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Indus (One of the great rivers)

one of the great rivers of Asia, which rises in Tibet, on the N. of mythology of the Hindus. After passmythology of the Hindus. After passtakes a S. W. course, and forcing its way takes a S. W. course, and forcing its way through the mountains called the Hindu Kush enters Hindustan in about lat. 35° N. Its course is generally to the S. Be- Indus, instead of increasing in volume, becomes gradually less. Its basin is here narrow, so that the affluents are insignificant, while its arid, sandy nature causes the river to suffer from absorption and evaporation. At Miani, 8 miles N. of Haidarabad, commences the Delta proper, which measures 75 miles upward, by 130 along the coast of the Arabian Sea. The area of the drainage -its extreme dimensions being respectively 900 miles and 750-has perhaps been over-estimated at 488,000 square miles. The value of the Indus as a route of traffic is less than that of most other streams of equal magnitude. In the winter, one only of its numerous outlets is at all available for communication with the sea. The Indus abounds with fish of excellent quality, and is infested by crocodiles.