By: Bihar.ws
A striking feature about the geography of Bihar is its network of rivers of which the Ganges is most dominant and then joined by the three mighty rivers; Ghagra, Gandak, and Sone. Other tributaries include, Punpun from the south in the Patna district, Harohar and Kiul at Munger. Other major ones include, Falgu, Budhi, Chandan, Orhani, Burhi Gandak, Kosi and Mahananda. Most of these rivers are snow fed from the Himalayas. An amazing feature of the Gandak is that it is made of 7 smaller streams that join as a one river before entering Bihar from the North and ultimately in the Ganges.
The Ganges is a considerable river in its passage along the district of the city of Patna where it seems to be fully us large as in any part of its course for the immense stream of the Kosi makes little apparent difference in the main body and everywhere lower down many lateral branches exhaust all additional supplies so that from the mouth of the Kosi downwards to the sea the main channel continues gradually to diminish in width although as it approaches the level of the ocean it contains more water owing to a diminished rapidity of current.
The channel of the Ganges in the western parts of this district where it in general forms the boundary between Shahabad and Juanpur is from a half to three quarters of a mile wide but the size and rapidity of the stream is in spring much less than at Patna although it is no where fordable. The Ganges after receiving several rivers is enlarged to the size which it holds at Patna and its channel even when uninterrupted by islands is usually a mile wide. For about 25 miles to the mouth of the Son it forms the boundary between Shahabad and Saran.
The Sone for about 70 miles forms the boundary between the districts of Shahabad and Ramghar. It comes to this boundary from the west and from its reaching this district to where it receives the Kiul from the Ramghar district it seems to be no where above 1,000 yards wide and no where less than 600. The rock of some small hills in a few parts comes to the side of the river but the channel is no where rocky. It consists of sand with a few pebbles intermixed. In the end of December the stream is 3 or 400 yards wide but not rapid. It is pretty clear and in most parts deep. It is then only fordable in two places but in spring the fords are numerous.
In the rainy season the Sone is so rapid that little use can be made of it for navigation. In the dry season it scarcely admits boats to pass but vast quantities of bamboos are then taken down in floats which are pushed over the shoals. Below the mouth of the Kiul the channel of the Son is enlarged and extends from about 600 to 2,000 yards in width. In the rainy season this immense extent is often filled but this is only after great falls of rain after which it subsides and in 10 or 12 days becomes again fordable. This usually occurs three or four times in the season.
Boats can come up but the passage is very tedious for in the floods they cannot move and when the water falls the stream is divided into many channels after proceeding up one of which for miles the boatman finds it too shallow and in order to find deeper water is obliged to return. Boats are therefore chiefly employed to carry down stones and lime bamboos and timber are carried down in floats while all other goods are conveyed by land.
