INTRODUCTION. 214 



Chandar and Sano-i dra-ins are fringed with dhands, caused by 

 percolating water escaping from the lower strata of the dra-ins, and 

 accumulating in any low-lying places, where the bottoms of the 

 talis are at a sufficiently low level. Especially the belt of bhit and 

 tali country between the two great dra-ins of Sano-i and Pur Chandar 

 is studded with dhands which derive their supplies of sim water 

 from both dra-ins on either flank. The fresh-water suns and dhands 

 are supplied by water which percolates the sand, which is fairly 

 free from salts, but this water is not at a sufficiently low level to 

 tap the reh or kalar salts of the alluvial soil concealed beneath the 

 desert sand. Probably all the fresh-water sirns are at a higher 

 level than the brackish. 



None of the dhands are very deep, although another impres- 

 sion is given by a curious note on the Survey of India map about 

 the Pur Chandar jo dhand. The note states that " This lake is 

 of immense depth ; supposed by the natives to be fathomless and 

 the origin of Noah's deluge," 1 Mr. Mohammed Khan contrived 

 a raft upon which I sent out a native with a long pole. He touched 

 ground near the middle of the lake with the pole at a depth of about 

 15 feet and, I fear, damaged this picturesque legend. 



1 See sheet 44, scale 1 inch= 1 mile, Sind Survey. 



