'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎247] (380/458)

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the probable ef
); butlhope^
ie Collector
Canal Clears^
IEA1N IN SCINDE—JULY AND AUGUST, 1851. <>47
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&vlrad paras 2 to 16, from a latter from the Deputy Collector of
Customs, No. 239, dated the 23rd August, 1851.
2. '—I beg leave to submit to you thcit during the entire period I \Ytis
resident in Kurrachee, and that any remarks or suggestions, I have
to make, must be solely of a local character. #
3. —The loss of life and property which occurred may be attributed
to two distinct causes—1st, the flood, and 2nd, the rain ; each of which
calamity (for such they must be considered) deserves a separate
notice.
4. —The Learee which enters Kurrachee harbour is a mere mountain
torrent; as a general rule, speedily rising and speedily exhausting itself.
It discharges itself by two channels, the smaller of which passes close by
the town, and from the wells in which the chief supply of water
for drinking purposes is obtained by the inhabitants. To the over
flowing of this channel the flood is to be attributed. It is said, that
with the' view of securing a good supply of drinking water, some
of the inhabitants cleared the land away in the bed of the river
where it branches, so as to lead the stream towards the town : this
may, or may not be true. That the main body of the river took this
direction contrary to the custom of former years, is beyond a doubt,
and for its advent neither the authorities nor the inhabitants appear
to have been prepared.
5. —The injury that resulted was confined to the suburbs of the
town ; the main road had to be cut through in two places to allow the
water to flow off, and walls and houses of sun-dried brick were
levelled with the ground, especially so where the foundations were
composed of the same material.
6. —The fishing village or the Muchee Meanee, as it is called,
was exposed to great danger ; but a short time previous an earthen
bund had been erected (in anticipation of the rising of the river)
from the north-west bastian of the town to the harbour side,
and thence to the bunder road, so as to confine the river to its bed on
one side, and thence to the bunder road, so as to confine the river
to its bed on one side, and to keep the salt-water from transgressing
its limits on the other. This barrier, however, either from having been
badly constructed on the river side, or from not having had time
i* consolidate, mas speedily burst through* and the lower parts of