'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎361] (470/496)

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been given owing to its being tlie resort and resting-place of large flocks
of wild geese.
5. _It is confidently asserted by the boatmen, that formerly carts
used to ci oss the dulf from Rohur to the Katteewar side over these is
lands, and they state that the remains of cart tracks are still distinctly
to be seen on some of the higher portions of the land. Only three
creeks had to be crossed, and which they effected without the aid of
boats at low water.
6. —I see no reason to doubt this assertion : it may be difficult, how
ever, for some to reconcile it with the present depth of water (seventy-
two feet) in two of the channels, though persons who have been station
ed near such localities must be well aware of the extraordinary altera
tions and changes even a single tide or a small bush sometimes causes ;
and the account given by the boatmen of the increased size and depth
of the Hunstal channel, affords another example, to the many already
known, of the effects a small obstruction to the passage of water may
give rise to.
7. —Formerly, when the land extended from shore to shore, and the
channels were shallow, the fishermen were in the habit of making em
bankments for the purpose of catching fish. The water in the Gulf
south of those islands is many feet lower than the water on the northern
side near the entrance of the Hunstal, where they describe the fall as
considerable, and similar to a water-fall. These embankments penned
up the wmters of the Hunn until their increasing volume dining trm mon
soon carried them away, and the velocity attained by the watei owing
to these circumstances, combined with the nan owners of the channels,
are causes sufficient to account for the present deep channel.
8 s Many of the islands are covered with cher, mangrove, and peloo,
bushes, but more particularly around their shores, which are constantly
submerged by the tides, which appears necessaiy foi the vi-,oious
growth of the bush. On those parts of the islands where the sea water
does not reach, the mangrove and peloo disappear, and sand occupies
the place of mud and bushes. There are places, however, having these
requisites, and yet neither the mangrove nor peloo will thrive: and this
is particularly the case along the muddy coasts noith of the Jinjooia a
Wowaneea Bunders.
9.—These Islands, as far as I was able to examine them at low water,