1 THE CHINAB AND THE RAVI, "
2 in fish, and crocodiles are more numerous in this than in any other of the
3 Panjab rivers.
4 THE CHINAB.
5 The Chindb,* the Acesines of the ancients, is the largest of the five rivers
6 by which the Panjab is traversed, and rises in lat, 32°48’ N. and long,
7 77°27’ EB. Like that of most of the principal streams of India, its source is
8 in the snowy mountains of the Himalaya in the Kashmir ranges, Accord-
9 ing to Vigne, it rises in a small lake called Chandia Bhagé, and the
10 river is called Chandra in the upper part of its course, After receiv-
11 ing accessions from Tilbet, the river flows with a steady current through
12 the Ritanka Pass, 18,000 feet above the sea. The Suraj Bhagd, a
13 stream of less magnitude, joins it from the north, at Tandi, where the river
14 assumes the name Chinéb. Taking then a north-westerly course for 130
15 miles, it flows with a full, steady current to Kishtwar, where, 5,000 feet above
16 the sea, it receives a considerable confluent, called the Sinud, from the north.
17 Taking thence a south-westerly direction and passing Akhnur, above
18 Jammu, where it becomes navigable, it opens on the plains of the Panjab
19 in the Sialkot District, near the village of Khairi Rihal, under the name of
20 Chinab, literally the river of China, indicating a belief that it has its origin
21 within the horders of China.f Taking a westerly course, it washes Wazir-
22 abdd, and, passing Ramnagar, enters the desert region of Jhang and joins the
23 Jhelum on its right, at Trimm4, in lat. 31°12’.N. and long. 72°12’ E. The tur-
24 bulence of the confluence is described by Arrian as having been terrific, but
25 the meeting of the waters is now entirely free from violence or danger even in
26 the middle of summer, when the rivers are usually in flood. The Ravi,
27 or Hydraotes, joins it on the left, 50 miles further down and below Fazilpar,
28 in lat. 30°33’ N. and long. 71°46’ E., nearly 180 miles from Uch, owing
29 to the windings of the river, and upwards of 53 miles from M<an. Con-
30 tinuing still a southerly course, but slightly inclining to the west for 110
31 miles, 1b is joined by the Ghara, or the mingled waters of the Bids and
32 . Sutlej, in lat. 29°21‘, long. 71°6.’ At the confluence the rivers are very
33 tranquil, the red colour of the Chinaéb being distinguishable on the right,
34 or west, for some miles downwards, from the pale colour of the Ghard on
35 the left, or east side. Lastly, the combined waters, after a course of 765
36 miles, lose themselves in the Indus, in lat. 28°55’ N. and long 70°28’ E,
37 being still 450 miles distant from the sea.
38 The Chindb is more rapid than any other of the Panjab rivers; the
39 banks are low, but open, well-wooded, and copiously irrigated by larger
40 channels of running water. Logs are floated down from the hills, 70 or 80
41 kos higher up, at the Jdllalabad ferry. Its junction with the Ghard, as
42 already observed, is effected without noise or violence, though, according
43 to Arrian, it surpasses the Nile. After receiving the waters of the Panjab
44 it falls into the Indus by a mouth thirty stadia im width.
45 THE RAVI,
46 The Ravi,§ the Hydraotes and Yarotis of ancient geographers, is the nn
47 least by far of the Panjab rivers. It rises in Kild, in the Kangra District,
48 * The Sanskrit Chandra Bhagé, or moon destiny; the Chanderbhaka of the Ayint Akbari ;
49 the Acesines of Arrian and Sandabilis of Ptolemy. It is also called Janda Bald and Shantri
50 in different portions of its course through the mountains,
51 + Moorcroft conjectures from this that the Greek name Acesines might have some
52 allusion to this also.— Travels, vol. i., p 196.
53 + Burn’s Travels in Bokhara, vol. iii., p. 300.
54 , §The Adris of Ptolemy, the Hydraotes of Arrian, the Hyarotes of Strabo, the Phuadis of
55 Pliny, the Irawadi of the Ayint Akbari, the Iravati of the Sanskrit (this being a name in
56 the Puranic mythology of Indya’s elephant), and the Raid of Masudi, the Arabian geographer.
57 It is also the name of a tribein the Mo Soa District,
58 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLt
59 The sowce of the
60 Chinab.
61 Its course.
62 The source of the
63 ae
64 rary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com