Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-05

I'll EA lUQuS tue u-plSoS SoHA ~
Dera Ghazi Khan, place oil
II 900 inhabitants in the Western
Punjaub Founded 400 years ago by
a great Baluch chief, Ghazi Khan.
it. has seen dynasty after dynasty OF
rulers pass away-Baluchis, kalhorasr
Duranis and Sikhs-until the district,
mainly in the possession OF fiVe
Raluch tribes, settled down to peace
under the British flag. Dera GhaN
Khan became the headquarters or Inc
civil administration. and under the
shadow Of strong cantonment the
tiourishing trade mart for r1Ver-oorne
traffic prospered exceedingly, and IN
its buildings and places OF religious
worship showed the existence OF con-
siderable wealth.
But. at last. the Indus. which knows
no fixed bounds between the gorgs
al Kalabagh and the low rocks of Suk'
kur in far-of Sind. and wanders about
at It's own sweet will, made up 1ts
mind that Ghazi Khan's capital had
stood in its memory TOO long. Slowly,
but persistcntly. It approached, some
times cutting 10 the north and some
times to the south OF the doomed
town. but always eating its way near.
er and nearer At last, a violent
SCOOP. bitten out OF the valuable cult
waited lands above the cantonment,
rouSd all TO sense OF danger. Inc
troops were removed. and the garr1-
sons in further Baluchistan were
srrengthened. Then several protec-
tive works OF different types were de-
yised, and bit by bit a very large sum
of money was spent. Some years
passed. during which the Indus made
various and gradually successful at
tempts to counterfeit the power OF
man for it was not to be denied the
path that II had chosen.
The last phase commenced in the
summer Of 1908. year of very hlgh
food. It's power, increased by the
mace OF the extra volume Of waters,
outfanked and cut through the stone
embankment, which, constructed In
1899 was the sole surviving relic CT all
the protective works. Once this de
Tense was gone, the river moved In
land with great rapidly. The whole
embankment, a mile long. was sWal-
lowed up in So days. and the Indus,
advancing still further after destroy
Ing the rich groves and garden lands
on the outskirts Of the town. fore
Swallowed its real intentions by nib
bling off one angle and sending flood
round the low-lying. poorer quarters
at an abnor7nally late period of the
season. This much effected, 1t sank
quickly down into its more sluggish
winter chapnel, and did but little harm
until the next food season Of 1903.
The Indus. however. does not work 1ts
wicked will by advancing in straight
lines. but both In its larger and in it's
smaller movements 1t travels first by
cutting a bay inwards, and then by
looping off the projection that has
been thrown out Thus in 1909, haV.
ing brought its channel directly
against the Inflated town, 1t remained
practically quiescent there. while de-
vouring voraciously al! the gardens
and hamlets to the south.
When it had quite finished this in
ward journey below the town. in the
course Of which it travelled full two
miles at one place, it again turned Its
attention to Dera Ghazi Khan. The
houses 1t destroyed there were among
the oldest and most costly. but the
greatest width eroded was only so
yards. Then September came, and
with it the winter respite. The south
end, which had suffered the most In
the previous year. hardly lost house
n 1910, but the destruction ranged
from q short piece there to a large
area IN the north. The Indus, however.
spent most Of It's time Strengthening
It's course high above the town. and
thus the catastrophe was not COM
p!eted that year. Nevertheless, the bit
eroGed was congested with humanity,
IS only very old Indian towns can