TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 163 



surface. There could be no mistake, also, in identifying the locality, — " the Caroli," 

 mentioned by Ealeigh as the Caroni ; for he mentions the falls, which are close to 

 the point where the Caroni joins the Orinoco. The other details of locality and 

 distance in Raleigh's accoimt were shown by the author to agree closely with the 

 facts that have now come to light. 



On the Munn of Cutch and the Countries between Majjoootana and JSind. 



By Sir Baktle Feere. 



The author stated that little had been recorded regarding this singular tract of 

 country, which he had visited in the exercise of his oificial duties. It formed a 

 great belt, presenting extraordinary physical features, lying between India Proper 

 and the Indus. It had neither mountain-ranges nor river-systems ; nor could it be 

 called a plain, for it is ridged into sand-hills ; nor desert, for it is everywhere 

 inhabited, in parts supporting a considerable fixed population and numerous herds 

 of cattle. The term "Pampas," or "Savannah," would imperfectly describe it. 

 The length of the district, N.E. to S.W. — from the point where nmnerous streams, 

 descending from the lower ranges of the Himalayas, between the Sutlej and the 

 Jumna, flow towards it and lose themselves in its sands, to the hills of Cutch, — was 

 about 600 miles, its breadth was about 150 miles ; the total area was somewhat larger 

 than that of Great Britain. The north-easterly part was termed the " Thun-," — a 

 plain diversified by sand-hills or ridges and waves of sand, varying from 60 to 200 

 feet in height, not uniform in direction and not lying in the direction of the wind. 

 The appearance of this countiy was most singular, reminding the traveller of the 

 ocean, with billows formed of sand. Next to this was the " Put," alluvial plains 

 formed of hard soil and adapted to cultivation. Throughout the "Put " could be 

 seen traces of ancient canals and ruins of cities. Lastly, the portjon nearer the 

 Indian Ocean and separated from it by the crescent-shaped, elevated territory of 

 Cutch was the " Runn." This was neither a morass nor a swamp, but a vast level 

 plain, with a siu-faee so firm that the feet of camels traversing it scarcely left an 

 imprint on the soil. Its length was about 150 miles, but if outlying areas were 

 included, it would be 300 miles, to the shores of the Cambay Gulf. The Runn was 

 nearly a dead level, rising slightly in its centre ; heavy rains covered it only transi- 

 ently with a thin film of water which found no drainage-outlet, but remained until 

 it evaporated, and became salt through the intensely saline nature of the surface. 

 It was totally destitute of landmarks, and travellers guided themselves only by the 

 stars ; and, on approaching Cutch, by a fire, kindled on the top of a hill, the lighting 

 and care of which was the self-imposed duty of a faqueer living near the spot. Not- 

 withstanding all precautions, however, travellers were sometimes lost on the plain 

 and perished miserably. The whole country was subject to earthquakes, most of 

 which were only slight vibrations, and it was to the action of these vibrations 

 that the author ascribed the pecidiar configuration of the country. Sometimes 

 small crateriform pits would be formed in the sandy soil, which subsequently became 

 obliterated, the sandy particles rearranging themselves and the perfectly level 

 surface again resumed. The more elevated district around showed evidences 

 of severer shocks, and the remains of ruined cities — some, as Brahminabad, beinc 

 of great extent — testified to their violence. To these shocks were due the 

 elevated ridges which constituted so singidar a feature ; these, in the opinion 

 of the author, being folds produced by earthquake-waves that had not again 

 subsided like other parts of the surface. The Rimn is periodically inundated 

 by the waters of the Indian Ocean, at the height of the south-west monsoon and 

 at high tides ; several rivers also discharge themselves into it on the eastern side, 

 but the water reaches the depth of only a few feet. During the dry season the eflects 

 of mirage were most extraordinary, the skeletons of camels perished in the traversal 

 presenting a deceptive resemblance to a magnificent city with its palaces and 

 towers. This fiequent phenomenon had given rise to a myth related by the inhabi- 

 tants, to the eft'ect that a pious king once obtained, as the result of his prayers, the 

 favour of the translation of his city to heaven, but on the discovery, after the upward 

 journey was commenced, of a jackass concealed in the buildings, the favom- was 

 revoked, and the proud city remained ever afterwards fixed in mid-heavens. 



11* 



