'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1865 to December 1867. (Edited by the Honorary Secretary.) Volume XVIII.' [‎96] (123/268)

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proceedings oe
THE
and constant indications of a volcanic nature; but this is far from being the
case and from inquiry I am convinced that earthquakes are as little frequent
on ae Eunn as in any part of India. It must, however, be remembered that I
have only had opportunity of questioning the mhabxtants on the Kattyawar side
Of the Bunn The igneous nature of Kutch on the opposrte side is well known,
and earthquakes may be more frequent there, still I consider that the very fact
of earthquakes being almost unknown on this side of the Eunn, even if they
should be felt on the opposite coast, goes far to prove that the Kunn itself is not
the centre of their action.
27 The only earthquake of importance which has been noticed m the Runn
occurred in the year a.d. 1819, and was described by Captain Grant. This
earthquake is reported to have rent the deep chasm in the Eunn, now known as
the Chas, opposite Junghee, which terminates the Gulf of Kutch, or rather con
nects it on the Kutch side with the Eunn. This channel is constantly being en-
larged by portions from the sides falling in and being carried away by the
tide ; and vessels safely proceed where previous to 1819 they were unable to
28. It has hitherto been the common impression that the Runn was rising
rather than lowering its level, and this impression was shared by Captain Grant,
and unquestionably this is what we would expect from the operation of the
volcanio agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. believed in by the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. in the Bombay Saturday Review, such
agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. being calculated to elevate rather than depress. But the gradual rise of
land is so slow a process that it w'onld be a most difficult matter to ascertain.
29. It requires more than the mere fact of some alluvium here and there
being recaptured by the sea to prove that the Runn is undergoing a gradual
depression. It is a question of levelling, and the only way that suggests itself
to me, should Government desire further and more accurate information on the
subject, is that a qualified Officer be appointed for a few months to superintend
the placing of some long lines of level, which should be run out from some fixed
elevation on the mainland of the Runn. Permanent bench-marks should he fixed
at regulated intervals, and any changes of level by these means ascertained a
stated periods.
30. After all if it should he the case that volcanic action is inducing subsi
dence now who can promise that the same action will not re-elevate the Runn
and its neighbourhood at a future time.
31. Altogether I do not think that the article submitted for report from the
Bombay Saturday Review, the facts of which are somewhat doubtful, and the
speculations crude, need cause the Government any anxiety, at any rate, as
far as relates to the Runn on the north side of Kattyawar.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
H. Hebbert,
Political Assistant, W.D.’