588 Lieut. Burnes’? Memoir on the Eastern Branch of the River Indus, Sc. 
« The Runn has every appearance of the sea having shortly withdrawn from it. This 
is supported by the semblance and production of the neighbouring country, and large 
stones are found on this shore several miles from the present Runn, of a description 
similar to those used as anchors: they have holes bored through for the cable. On the 
shore at different places are shown small ancient buildings, called Dan Deris, or houses 
where the ddn or customs were collected, and, in short, it is a tradition in the country 
that Khor, a village two miles east of Ticar, was a sea-port town. About fifty years 
since the wreck of a vessel, of a size far beyond that of any of the craft now in use in the 
gulf of Cutch, was discovered at Wawénia, sunk in the mud about fifteen feet. The sea is 
gradually encroaching there, and has assumed the shape of a deep and narrow creek, 
which at low water is left dry. As the bank was carried away the wreck became 
exposed, and the timber was used in the village of Wawania for fuel ; there was no iron 
in the vessel, she was bound by cordage of coir. The circumstances would induce 
a belief that at some former period the gulf of Cutch penetrated very high up to the 
eastward, although it is a well-known fact, that it has been increasing for these last 
hundred years, during which period it has been much enlarged.’”’—Extract from MS. 
Memoir on Cattywdr by Lieutenant McMurpo, August 1815. 
That the gulf of Cutch has been encroaching for the last hundred years I much 
question, if so, it certainly has not been upon Cutch itself, but towards the eastward ; 
for in the memory of man, the width of the gulf has been contracted, as its waters, 
about fifty years ago, approached close upon the walls of Mandavie, and now the sea is 
three hundred yards distant, and recedes yearly. So much indeed has this been the 
course of events throughout, that about three miles above the present town of Mandavie 
the natives point out the remains of a town called by them “‘ Old Mandavie” which is 
believed to have been a sea-port three hundred years since, and near which old coins are 
still frequently found ; the fields about it are strewed with shells, all of which is against 
the opinion expressed of the sea encroaching. The creek which Captain McMurpo 
alludes to near Wawdnia-bander, in which the wreck was laid open, might easily have 
been formed without a general approach of the gulf water, as the course of a rivulet, 
or the most trifling cause, would turn water which is blown up by the winds, 
(P.) It is a singular fact that Cutch, which was included in the Ahmeddbdd division 
of the Moghul empire, was by a firmdn of the Emperor JeHAncir, exempted from pay- 
ing tribute, on the stipulation of transporting, free of expense, yearly, such pilgrims as 
should pass from the neighbouring provinces on their road to Mecea. 
