260 Narrikal or Cochin Mud Bank. [No. 12, new series. 



XVII.— Narrikal or Cochin Mud Bank. By Francis Day, Civil 

 Surgeon, Cochin. 



In the last number of the Madras Quarterly Medical Journal, 

 page 202, will be found a short notice of a re-discovery of a Mud 

 Bank, extending to Narrikal, about six miles north of Cochin. This 

 bank, so close to the shore, so extraordinary, and which might 

 eventually become most useful, appears to have been mysteriously 

 lo^t si^ht of by the European residents of the port, and even by 

 practical seamen. It is proposed to trace its history, from the pre- 

 sent time backwards to about 84 years ago, when the Dutch were 

 masters of Cochin. If this paper serves no other purpose, it may 

 be instructive, as showing how easily recorded facts are forgotten 

 in India. 



The re-discovery of this bank,* dates from May 22nd 1861, 

 when the vessel John tobbold, anchored there : less than three 

 and a half years previously, its existence was observed upon in the 

 small local Journal, in a letter dated February 13th, 1858, in which, 

 it was stated " the shore from thence (Malliapooram) to Palliport, 

 " is protected by a mud bank." 



In Lieutenant Selby's elaborate Chart of the Western Coast, 

 dated 1854, it is traced out, as extending from the mouth of the 

 Cranganoor or Aycotta river, to Narrikal. In 1841 it was remarked 

 upon by several Europeans. In Horsburgh? s East Indian Direc- 

 tory, fifth Edition, 1841, page 512, it is stated under the head of 

 Cranganore Fort : — " From the south point (of the Aycotta or 

 " Cranganoor river) a mud bank with 3 fathoms on it, projects 

 " out near two miles to seaward." 



Lieutenant Arthur in 1810 (Records of Travancore 1839) says, 

 " a ledge of rocks is stated, f to strike out from the Coast, for 

 " some distance in the vicinity of Pallypuram (Palliport), A mud 

 " bank lying about 3 miles out at sea parallel to the shore, and 



* See report of the Master Attendant of Cochin dated July 6th, 1861, 

 which enumerates its nautical advantages, and describes its position, &c. 



t His report appears an incorrect translation of that of Stavorinus. 



