1 Its course.
2 The suspension
3 Inidgye,
4 10 HISTORY OF THE =e
5 \
6 sacred Kailas Mountain, its most remote sources being the eastern feeders of
7 the great lakes, Manasarovara and Rawan Hrod, in lat. 30°8’, long. 81°53’. The
8 source of the Sutlej is near those of both the Indus and the Brahmaputra,
9 the Tsanpu of Tibet, the height of the neighbouring mountain peaks being
10 estimated at 22,000 feet. Abul Fazal, writing in 1582, says that its ancient
11 name was Shetuder, and that its source was in the peaked mountains of
12 Ghablore, in the Chinese empire. The Hindus regard the Kailasa as para-
13 dise, the seat of Shiva, theirdeity. Starting from its mountain elevation
14 the Sutlej first enters the vast alluvial tract of Goge. Close to Khab, 188
15 miles from its source, it receives from the north-west of Leh, or Spiti, a
16 stream larger than itself, 8,592 feet above the sea. The scene of the
17 confluence of the two rivers is described by travellers as sublime, a most
18 stupendous work of nature, and one of the grandest phenomena in the
19 world. The Spiti, issuing from adeep and narrow rocky channel, almost
20 subterranean, its calm blue current mixes with the muddy waters of the
21 Sutle} with a tremendous roar. Below the point of junction the river
22 is so deep and rapid that, even with a ten-pound sounding lead, no bottom
23 could be found. Eighty miles further up, at Ling, the river is crossed by
24 means of iron chains, the breadth being too great to admit of a rope bridge.
25 A short distance below Ling the bed of the river is 10,792 feet above the
26 sea level. The river is here called by the natives Langzhing Khampa,;
27 lower down it is called Muksung; again Sanpt; then again Zeungti; lower
28 still Samidrang ; yet lower down, in Basahar, Satudra (or hundred channel-
29 ed), and lower still Sutlej, by which name it is known up to its junction
30 with the Indus. Near Shipki, within Chinese territory, the elevation of
31 the stream is 10,000 feet above the sea. Below Shipki the river is
32 obstructed by rocks, and the torrent, being confined in a narrow channel,
33 is rapid and tortuous. Turning with great velocity it takes a north-westerly
34 direction for about 150 miles, through mountainous regions almost inac-
35 cessible to man, after which, turning to the south-west and skirting the
36 outer Himalayas, it bursts into many streams, which unite in one channel
37 as the river approaches the Siwalik range. At Jaure, on the north, or right,
38 bank, springs rising to a temperature of 130° Fahrenheit are found issuing
39 only two or three feet from the river, the waters of which have a strong
40 sulphurous smell. The fall of the Sutlej from Shipki to Ramptir in Basahar
41 is, with little exception, nearly uniform, and about 60 feet in the mile. At
42 Ramptr the river is crossed on inflated skins, during the cold season, while,
43 during the rains, it is crossed by a suspension bridge of ropes termed jhild.
44 A little below Bildspur the Sutlej takes a north-westerly course, after
45 which it turns again to the south-west and then flows south-east, A few
46 miles above Rupar, in 80°58’ lat., 76°29’ long., it breaks through the
47 mountain rampart of the Himalaya in the low sandstone range of J hejwan,
48 and emerges into the plains of the Panjab as a broad, turbid stream, no
49 more retaining its blue, mountain tinge, but becoming navigable. From
50 Rupar it takes a westerly course and divides into two branches, which re-
51 ae before reaching Ludbidna, From Philour, where the breadth is 2,100
52 eet, the Sutlej is navigable at all seasons. Pursuing thence its course to
53 Harika Pattan, it joins the Bids, after completing a course of 570 miles
54 The united streams, which assume the name of Ghara below the confluence,
55 Wii aey at Uch to form the Panjnad at their junction with the Indus
56 The Sutlej abounds in fish, and is remarka 1
57 Noted indicating its elevated and distant deci ce pera e
58 reaty between the English and Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1809,
59 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com