Brahmaputra

Brahmaputra ('son of Brahma'), one of the largest rivers of India, rises in Tibet, and, after partially mingling with the Ganges, flows into the Bay of Bengal. As a result of explorations (1878-82) by one of the Asiatics attached to the Indian Survey, the fact that the Sanpo (see TIBET) is the highest source of the Brahmaputra was reduced to almost a certainty. The Sanpo has its rise in Lake Manasowar in Western Tibet, in an elevated tableland, from which also spring the Sutlej and the Indus; flows eastward for about 1000 miles on the plateau of Tibet; then, turning SE., it pierces the Himalayas to descend to the valleys of Assam, where it is known as Dihong, and unites with the Dibong and the Brahmakunda, the three rivers forming the Brahmaputra, which flows SW. and S. The entire length from the latter source exceeds 900 miles; from the former 1800 miles. The term Brahmaputra has been derived from the Hindu name of the river in Assam; by the Assamese it is known as Haraniya; above its junction with the Ganges it is known as the Jamuna. The united stream bears along a vast body of water (700,000 cubic feet per second on the average; 1,270,000 at high-water), broken by many islands, and throwing off branches; it flows from NE. to SSW. for about 450 miles, leaves Assam near Dhoobri; flows S. round the Garo Hills; for 180 miles its course is through the plain of East Bengal, till it joins the Padma, or main stream of the Ganges, at Goalanda. Here the conjoint delta of these rivers begins; the great body of its waters (1,250,000 cubic feet per second on the average, and 2,435,000 at high-water) flowing SE. reaches the sea by the estuary known as the Meghna. The old bed of the stream lay farther to the east, and still brings down a portion of its waters past the civil station of Maimansinh district, to join the main stream by means of the Meghna. During the rains the Brahmaputra floods hundreds of sq. m. of country, reaching a height of 30 to 40 feet above its usual level. This supersedes artificial irrigation, and the plains so watered yield abundantly in rice, jute, and mustard. It is navigable for steamers to Dibrugarh, 800 miles from the sea. The knowledge of the river by Europeans dates from 1765. The down-river traffic is largely composed of tea, also timber, oil-seeds, jute, tobacco, and rice; the imports include European cotton goods, liquor, tea-seed, &c.