XARBADA RITER. 209 Shakar, the Dudhi, Korámi, Machiná, Tawá, Ganjal, and Ajnál. On the north bank, the Narbadá receives, among others, the mountain streams Balai, Gaur, and Hiran. At Makrai, the Narbadá finally leaves the table-land of Malwa to enter upon the broad plain of Gujarat. For the first 30 miles it separates the Gaekwár's territory of Baroda, on the right, from the State of Rajpipla, on the left ; and then, for the remaining 70 miles of its course, including many windings, it intersects the fertile District of Broach. Its average breadth here varies from about half a mile to a mile. Below Broach city it gradually widens into an estuary, whose shores are 13 miles apart where they fall away into the Gulf of Cambay. The intlucnce of the tide is felt as far up as Rayanpur, about 25 miles above Broach. At the mouth of the estuary, spring tides sometimes rise to the height of 30 feet. In Broach District, the Narbadá las cut for itself a deep and permanent bed through the hard allurial soil. The right or north bank is generally high and precipitous, but is gradually being caten away by the present set of the current. The left bank is low and shelving. The fair. weather level of the river is about 21 feet below the surface of the plain, and even the highest floods do but little damage to the surrounding country. In this part of its course the Narbadá receives three tributaries—the Kaveri (Cauvery) and Amravati on the left, and the Bukhi on the right. Opposite the mouth of the Bukhi lies a large uninhabited island, called the Alia Bet. This has undergone many changes of late years, and now has an area of about 22,000 acres, overgrown with dense jungle. The total length of the Narbadá, from its source to the sea, is Soi miles; and the total area of its drainage basin is estimated at 36:400 square miles. Its maximum flood discharge has been calculated at 2,500,000 cubic feet of water per second. The vclocity of the current in the dry season at Broach city is less than one mile an hour. Throughout its entire course the Narbadá drains rather than waters the country through which it flows. It is therefore nowhere utilized for irrigation. Navigation is confined to the lowest section, which lies within Gujarat. In the height of the rainy season of 1847, a British officer succeeded in making his way down stream fron Mandlesar, in the territory of Indor; but the perils through which he passed are so great as to close the route to commerce. The highest point to which navigation ordinarily extends is about 15 miles above the Makrai Falls. In the rainy season-from July to September—boats of considerable tonnage are able to sail up as far as Talakwará, about 65 miles above Broach city, assisted by the regular south-west monsoon. Sea-going ships of about 70 tons frequent the port of Broach; but they are entirely dependent upon the tide, as they cannot come up in the VOL. X.
