32 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



rivers, to the sea-shore of the delta, where Cutch, once 

 a great island, is now a part of the continent. In this 

 vicinity, so late as 1819, a vast surface of sand sud- 

 denly sunk down, upon which a stream of the Indus 

 came towards Lukput by an ancient and forsaken chan- 

 nel from Hyderabad (Pattala ?) to Bahmanabad, and 

 filled the depressed soil in the form of a shallow lake, 

 now called Ullahbund; and many smaller lagoons of 

 similar origin, mere water deposits, are still dispersed 

 on the plains eastward beyond Jeysulmair, to the 

 Hoony river in Marwar.* 



Proceeding to the opposite coast of the Gulf of Cutch, 

 we arrive at the island of Bate, or ancient Chunkodwar, 

 renowned in the legends of India for the demon Haiag- 

 rieva concealing the Vedas in a conch shell ; and then, 

 on the furthest point of Gujrat, observe Cape Juggeth, 

 at a distance appearing like a stranded ark, or wrecked 

 ship. Here is a celebrated pagoda, connected with 

 diluvian legends, for on this coast was Dwaraca, now 

 represented by Mhadapore, " before the ocean broke in 

 upon the land ; " and it is still pretended, that the 

 annual mysterious bird makes its appearance, as it did 

 in the time of Alexander. Inland, the elevated western 

 Ghauts appear with but an insignificant breadth of 

 plain at their base, continuing from Surat to Cape 

 Comorin, in other respects destitute of indications of 



* By information, very recently received, it appears that 

 a second submersion, greater than the Ullahbund, has taken 

 place during the present summer (1845) offering a further 

 confirmation of the theory above advanced. 



