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78 MUZAFFARPUR. maunds can pass up and down. In the rains, boats are only able to carry half loads up-stream. The Baghmatí enters the District from Nepál at a point 2 miles north of Maniári ghát, or 17 miles north-west from Sítámarhi, and after flowing south-west in a more or less irregular course for some 30 miles, strikes off in a south-easterly direction, and leaves the District near Hátha (20 miles east of Muzaffarpur town). At its nearest bend, i.e. by Hathauri ghat, the river runs 10 miles north-east of Muzaffarpur. It is navigable in the rains from the frontier to Maniári for boats of 250 maunds, from Maniári to Gaigháti for boats of 500 maunds, and after passing Gaigháti (18 miles east of Muzaffarpur) it becomes navigable for boats of 2000 maunds. In the dry season the Baghmatí is fordable, and in some places not more than knee-deep. The Buri Gandak enters the District from Champáran near Baryapur (20 miles north-west of Muzaffarpur), and flows in a south-easterly direction and alınost parallel to the Baghmatí till it leaves the District near Pusá (20 miles south-east of Muzaffarpur). The town of Muzaffarpur stands on its right bank. The river is navigable in the rains for boats of 1000 maunds up to Muzaffarpur, and for boats of 500 maunds up to Baryápur. In the dry season only boats of 100 maunds can get up to Muzaffarpur. Both this river and the Bághmatí are very apt to shift their courses. The Lakhandai enters the District from Nepál near Itharwa (18 miles north of Sítámarhi), passes through the town of Sítánarhi, and thence flows in a south-easterly direction, skirting the indigo factories of Dumrá, Runi Saidpur, Ouror, and Tiwarah, and joins the Baglimati near Hátha. The stream rises and falls very quickly, and its current is rapid. It is navigable in the rains only for boats of 500 maunds up to Sítámarhi, during which season large quantities of oil-seeds are sent down for transport to Calcutta. The Bya issues out of the Gandak near Sahibganj (34 miles northwest of Muzaffarpur), and flows in a south-easterly direction past the indigo factories of Durea, Seráya, Chak Daulat, Batanlea, Karhari, and Chitwara, and leaves the District at Jandhára (30 miles south of Muzaffarpur). The head of the stream has much silted up of late years. The Bya is largely fed by drainage from chaurs, and attains its greatest height when the Ganges and Gandak are both in flood, being filled by inundation from the former, and being checked in its course by the high waters of the latter river, which it joins a few miles so of Dalsingh Sarai (in Darbhangal District). Ordinarily, the stream is not navigable, but in the rains it is navigated throughout its entire length by boats of 100 maunds. Formerly the stream was much used for irrigation. The most important of the minor streams are the Purána Dar