CHAP. 2.] THE EUNN. 21 



assumes, and which is only to be distinguished from real water by those 



who are long habituated to such visionary illusions."* 



The constantly prevaiKng mirage, called 'janjua' in East Kutch, 



has not been seen on the Runn to quite so much 

 Mirage. 



advantage as above described, but its effect in 



magnifying objects and altering the shapes of hills has often been 



observed, the chief distortions being vertical : thus, when returning from 



Sindi-ee, some men who followed next morning to search, — thinking the* 



party lost, — appeared in the distance as tall as camels ; and the hills of 



the Putchum and of Kutch often appeared divided by gaps, giving the 



impression of lofty tabular or domed mountains with mm-al sides, or 



horizontally separated from their bases ^ if raised into the air. The 



appearance of water with objects — when there are any in view — reflected 



upon it is of common occurrence. 



The similarity which the Runn bears to a raised sea bottom has 



been often recorded. That it has been elevated from beneath the sea 



during recent geological time will appear from reasons to be given 



hereafter. 



* The Khar Oadha, Onager, or wild ass, of the Rann is stated to frequent only 



that part of it in the neighbourhood of Eurreer. They are extremely wild, having never 



been seen by us within recognisable distance, but their tracks 

 Animals on tlie Emm, 



were occasionally observed. They are supposed to eat the coarse 



vegetation of the dhoois, and to visit the islands and margin of the upland at nio-ht in 



search of food and water. 



According to the native account, as recorded by Lieutenant Dodd, "The ass is 

 found in small flocks, composed of one male, several females, and the remaining animals 

 devoid of the organs of generation. It is stated that on the males arriving to maturity 

 they fight for the mastery, when the victor emasculates the vanquished, who follow after- 

 ward in his track." 



Lieutenant Dodd says that Burnes, wi'iting in or about the year 1830, mentioned lions, 

 bears, tigers and wolves as to be found north of Bhooj, none except the latter being 

 now visible ; but that a solitary lion was shot on the Eunn near Bela, supposed to have 

 wandered from Eattiwar. 



A few antelope, ' black buck,' were met with in 1868 on the Runn between Wagir 

 and Bdla; they are unknown in Eutch generally, and are likewise supposed to have come 

 from Eattiwar. 



( 21 ) 



