Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/176

 BAH

98

Bahramghat which with



however, it is joined from the west by a branch of the Chauka, forms the Duab in which lies the Bhitauli estate aboye-

it,

mentioned.

may

be considered as belonging, so far as Bahraich is concerned, to the plain of the Gogra it is an unnavigThe Tirhi able, sluggish, weedy stream, flowing from Chittaur Jala, about 3 miles from Bahraich town, in a southernly direction until it passes into Gonda.

The

Tirhi

also



The whole

of

of the Gogratic plain consists of alluvial soil of various dates, but in many parts, more especially in the north and particularly in the valley of the Sarju, almost annual th^^Gbgrf deposits of fertilizing soil are left by the retiring floo4s.

The

R^pti, whose valley lies on the northern side of the plateau described above, enters British Territory from Naipal, about midway between the two extremities of the frontier line of the district, and has a course of 81 miles (from point to point 42 It miles) from Gulariha in Charda to Qalandarpur in Gidrahiy^n ilaqa. is a very sinuous stream, and it is continually changing its course, but it flows in a deep channel confined by high banks, and only in more than These overflows,^ ordinarily wet seasons overflows to any great extent. however, are sufficiently frequent to keep the alluvial soil of- the villages within their range fresh and productive.

The Eapti

The Bhakla

a Tarai stream which comes from the NaipAl lowlands, and in the dry weather is fordable at all points, but a sudden fall of rain commits such a volume of water to it It to be carried off that it rises some 20 feet in less than as many hours. swirls down on these occasions with such violence that several attempts of the district authorities to bridge it have failed. It flows for the greater part of its course almost immediately under the high banks previously mentioned, and it joins the Rapti under the name of Singhia, just above Sahet Mahet. The Duab included between these two streams is one of the most fertile portions of the district. For the river traffic see the sections on the trade. is

All of these rivers are navigable. The R^pti and the Kauriala for boats carrying 1,200 local maunds, or 20 tons, the others for smaller boats throughout the year, but during the rains large barges ascend the river Sarju to Khairi bazar and thence carry grain.

The smaller boats used will carry 200 local maunds, or 3 tons, and require 2 feet of water when loaded; they are hollowed out of rough trees, cost about Rs. 80, and will last with care and with none but minute repairs for twenty-five years. They are owned solely by Gorias, vulgarly believed to be a branch of the Kahdrs, who hire out their boats and their own services, if the owner is not the oarsman; half the hire goes to the former, half is divided among the latter. Except the grain traffic there is nothing of any importance. Sugar comes up from Azamgarh, There is no river side population, The fisheries