'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎363] (472/496)

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coarse conglomerate, leads from a large island to this reservoir, which at
present is choked up with mud, being the accumulation of the ashes
from the funeral pyres of departed Hindoos, which are thrown into this
overflowing reservoir, from the want of some more sacred depositary like
the Granges and other sacred rivers. The outlet for the superfluous water
is on the eastern side, and there is a constant stream issuing from it about
six inches by eight, this causes, for a considerable distance round the
reservoir, the ground to become a perfect swamp covered with green
grass, upon which herds of buffaloes find pasturage—bullocks or cows do
not venture on it. The appearance of this bright green spot in the
middle of the Hunn, where all around is bare and white, from the crust
of salt which everywhere else covers this extraordinary locality, is most
refreshing.
13. —On questioning some Meanas, a tribe of notorious plunderers
residing on the borders of the Runn on either side, how they manage to
escape these quicksands when the surface of the Runn was covered with
water, they replied, that they could easily distinguish them even when
the water was up to their saddle girths, both from the bearing of certain
points of land and from an appearance on the surface of the water,
doubtless caused by the flow of the spring being greater at that period,
which must either discolour the water, or cause some peculiar eddy or
movement in the water which experience has taught them to avoid.
14. —I observed the marks of cart wheels having apparently gone into
some of the quicksands, and was doubting in my mind the truth of the
stories about these spots being so dangerous, when the Meanas who
accompanied me evidently conjectured my thoughts, for they at once
explained that the marks w r ere those of new cart wheels and carts that
had been purposely placed in the mud for the purpose of seasoning the
wood and rendering it more durable. They are allowed to remain from
ten to fifteen clays, or even longer.
15. —During a sail across from Wowaneea Bunder to Wagur Bara in
the month of April, we disturbed three large sharks where the water
was little more than a foot deep. I was informed by the fishermen they
were numerous, and in such situations must fall an easy prey to the har
poon,—a weapon in use in those parts. Numbers of excellent eating fish
are caught both by the hook and net,—the former an implement of most
rude construction, being a bent piece of iron without pretension to
shape or make ; the latter an improvement on the common casting net,
which it would be difficult to describe on paper, further than it will