as a practical science, is still in a very rude state, and notwithstanding the seventy years of our dominion, remains as one of the departments little benefited by British example or power. To this condition the hereditary prejudices of the Hindús, to whom conquest brought no instruction in the practical sciences', and the dearth of inter-communication with natives more advanced, have mainly contributed; and although we cannot exactly say that waste lands are brought into cultivation now, in the same manner that they used to be before the Brahmanical Institutions, we may yet safely look towards the most retired and least populated provinces, for the best exemplification within reach, of primitive society in India. It is a most natural supposition that plains, in the earliest stages of society, were inhabited before hills. Whatever may have been their mode of life, whether they supported themselves by hunting or by breeding cattle, or whether they cleared the ground and tilled it, the first communities must have found greater facilities in the level than in the hilly lands. Accordingly, in all countries we find that mountainous territories are the last that are brought into cultivation; The Emperor Baber, in his Memoirs, describes several agricultural practices, especially the mode of irrigation, which exactly correspond with the means now in use. ON THE TRACES OF FEUDALISM IN INDIA. 391 partly from the greater obstacles inherent in the soil, and partly from the greater difficulties of carriage communication. Without pausing to examine the truth of this principle generally, India presents a remarkable example of the fact: for in the several districts which spread through the various ranges of hills, the degrees of civilization are far below that which the plains of Hindustan have attained. These less populous tracts of country contain tribes of people, whose characteristics differ radically from the Hindú; and there is great reason to believe that they have sprung from some separate original stock of the peninsula. But whether that stock were driven from the plains by invading foreigners, or whether a portion of it separated itself from the rest before, or at the time that the Vedas and Puranas were changing the minds of the multitude, it were vain now to endeavour to trace. Whatever scheme our imaginations may devise for the origin of mankind, we cannot easily conceive, that any community would settle on the mountains, or even in the stony valleys between them, so long as there were plains within the reach of their observation. From every reflection we must conclude, that the flow of population is contrary to that of rivers, from the low lands to the heights. If then, in the very centre of the continent, we find at the present day many tribes of men savage in comparison with their neighbours, unimbued with any of the ideas of Hinduism, and regarded as outcasts by that religion, it is more rational to suppose, that they have been driven to their present haunts on the hills, by the pressure of an adverse population overspreading the rich plains they first occupied, than that they have passed through these plains from countries still beyond in order to select the hills for settlement. But it is less to speak of these singular tribes, whose customs and habits are of the rudest kind, than to notice the progress of Hindu civilization as it approaches the hills of India, that I have adverted to them. If the position that I have laid down be plausible, we may perhaps, by closely examining the structure of the agricultural societies in some of these retired parts of India, obtain some insight into the tenures of land and proprietary rights, as they arose out of the earliest occupation of the soil. Into many of the less accessible districts, the Mahommedan power can scarcely be said to have actually extended; the stations of the Faujdar and of the Dewan (the magisterial and fiscal authorities) were distant; as long as some tribute was paid from them, the lands in the jungles were left unsurveyed, and no military follower of the Emperor or of the Nawabs, considered a jagir of hill and forest as a worthy compensation for his service. We thence |
