 In 1840 Cautley reported on the proposed Ganges canal, for the irrigation of the country between the rivers Ganges, Hindan and Yamuna (then called the Jumna), which was his most important work.Cautley began working towards his dream of building a Ganges canal, and spent six months walking and riding through the area taking each measurement himself.He was confident that a 500-kilometre canal was feasible.