Kalang
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.
Kalang
An offshoot of the Brahmaputra in Assam, which leaves the main stream about 10 miles east of Silghat, and, after a tortuous course of about 73 miles through Nowgong District, rejoins it on the confines of Kamrup. In the upper part of its course the Kalang receives the rivers which flow from the western watershed of the Mikir Hills, while the Kapili, with its affluents the Jamuna and Doiang, the Barpani, and the Umiam bring to it the drainage of North Cachar and of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. The Digru, another con- siderable river, joins it near its western mouth. Through the greater portion of its length the banks of the Kalang are lined with villages, the most important of which are Kaliabar, Samaguri, Puranigudam, Nowgong, the District head-quarters, and Raha ; but at its western end the country through which it passes lies too low for cultivation, and the banks of the river are covered with dense jungle grass. A sandbank at its eastern end is a serious obstacle to traffic during the dry season, but in the rains a steamer of low draught plies between Nowgong and Silghat, and carries away the tea collected at various centres. Country boats come up from Gauhati at all seasons of the year for the transport of mustard, which is grown in large quantities in this portion of the Province. In the dry season the Kalang is fordable at Nowgong and Raha, but after its junction with the Kapili there is always a consider- able depth of water in the channel. Ferries have been established across the river at Kuwarital, Nowgong, Raha, and Jagi.
