912 Report on the Country between ("No. 105. 



Runnie ka Kote is situated two and a half coss from Sunn, a town of 

 Runnie. about 100 houses, on the right bank of the Indus. It 

 was built by Meer Kurrum Ali, and his brother Meer Morad Ali 

 twenty-seven years ago, cost twelve lacs of rupees, and has never 

 been inhabited in consequence of there being a scarcity of water in 

 and near it. That so large a fort should have been constructed with- 

 out its having been ascertained beforehand that an article so indis- 

 pensably requisite, not only for the use of naan, but even for the con- 

 struction of the walls, was wanting, seems most extraordinary ; but I am 

 told that this is the sole reason for its having been abandoned. A 

 rapid stream in the rains runs past it and joins the Indus, and by a 

 deviation from its course, part of the walls of this fort have been de- 

 stroyed. The hill on the north face is the steepest, and from the in- 

 telligence I received, must be at least 800 or 1000 feet high ; the op- 

 posite hill is of considerable height, and the east and west walls are 

 built on level ground, and join those constructed on the hills ; the whole 

 is of stone and chunam, forming an irregular pentagon, and enclosing 

 a space capable of containing 2000 men. 



The course of the river (which I believe to be that described by me 

 in the account of Scinde, written in 1832 as Sunn river) ran formerly 

 round the base of the north face, but about twelve years ago it changed 

 its course, and destroyed part of the north-west wall, the distance 

 from that wall to the river being about 400 yards ; the bed of the 

 river (original course) is described as rocky ; if so, nothing could 

 be more easy than to deepen it at the point where it has taken a turn, 

 and construct a tunnel from thence to the fort, and below the wall 

 (which must be rebuilt on arches) an excavation made inside, to receive 

 the water, and a supply would be secured. It is not surprising however 

 that this idea has not occurred to those who originally built the place, 

 without considering from whence water was to be obtained. The fort is 

 thirty-eight coss from Kurrachee. I have a survey of the route to 

 within twenty-seven coss of it, and shall endeavour to get a rough survey 

 of the fort, as it might be of use as a station for our troops. The 

 Ameers, I am told, would gladly give it up, considering it of no valtte 

 from the cause stated. 



Bambour is in the Gharra creek; it is scarcely distinguishable now, and 

 Bambour. is reported to have been the site of a Kaffir city and fort. 



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