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Pani the channel widens, and the steeper descent and rocky bottom cause magnificent rapids nearly half a mile broad, the opening of the hills is broader, and dense forest clothes their slopes to the water's edge. There can be few fine spectacles than this half mile of turbid white water presents when lit up by moonlight, or when the forests on either side take fire then the long range of lofty height is soon flaming to the water's edge, the roar of the water is mingled with that of the conflagration, and with the crash of falling trees this often lasts for several days and nights, a huge pall of smoke gathers over the tumultuous scene, and is swept away about noon each day by a cold wind which comes down from the moun;



tain passes.

A

mile from Shisha Pani the river divides into two streams the western retains the name of Kauri ala, the eastern is called the Girwa ; the latter ten years ago was a mere stream, but its volume has gradually increased till now it is considerably larger than the Kauridla. They are rapid rivers, their beds covered with large pebbles often a foot in diameter, particularly at the fords, where they are broad and so shallow that elephants can pass generally without difficulty. They are about four hundred yards broad,

and from three to four feet deep they cannot be forded except at one two places where the graziers cross them holding on by buffaloes' tails.

or

The Girwa particularly is a most beautiful stream, its banks are covered with dense forests of dark sal, the mountains appear over the tree-tops. In many places the river has formed large openings in these high grounds, several miles broad, through which the water passes in several clear cut channels. The islands thus formed are generally covered with evergreen shisham trees and thickets of willow. Abandoned channels intersect the forest, and in them the reeds are twelve feet high. Diagonally across the stream extend ridges of kankar or rock, sometimes half a mile long, over which the water sweeps, and the lower part of the long slope foams white Navigation is thus impeded. Large boats ascend a mile beyond as snow. the Mohan to Dhanaura on the Girwa, and Bilasar on the Kauriala, carrying 500 maunds or nearly twenty tons boats carrying 1,200 maunds or about 46 tons ascend to Shitd,bi Ghdt in 28° 15' north latitude, but the principal seat of river traffic is at Katdi Ghat, where the Sarda joins, and the united streams become the Gogra. Grain is exported largely; timber, ginger, pepper, wax, ghi, catechu come from Naip^l. The principal mart is at Gola Ghdt, about five miles above the Mohan on the Kauriala ; the timber and grain alone are trusted to water carriage.

'

Gold is washed from the gravel and sand by a particular caste called the Sunahis. Besides the Mohan, celebrated for its mahsi'r fishing, the Suheli, flowing in the old channel of the S4rda, joins at Shitdbi Ghat from the west, then at Katai Ghat the Dah4war, Chauka, and S4rda join from Kheri, and the Sarju from Bahraich.

The minimum cold weather discharge of the Kauriala is said to be 11,000 feet per second at Ramnagar;* but this must have been taken at a time when the Girwa was a small stream, for the Girwa joins below Ramnagar at
 * Sarda Canal Report, page

4,