Kauriala
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Kauriala
(also called Karnali). — River of Northern India, rising in Tibet, not far from one of the sources of the Sutlej, in 30 degree 40' N. and 8o° 48' E. After leaving Tibet by the Takla Khar or Yari pass, it flows through Nepal, generally in a south-easterly direction, till it emerges from the lower range of the Himalayas through a deep pictur- esque gorge known as Shlsha Pa.nl ('glass water'). The stream here is about 300 yards broad and of great depth, with a slow r current, closely shut in by precipitous cliffs 2,500 feet high. A little below Shlsha Panl the channel widens, with a steeper and rockier descent, causing magnificent rapids nearly half a mile broad. Lower down the river divides into two, the western branch retaining the name of Kauriala or Karnali, the eastern being called the GiRWA. Formerly the latter was an insignificant stream, but its volume has gradually increased till it is now considerably larger than that of the Kauriala.
They are both rapid rivers, with pebbly beds and fords which an elephant can generally cross without difficulty. Eighteen miles from its point of exit from the hills the Kauriala enters British territory, at the point where it receives the Mohan, and marks the boundary between the Oudh Districts of Kheri and Bahraich. It now receives on the east bank its former offshoot, the Girwa, and on the west the Suheli, Dahawar, and Chauka, all branches of the Sarda river. From the point of confluence with the Chauka the united rivers become the Gogra, which ultimately falls into the Ganges on its left bank, a little above Dinapore. The Kauriala is navigable by large boats of about 17 tons burden beyond the limits of British territory. The principal traffic is the export of grain, and of timber, ginger, pepper, ghi, and catechu from Nepal. Gold-washing is carried on by a caste called, after their occupation, Sonahis. The river abounds in fish.
