'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1865 to December 1867. (Edited by the Honorary Secretary.) Volume XVIII.' [‎96] (232/268)

Art. VII.—MEMORANDUM on the GEOLOGICAL ACTION
on the SOUTH COAST of KATTYAWAR, and in the
RUNN of KUTCH. By William Sowerby, Esq., C.E.,
E.G.S. Contributed by the Author,
Read before the Society, September 26th, 1867.
The attention of the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. was some short time ago
directed by an article in the Bombay Saturday Review to two very
important questions, namely, the filling up of the eastern shores of the
Gulf of Cambay, and the supposed depression of the Runn of Kutch.
The question was referred to ^Professor Oldham, Director of the
Geological Survey of India, for his opinion and advice, and his Memo
randum was recently published, together with a resolution determining
to have proper soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. made and also suitable bench-marks fixed in
order to determine the question of the depression of the Runn. The
relative elevation of these permanent bench marks was to be ascertained
with reference to the <c Mean sea level” and in order to fix the
“ Mean sea level,” a series of observations were to be made extending
over several lunations.
In his Memorandum Dr. Oldham observed that these evidences
of a change in the relative level of land and sea derived from facts
observed in the Runn of Kutch, are only a very small portion of similar
facts which have been noticed elsewhere round the Coast of India.
These occur almost everywhere along the entire coast, and for the
most part they point to a rise in the land.”
Dr. Oldham also says, in another part of his memorandum, “ that in
every case in which such a secular change of level has been established,
the change has not amounted to more than a few inches, or a foot or
two in a hundred years.” It is thus evident that he regards these
secular changes of level or gradual upheaval as established facts, and
indeed this theory of the gradual rise or depression as the case may he,
is one that is very commonly accepted by Geologists, whereas the real
truth is that there is a gradual alteration of the “Mean sea level,
which is easily accounted for by causes not difficult to understand or
explain, without much theorising on the subject.