INI)US, a celebrated river in India, known to the an cients by the name of Sindus, or Sinthus ; is called the Sindhu, or Sindhus, in the Sanscrit ; and Aub Sinde, or the water of Sinde, by the Persians. Its source has never been explored, and still remains a subject of conjec ture. The natives of Ilindostan assign to it a very remote origin in the mountains, four or five days journey to the north-west of Yarchand ; which would place it near the city of Cashgar, in Chinese Tartary, about 44° north lati tude, and 70n east longitude. Hence they describe it as taking a southerly direction, and approaching within two days journey of Landack ; then turning west, as far as Saighur, (probably the same as Shekerdou,) and aher wards proceeding in a direct course to the south. Mr Colebrook supposes that it may originate on the western side of the grout Himalaya ridge of mountains, and thence take a sweep to the north. It enters l-Iindostan about 33' 15' north latitude, where, it is joined by the Attock or Ca bul river, after which it is, no longer fordable, and is about three-fourths of a mile in breadth in the month of July. As it proceeds along the frontiers of Afghahistan, it re ceives all the principal streams of that region ; and, from Calabaugh northwards, it is a clear stream, rather deep than broad, Rowing between two ridges of rocks, and yield ing from its banks abundance of salt and alum. In the province of Mooltan, it receives all the rivers of Lahore, or the Punjab, and increases considerably both in depth and breadth ; but is not considered as one of the five rivers, which give the name to the Punjab, being rather the trunk or stock into which the Cabul and Lahore waters flow. About 170 miles from the sea, it divides into two branches, of which the westermost is the largest. This branch, af ter proceeding about 50 miles to the south-west, divides again into two parts ; and, as it approaches the sea, is sub divided into several other branches or creeks, like the Sun derbunds or Delta of the Ganges, of which the largest is the Ritchel. At the mouths of these different branches, the bore or sudden influx of the title is extremely high and hazardous ; but it is a remarkable circumstance, that the tides are not visible up the river at a greater distance than 60 or 65 miles from the sea. From Attack to Mooltan,
it is called Attock, or formerly Nilab ; and, farther down, it is named Soor or Shoor, till it separates at Tatta, (supposed to be the ancient Pattala,) when its largest branch is denominated Nlekran. Its whole course, in cluding its windings, and supposing it to originate to the north-west of Cashgar, is estimated at 1700 miles. From Attock Ito the Delta, its breadth is generally about a mile, and its depth varying from two to five fathoms. It is na vigable for vessels of 200 tons burden, from the Gulf of Cutch to Lahore—a distance of 760 geographical miles. From Attock to the sea, a distance of nearly 900 miles, it runs south by west, with fewer windings than any other river in India ; and forms, through the whole of that ex tent, a distinct barrier to Hindostan, which has never yet been passed by any of the invading armies. Its two princi pal mouths are those which enter the sea at the village of Ritchel, and at Jiget Point in the Gulf of Cutch ; but the number arut positions of its several outlets have been very imperfectly ascertained. The Delta of the Indus is about 150 British miles in length along the coast, and 115 in depth from the separation of the superior branches to the most prominent point of the sea coast. The lower part of this Delta is intersected by creeks and rivers in almost every three tion, but is altogether destitute of trees ; and, except a few of the drier spots, which are covered with brushwood, it is a mere desert of arid sand, noisome swamps, and muddy lakes. The upper part is well cultivated, and produces abundance of rice, which is mentioned by Abul Faze] as forming, with fish, the principal food of the inhabitants of these districts. A great portion of the Delta, especially the nearest to the sea, is set apart for the rearing of camels, which feed upon the tender parts of the brushwood. See Kennel's Memoir of a ..4Ialz of Hindostan ; Foster's Jour ney from Bengal to England ; Hamilton's East India Ga zetteer ; and Tennant's Indian Recreations. (9)