1036* Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. [No. 144. 



berless small conical-shaped, ribbed peaks, like that of the Chunder 

 Koops, and their surface appears to have been baked to hardness by 

 the sun." In this range of hills it is highly probable, that numerous 

 mud volcanoes, similar to those already described by Captain Hart, 

 would be found, and the entire tract is evidently the seat of active 

 volcanic forces. The result of Captain Hart's experiment on the 

 activity of the Chunder Koops is thus described : " On our way back, 

 nine days after first seeing them, I again visited the Chunder Koops. 

 The appearance of the one that was fallen in, was as sand in a muddy 

 pool, and the water instead of being clear as before, was quite dis- 

 coloured: the stream also had ceased flowing for some time, as the 

 plains bore no marks of moisture. On reaching the summit of the 

 larger one, it was very evident that an eruption had taken place the 

 day before (Monday,) for the channel on the western side was quite 

 filled with slime, which had oozed down the side of the hill, and ran 

 some thirty yards into the plain below. The dry clods I had placed 

 when before here were covered, and it was not safe to cross where the 

 mud had found an issue, whereas my whole party had when with me, 

 walked round the edge of the basin. The jets rose as usual. So 

 tenacious is the mud of this one, that even cocoa-nuts which the 

 Hindoos throw on it do not sink, but in the others it is more liquid. 

 No alteration had taken place in the appearance of the small Koop.' > 



From these interesting details, and from the fact that throughout the 

 tract of country on both sides of the Indus near the sea, hot springs 

 are disseminated ; it appears that the usual characteristics of localities 

 subject to Earthquake shocks are found in that now under notice. It 

 is to be regretted that our information relative to the actual occurrence 

 of Earthquakes here is so very limited ; but the inhabitants of the coun- 

 try are unsuited for retaining and transmitting such observations, since 

 even the great shock of 1819 was, as Captain Burnes informs us, early 

 forgotten, and had intelligent European observers not been on the spot 

 shortly afterwards, the event would probably never have been heard of, 

 and the many interesting phenomena their labours have served to 

 eliminate, would have been lost to science. 



Captain Burnes informs us, that it is the general belief among the 

 inhabitants of the province, that " the sea is receding from the south- 

 ern shores of Cutch," or more correctly, as the sea-level continues 

 unaltered, that there is now taking place a very slow and insensible 

 elevation of the coast of Cutch, similar most probably in its nature to 

 that in progress on the coasts of Sweden, the reality of which has 

 been satisfactorily established by Mr. Lyell. This elevation would 

 seem to be much more extensive than Captain Burnes was aware of, 

 since, if native traditions are to be depended upon, a like process has 

 taken place in the province of Lus,* on the same coast of the Arabian 

 Gulf, but much farther to the westward : in the same tract of country 

 indeed in which the mud volcanoes formerly described are said to 



* Lieutenant Carless, I. N. Memoir on Lus, As. Soc. Jour. Vol. VIII, p. 154. 



