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flowing through the latter, the Nakanokuchi being shorter than the Shinano between the points of separation and re-uniting, the water has a greater velocity in the former than in the latter, and the river being moreover deeper, most of the down-going boats go by the Nakanokuchi.
Formerly this river separated from the Shinanogawa at Osima, where the two rivers are now separated from each other only by an embankment; the Nakanokuchi was then only a small brook, even of less importance than the present Nishi-kawa; but about 150 years ago the part between Dowkiu and Osima was dug and the existing part widened to its present state, probably in consequence of inundations along the Shinanogawa, but I could not clear up this point. In those times, too, the Shinanogawa flowed through the now dry bed of the Furu-Shinano, as it is called at present, between Oosima and Idoba, over a length of about 9,000 feet; but by-and-by it changed its course by breaking in the right bank until it formed the sharp double-curve which is now to be found between those two places.
The minimum depth of the Shinanogawa may be stated to be 3 or 312 feet at low water; but this minimum only exists in some places, while in general the depth is much greater, and I think that by the construction of well arranged works the river might be so fur improved as to allow ships of 6 feet draft to come up as far as Okodz, and perhaps to the extensive town of Nagaoka (6 ri above Okodz.)
Between Okodz and Niigata the course of the river is generally speaking parallel to the sea coast at about 5 or 6 ri distance from it. This comparatively narrow strip of land between the river and the hills along the sea coast, is irrigated by the Nishikawa and the Naka no kuchikawa, whereas at this side there are no feeders of the Shinanogawa. There are many of them at the right side of the river, all proceeding from the hills which are at some distance from the right bank. The principal of these confluents are:—1, The Imamatshikawa, also called Karyada-kawa, coming from Nagaska, length about 8 ri,
