110 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



Proceeding to the opposite coast of the Gulf of Cutch, we 

 arrive at the island of Bate, or ancient Chunkodwar, renou ied 

 in the legends of India for the demon Haiagrieva 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 Ghauts appeal with 

 but an insignificant breadth of plain at their base, continuing 

 from Surat to Cape Comorin, in other respects destitute of 

 indications of important changes; but when this most southern 

 extremity of the peninsula is turned, the sea between the 

 mainland and the island of Ceylon is found to be of inconsid- 

 erable depth, particularly in the Gulf of Manaar, abounding in 

 the pearl oyster; and, from the long and narrow island of that 

 name, on the Ceylon side, a shoal, impassable to ships of bur- 

 then, extends across the intervening space to Ramiseram, a 

 similar low and lengthy island, which almost joins a point of 

 land, projecting far out from the coast of the Carnatic. This 

 shoal, based perhaps upon a natural dyke of rock, is the cele- 

 brated Adam's Bridge of geographers; and, at the time of the 

 first European navigators, still retained several islands above 

 water.^ Both Manaar and Ramiseram are decorated with 

 temples, and the whole region, on either side, is redolent of 



* The channels have shoaled up to a little more than four feet of water, 

 as we were informed by the late Major Rennell, who had surveyed the 

 vicinity, since the French Admiral, SufFrein, about the years 1730-81, 

 caused vessels to be sunk in them, from an apprehension that English 

 forces might pass through these gaps, along the Indian stores, without 

 his knowledge, and avoid going round the south side of Cey.bn. Though 

 at certain seasons there is a strong current in the channels, it is likely 

 that the usual tides meet at the bridge, for the lagoons are everywhere 

 filling up. 



