Historiography and Commentary On The 16 June 1819 Kutch Earthquake, Gujarat, India

Indian Journal of Geosciences, Volume 68, No.
1
January - March, 2014; pp. 57-126
Historiography and commentary on the 16 June 1819 Kutch Earthquake, Gujarat, India
Sujit Dasgupta1* and Basab Mukhopadhyay2
1Formerly with Geological Survey of India. Present Address: 16/1D, Bose Pukur Road, Kolkata 700 042, India
2Geological Survey of India, Central Headquarters, 27 J. L. Nehru Road, Kolkata 700016, India
*Corresponding author. E-mail: sujitdasgupta@yahoo.com
Abstract: Transcriptions from original documents describing the effects of the 16 June 1819 Kutch earthquake in the western India
constitute the basic theme of this paper. The objective is to collate all relevant rare and out-of-print materials and compile them in
the form of a comprehensive document to facilitate future research. Descriptive accounts for this earthquake and contemporary research
based on such sources indicate that this earthquake was a very large event and one of the vastly documented earthquakes of the
Nineteenth Century. Re-evaluation of archival materials suggest that this earthquake might have been produced from a north-dipping
blind thrust with listric geometry at depth producing fault-propagating fold which is manifested by the presence of 100-km-long
sinusoidal Allah Bund with steeper southern scarp and gentler northern face in the Runn of Kutch. The tentative epicentral location
is around Wagajakot / Vigakot placed north of Allah Bund. Such a major earthquake followed by another one almost 200 years later
on 26 January 2001 (Mw 7.7) at Bhuj with numerous moderate- to low-magnitude shocks in between, including the Anjar earthquake
(Mw 6.0) of 1956 mark the seismic vulnerability of this Stable Continental Region (SCR), and thus necessitates reconciliation on
available seismic hazard assessment.
Keywords: 1819 Kutch Earthquake, Runn of Kutch, Allah Bund, north-dipping blind thrust, archival material, seismic hazard
Introduction
The region of Kutch has significant political history coupled
with notable seismic record. In the earlier part of 19th century,
Kutch was in commotion for a considerably long period of
time; 35 years of misrule by an ineffective and insane ruler of
Kutch, Rao Roydhunjee till 1813, followed by a similar reign
of bloodshed, treachery and falsehood under Rao Bharmuljee,
the British Government (Company) decided that the affairs of
as successor on 9th April 1819, under the title Shree Daisuljee

and Regency formed headed by British Resident for the conduct
of administration. The town of Bhooj and the country in general
appear to have hailed the interference with delight. The general
opinion of the Chiefs and respectable men in Kutch was that
the welfare of the newly established Government and country,
as also their own lives and property, depended on the efficiency
of the British influence (Raikes, 1855). Unfortunately within
Kutch should be brought to a speedy settlement (engagement
about 2 months time Kutch was devastated by the severe
of Company with Kutch commenced in 1809). In the beginning
earthquake of 16th June 1819. Let us browse the picture
of 1819 arrangements were made to coerce Rao. On 25th
portrayed by Lieut. Raikes, Assistant Political Agent, from his
March, 1819 British force escaladed Bhooj Fort, no lives lost
document Memoir and Brief Notes Relative to the Kutch
but a few assailants injured. Minor son of late Rao was selected
State:
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Sujit Dasgupta and Basab Mukhopadhyay / Indian Journal of Geosciences, 68(1): 57-126
Tranquillity was for the first time for years displaying its benign
influence over the face of nature; mans worst passions, which
the current of events had called into action, were gradually
subsiding, when, as if to show the nothingness of a nations
convulsions and revolutions, as if to make the chief actors in
these scenes feel the utter feebleness and helplessness of man,
or thousands of men, a mighty earthquake visited the Province,
shaking every house, from the Princes palace to the paupers
grass hut, to its centre; nor were the resting- places of the dead
exempt from the devastation committed by this mighty
convulsion of nature. The Raos palace was rendered temporarily
uninhabitable, while hundreds of houses in Bhooj, Anjar,
Mandvee, and Lukput were buried to the ground, burying
hundreds of men, women, and children in their ruins; numbers
also of the forts, including the marauders strongholds, were
dismantled, and not again allowed to be repaired. The accounts
of the desolation of Bhooj forcibly remind one of the descriptions
given of the last days of Pompeii. A number of extraordinary
phenomena are reported to have occurred at the moment of the
shock, an instance or two of which I hope to be pardoned for
noticing.... The Runn, and Bunnee, lying on the north of Kutch
and between it and the Punchum Island, which were quite dry,
were suddenly covered over with a sheet of water; the extent
of it, east and west, is not known, but in width it was about six
miles, its depth was upwards of two and a half feet; after which,
in a few hours, the water sank down to about half that quantity.
Horsemen who crossed the track on the day following the
shock, describe a number of cones of sand elevated above the
water, the summits of which were emitting air and water. The
dry beds of the rivers were generally found flooded with water
for a short space of time, the water having the colour and taste
of the soil, from which it would appear to have been forced by
some convulsion of nature below. Many wells, which were
previously sweet, became salt, and vice versa, while a mighty
up-heaving of a large bank in the western part of the Runn
completed what the enmity of the Ameers of Sind had previously
commenced, viz, the shutting out of the Indus waters from
Kutch. This bank bears the name of Ulla Bund, or the Bund
or embankment of God; its height above the original level is
estimated at about 18 feet, while its length is undefined, running,
some think, as far as the Punchum Island, but at all events, for
many miles in that direction. It is estimated as being at least
50 miles long; its width varies from 10 to 15 miles. This Bund
is situated in the Runn about 10 or 15 miles south of Raoma
Bazar in Sind, a portion of it being passed en route from that
place to Loona in Kutch, though the greater portion of it remains
on the right of the road or track. The Jogees or religious devotees
of Deenoder, the highest hill in Kutch, on which there is a
monastery, declare that during the earthquake of 1819 fire issued
from the hill. It bears evident traces, in common with others
in Kutch, of having been subjected to volcanic action at some
period of its history, but one can hardly fancy so recent an

eruption without unquestionable evidence thereof being traceable.
In the present document our primary objective is to compile and

bring together all available published literature on this important
earthquake in an attempt to bridge the gap between history and
science; to place before researchers a comprehensive volume
with reproduction of original text from rare and out-of-print
publications in promoting scientific parlance from archives. It
may be noted that historic documents are the primary source
material to decode earthquake parameters that occurred before
the advent of modern concepts and instrumentation in the field
of seismology and earthquake geology.
A large number of published documents are available on
this great earthquake including those from eminent scholars
like Charles Lyell, Harry Reid, and R. D. Oldham among
others. Available literatures on this severe and very large
earthquake of June 16, 1819 can be divided into two groups.
A series of documents in the form of letters and notes on the
effects of earthquake were published by the British (Company)
officials who were stationed at different places of Cutch and
also from other parts of India. Such primary authentic reports
got published within the period 1820-1824 and followed by
publication of some compilations on the earthquake effects,
e.g. from Baird-Smith (1843) and subsequently by Oldham
(1883). The other group of publications deal with geomorphic
changes within the Runn of Cutch attributed to the earthquake.
As it is well known that this earthquake produced the first
documented evidence for co-seismic deformation in the form
of a linear mound (Allah Bund) across the northern part of the
Runn of Cutch and attracted several workers to revisit the site,
though not necessarily and primarily to decode the feature but
on other political and geographical considerations; nevertheless,
ground information and data thus generated was of immense
value in furtherance to study the earthquake-related deformation
feature. The visit of Burnes in 1827 and 1828 and that of Baker
in 1844 and their respective publications laid solid foundation
to carry forward the implications through several valuable
documents throughout the greater part of the nineteenth century.
Significance of these reported changes in ground elevations
in relation to the earthquake attracted the notice of Sir Charles
Lyell who not only included the description in his book
Principles of Geology published first in 1830, but also
interacted with the officials and pursued for ground surveys
that resulted further documentation and updating of the account

in successive editions of his book. As we go along, Lyells
version as appeared in his eighth edition published in 1850
has been reproduced in this compilation. Subsequent several
visits to the site during the fifties and sixties of nineteenth
century resulted in short notices about the condition of the
Sindri Lake and the Allah Bund but did not result to any
consequent value addition; rather the work of Wynne from the
Geological Survey of India published in 1872 had cast doubt
on the actual raising of the Allah Bund though he favoured
subsidence for the formation of the Sindri Lake. Apparently
Wynne accessed the unpublished (circumstance described
below) map of Baker (1846) but not the profile which provided
positive proof for the nature and origin of the Allah Bund. The
chapter on the Cutch earthquake by Wynne is reproduced along
with the portion of his map showing the lake and the bund.
This view of Wynne was subsequently adopted by Professor
Suess [quoted from Oldham, 1898], who threw over his original
view that the Allah Bund was the manifestation of a deep
seated fold at the surface (Die Entstehung der Alpen, 1875,
p.152) and in his Antlitz der Erde (Vol.1, 1885, p.61)
unreservedly accepted Mr Wynnes suggestion. The first
example of co-seismic deformation thus could have been
dismissed but for Oldham who retrieved the original tracings
of Baker which was not published earlier with his document
in 1846. Oldham (1898) published the map and the surveyed
profile of Baker in his article A note on the Allah Bund in the
northwest of Runn of Kuchh in GSI Memoir, Number 28. We
have reproduced the text part of Baker (1846) along with the
map and profile from the publication of Oldham; and
subsequently the note of Oldham (1898). A succinct and lucid
summary on the nature of the Allah Bund by Reid (1911)
constitutes an important component of his article The elastic
Rebound Theory of Earthquakes where he sites the Allah
Bund-Sindri Lake as the first example in support of elastic
rebound during earthquakes. Relevant portion of this pathbreaking publication is incorporated after the document of
Oldham (1898). Oldham in 1923 also published a paper entitled
The Character and Cause of Earthquakes, highlighting the
Allah Bund in the Journal Nature but we do not include it;
instead finally we reproduce the article of Oldham (1926)
where he has dealt with all issues that arose since the earthquake
occurred on June 16, 1819.
59
Before we enter into the documentation of archival

material, we would first go through the contemporary research
publications on this earthquake that pertains to the latter part
of twentieth century till date.
Contemporary Research
This great earthquake provides the earliest well-documented
instance of faulting during an earthquake (Richter, 1958).
Chandra (1977) gave epicentral co-ordinate as 23.6N: 69.6E
with maximum intensity (MM scale) XI; he further
summarized the Allah Bund as a 80-km-long, E-W-trending
low ridge or swell of 24 km width; the land to the north of
the bund elevated by about 56 m and subsided to the south
by 35 m. Quittmeyer and Jacob (1979) assigned epicentral
location at 24.0N: 69.0E with a possible magnitude range
of Ms 7.258.25; Intensity (MM) of IX-X; rupture length
varying between 90 and 140 km with assumed rupture width
of 30 km; average displacement assigned as 79 m and Mo
(1.57.0) x 10 27 dyne. cm. IMD catalogue gives a magnitude
of 8.0 with coordinates of the epicentre as 24.0N and 70.0E;
and BARC catalogue gives magnitude of 8.3 with location
and intensity as that of Chandra (1977). Johnston and Kanter
(1990) estimate moment magnitude (Mw) of 7.8 which has
been adopted by Chung and Gao (1995) and also by Schulte
and Moony (2005). In most of the previous studies the
epicentral location has been plotted much south of the Allah
Bund fault; Bilham (1998) through his detailed study
concluded that the 1819 rupture occurred 515 km north or
northeast of the Allah Bund and the longitude cannot be
determined by the available data to better than 1. Combining
intensity and deformation data, Bilham further assumed a
magnitude of Mw 7.7 0.2. He also modelled the deformation
as a north- or northeast-dipping near-surface reverse fault
that slipped locally for more than 11m and the rupture extended
at least 80 km along strike. Rajendran and Rajendran (2001)
carried out paleoseismological studies in the area and noted
that a 90-km-long tract of elevated land with a peak height
of 4.3 m is the most visible surface expression of this
earthquake. These authors further concluded that the scarp
morphology is suggestive of a growing fold (as originally
suggested by Oldham, 1926; see his Figure 1) related to a
buried north-dipping thrust; preferred epicentral location is
24.25N: 69.25E. In their subsequent publication (Rajendran
60
and Rajendran, 2002), epicenter is plotted as 24.25N: 69.00E.

Ambraseys and Douglas (2004) after reviewing 30 intensity
data prepared an isoseismal map in MSK scale (Fig. 1) for this
earthquake. Maximum intensity of VIII was assigned to Anjar
and Bhuj and accordingly their epicentral location remained at
23.00N: 69.00E south of the Allah Bund (inappropriate
considering the deformation model); it may be noted that details
of damages in localities north of Allah Bund particularly in the
Sind province is not available, though there are reports of
higher damage in localities like Baliari (24.33N: 69.66E),
Umarkot (25.35N: 69.76E) and beyond Sind, at Jaisalmer
(26.92N: 70.95E). At Jaisalmer the fort and town were
reduced to ruins and about 500 people died who assembled
for a marriage ceremony. Oldham (1926) states It is evident
that the shock was severe at Jaisalmer. More so in fact than
any other place outside of Cutch and Kathiawar. The list of 30
localities (in Ambraseys and Douglas, 2004) however excludes

these sites. A magnitude of Mw 8.19 is assigned by the authors.
Pande (2011) reassessed intensity data (MSK) from 56 localities
and considered Bhuj to have suffered maximum intensity of
X and Anjar IX (Fig. 2). The three localities discussed above
are included in Pandes analysis with intensity of VIII-IX
assigned to Jaisalmer, but considered it as an isolated
high. The author inferred the epicentral tract to be located
2530 km north of Bhuj, perhaps at the intersection of the
Kutch Mainland Fault (KMF) and the median ridge structure,
where the intensity might have reached XI in MSK scale.
Szeliga et al. (2010) reassessed intensity data based on EMS98 scale; intensity data for the two sites of Baliari and Umarkot
becomes crucial and as they are increased, the preferred
epicentral location migrates to the north; the higher intensity
at Jaisalmer however not discussed. These authors suggest
Fig. 1. Isoseismal map of 1819 Kutch earthquake. Intensities in MSK scale (after Ambraseys and Douglas, 2004).
61
Fig. 2. Isoseismal map of 1819 Kutch earthquake. Intensity values in MSK-64 scale (after Pande, 2011).
four different locations for the epicentre [(23.67N: 70.58E;

Mw 8.0); (23.77N: 70.56E; Mw 8.0); (23.85N: 70.39E;
Mw 8.1) and (24.12N: 70.21E; Mw 8.2)], focal depth being
fixed at 15 km. Intensity data through historical records from
north, northwest and west of Allah Bund when and if available
would better constrain the epicentral location of the 1819

earthquake. Recent work (Thakhar et al., 2012) brings out
further evidence of terrain changes from the western part of
Runn of Cutch; another submerged/ subsided tax collection port
identified from 60 km southwest of Sindri fort.
62
Archived Material
Kutch, which has severely suffered. In describing this
Damage Due to the Earthquake
letters which have been received on this subject, the most
The frequently quoted document in contemporary research

is that of Capt. MacMurdo, who was stationed at Bhooj during
the earthquake. Macmurdos article along with similar accounts
by other officials on the effects of the quake was read before
The Literary Society of Bombay on 28th April 1820. The
extract or a synoptic review of the account was published in
the July-December 1820 issue of The Asiatic Journal and
alarming occurrence, we shall select, from a variety of

important particulars.
The first and greatest shock took place on the 16th of
June 1819, a few minutes before seven in the evening.
The day had been cool and showery; Fahrenheits
thermometer ranging from 81 to 85. The monsoon had
set in mildly, without much violent thunder and lightning;
and there was nothing unusual in the state of the
atmosphere at that season that could afford any ground
Monthly Register, Volume10, pages 479 - 480. Subsequently
for apprehension. The wind, which had been blowing
the entire document of Capt. MacMurdo was published in The
pleasantly towards evening, at the commencement of the
Transactions of the Literary Society of Bombay, Volume III,

1823, pages 97-124, along with 5 more descriptive accounts
by other officials from different stations, under the title:
Papers relating to the Earthquake which occurred in India in
1819. The same document was re-printed in the Philosophical
concussion fell into a dead calm, and in a moment all

was consternation and horror. The wretched inhabitants
of Bhooj were seen flying in all directions to escape from
their falling habitations. A heavy appalling noise,the
violent undulatory motion of the ground,the crash of the
buildings,and the dismay and terror which appeared in
Magazine and Journal, 1824, Volume LXIII, No 310, pages
every countenance, produced a sensation horrible beyond
105-119 and No. 311, pages 170-177. Prior to these publications
description. The shock lasted from two to three minutes,
in 1823 and 1824, another shorter version of MacMurdos

write up appeared in The Edinburgh Philosophical Journal,
1821, Volume 4, No 7, pages 106-109. In the present
compilation, we shall however present the complete document
as appeared in Transactions of the Literary Society of Bombay
and during that short period the city of Bhooj was almost
leveled with the ground. The walls, from the sandy nature
of the stone, were crumbled into dust; nearly all the towers
and gateways were demolished; and the houses, which were
left standing, were so shattered as to be uninhabitable. The
fort, which stands at some distance from the city, is so
published in 1823. But before the work of MacMurdo being
breached as to be rendered useless as a place of defence. It
reproduced, we would present another comprehensive
is calculated that nearly 2000 persons have perished in Bhooj
account that was published in the year 1820 in The

Edinburgh Philosophical Journal (Editors: David Brewster
and Robert Jameson), Volume 3, No 5, pages 120-124 and
then follow chronologically taking the year of publication.
a)
1820 - Part a - Account of the Earthquake of Kutch on

the 16th June 1819: Drawn up from published and
unpublished letters from India
The western coast of India has been visited by an

earthquake, which has spread desolation and panic over
a great extent of country; and whose destructive effects
alone. Among the sufferers is the mother of the deposed

Rajah, who was buried in the ruins of the palace. The
surviving inhabitants were obliged to forsake the city, and
encamp outside of the walls on some sand-hills. Their
situation was truly distressing. Bruised, maimed, and in
sorrow, they resorted daily to the city to extricate the mangled
remains of wives, children, and relations. In this melancholy
labour, they were nearly exhausted by the stench arising from
the putrid bodies of their friends, and from the carcasses of
the cattle, which had perished in great numbers. At the date
of the last accounts, between 1000 and 1500 persons had
been dug out of the ruins.
will be seen and felt for many years to come. This
The devastation was general throughout Kutch. From
tremendous convulsion of nature was experienced from
Luckput Bunder to Butchao, in every town and village,
Bombay to beyond the tropic of Cancer; but the centre
more or less lives were lost by the falling in of the houses;
of the concussion seems to have been in the province of
and in the towns of Mandavie, Moondria, and Anjar, very
63
extensive damage has been sustained. Accounts from Anjar
giddiness of the head and sickness of stomach, from the
state, that the fort wall was almost completely destroyed,
heaving of the ground; and during the time the shock lasted,
not 100 yards of it remaining in one spot, and guns and
some sat down instinctively, and others threw themselves
towers hurled in one common mass of ruin. Scarcely a
on the ground. Those who were on horseback were obliged
fourth part of the town is standing, and the houses that do
to dismount, the earth shook so violently that the horses
remain are considerably injured. In one word, says the
could with difficulty keep their feet; and the riders, when
writer of the account, a flourishing population has been
upon the ground, were scarcely able to stand. At
reduced in one moment to wretchedness and misery; and
Ahmedabad, all the disagreeable sensations were
I fear we shall have to lament the loss of upwards of 100
experienced of being tossed in a ship at sea in a swell; and
people, besides those hurt.
the rocking was so great, that every moment we expected
The destruction occasioned by this terrible visitation was

not confined to Kutch. From Ahmedabad, the capital of
Guzerat, we have the following description: This city is
justly celebrated for its beautiful buildings of stone and other
materials, and for the famous shaking minarets, which were
admired by every stranger. Alas! the devastation caused by
this commotion of the earth is truly lamentable. The proud
spires of the great mosque, erected by Sultan Ahmed, which
have stood nearly 450 years, have tumbled to the ground,
within a few yards of the spot where they once reared their
heads! Another mosque of elegant structure, which lies to the
left of the road leading to the Shahee Bagh, has shared the
same fate. The magnificent towers, forming the grand entrance
into the citadel, have been much shaken, and cracked in
several places, especially the one in which the flag-staff has
been placed. Many private houses have been reduced to ruins;
but it is most fortunate, amidst all our disasters, that not a
single life has been lost, and but few accidents. We learn
from Jelilsheer, that the earthquake was severely felt in that
place, and the loss of lives terrible. The fort and town are
reduced to ruins. Many of the people killed were already out
of doors, which are usually considered a situation of
comparative safety. A marriage was about to be celebrated in
a rich mans family and the casts had assembled from various
the earth to open under our feet. One gentleman writing

from Surat, where the earthquake began at twenty minutes
past seven, says: The vibration of the couch I was lying
on was so great, that I was glad to get off it: the house was
considerably agitated, the furniture all in motion; a small
table close to me kept striking the wall, and the lamps
swung violently. I ran down stairs, and got out of my house
as fast as possible. On getting on the outside, I found a
number of people collected, gazing with astonishment at
my house, which stands alone, and was so violently agitated
that I expected it to fall down. The earth was convulsed
under our feet. Another writes from Broach: Such of the
houses as are elevated, and at all loosely built, cracked
like the masts and rigging of a ship in a gale; the venetians
and window-frames rattling violently, and the buildings
threatening immediately to fall; a considerable lateral
motion was impressed on every thing that admitted of it.
After this more violent concussion had lasted a minute or
upwards, it was succeeded by an oscillatory motion, of a
more equable character, which continued for more than a
minute and a half, making the whole period of the
convulsion nearer three than two and a half minutes. An
intelligent native residing in Iseria gives the following
account: Yesterday in the evening a noise issued from
distant quarters: the shock occurred when they were feasting
the earth like the beating of the no-but, and occasioned the
in the streets, and upwards of 500 of the party were smothered
trembling of all the people: it appeared most wonderful,
in the ruins of the falling houses.
and deprived us all of our senses, so that we could not see,
The effects of this earthquake have indeed been so

extensive, that we cannot pretend to enumerate the more
every thing appearing dark before us; a dizziness came

upon many people, so that they fell down.
minute disasters. We have confined ourselves to the most
Besides the great concussion on the evening of the 16th,
prominent of them; and we now proceed to give some
frequent slight shocks were experienced during the night,
account of the sensations felt by the individual sufferers
and throughout the following day. One occurred a little
during the continuance of the concussions. In the British
before ten in the morning, which shook the houses, and
camp, which was pitched in a plain between the fort and
caused the windows and doors to rattle violently. It continued,
city of Bhooj, the general feeling was an unpleasant
however, only for a few seconds. Another, rather more
64
severe, took place on the 23d, at midnight. Some houses
P. M. when holding his Cutcharee, the earth suddenly became
were thrown down, but no lives lost. Indeed, daily vibrations
convulsed; that all present became as if intoxicated, and
were sensibly felt in the camp before Bhooj for more than
could not stand, that the pillars of the building shook and
a month after. The same unpleasant sensations which were
threatened its destruction; boxes were moved from their
experienced during the first shock, also continued for several
places; that the pagodas and town remained in motion for
days. A giddiness, and slight sickness, accompanied with
about four minutes. He states that the thanedar was also at
pains in the knees, and an inclination to lie down rather than
his duties at the time, and was thrown down, as was also
sit or stand. This is attributed to the rocking or rolling motion
the peon who went to assist him. These persons, with many
of the earth, which, though not observable, was in constant
of the town people, experienced violent vomiting, but no
action. The inhabitants of Kutch, however, were much
accident happened. So little known is such a visitation that
relieved from the dread of farther convulsions, by the
the Moonsif quotes his Hindoo Shasters as foretelling that
circumstance of a volcano having opened on a hill about
an earthquake would sometime happen. The state of the
thirty miles from Bhooj; and about ten days after the first
atmosphere before and after the shock is not mentioned, nor
shock, a loud noise, like the discharge of cannon, was heard
whether it was attended with any noise.
at Porebunder. The sound came from the east, and was

supposed to indicate the bursting of one or more volcanoes
in that direction. Undulations of the earth had formerly been
felt in this district, but had never been accompanied with
any distressing effects. About two years ago, several of the
British officers encamped in the neighbourhood of Bhooj
experienced a slight shock; but it was so slight that others
of them were not sensible of it. It is to be hoped, however,
that none will ever be attended with such a horrible
catastrophe as the one we have been describing; for the
distress occasioned by it is represented by almost all the
writers as beyond their ability to describe.
We would now capture the host of information sequentially

that was published in the Asiatic Journal and Monthly
Register, Volume 9, January - June 1820.
b)
1820 - Part b Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register,

Volume 9, January-June 1820
(i)
Earthquake on the Eastern Coast (page 79)
(ii)
The late Earthquake (page 85-88)
A subsequent letter from Bhooj, and some new and

independent accounts dated from places not before named,
communicates farther particulars of the havoc and misery
caused by this visitation. Although the devoted country of
Kutch is pre-eminent in the number of towns and forts
converted by it into ruins, yet severe and terrifying shocks,
nearly simultaneous, were felt in Malwa, and at Surat.
Accounts from Calcutta and Madras moreover indicate, that
lines of undulation extended in a perceptible degree across
the peninsula due east, and east by south.
Porebunder, June 17, 1819. We yesterday experienced in
this town and fort, one of the most awful scenes in nature,
that of a violent and destructive shock from an earthquake!
The weather was close and sultry, the thermometer ranging
at 86 at sunset; and a scarcely perceptible air was sometimes
felt from the southward. Lieut. L. and myself were taking
an evenings walk on the ramparts of the fort, and had nearly
gone all round, when at 40 minutes past six, we observed
An earthquake, a phenomenon very unusual, we might, we
to each other how excessive close and oppressive the
believe, say almost unprecedented in this part of India,
atmosphere ! and five minutes afterwards, I heard a distant
occurred on the 16th June in various parts of the Peninsula.
sound from the westward, not unlike that of a cannonade at
We have heard that it was experienced in a slight degree at
sea; a thought had scarcely past the mind, as to what could
Pondicherry and at Pulicat, and an obliging correspondent
have given rise to it, when I felt a violent shock beneath my
in the district of Coimbaconum, has communicated to us
feet, and instantly exclaimed an earthquake! then looking
some account of this extraordinary occurrence in that quarter.
forward, saw the stone parapet, at two yards distance,
He justly observes, it may not be uninteresting to hear that
violently bending in and out, with a quick wave-like motion,
one took place on the evening of the 16th instant at Triviar
and with a vibration of about a foot; this appalling sight
[Tiruvalur] in this district. In our account received from
extended as far as I could see, or about fifty yards in length,
the district Moonsif he states, that at about half after seven
and the whole height of the parapet; it was attended with a
65
hissing, cracking noise. Had the parapet been made of

whalebone, and shook in anger by any power, less than
nature, the agitation could not have been so great as that
which we witnessed. There was nothing appeared more
surprising than that solid masonry, should have received the
pliability of the most elastic of all substances. I thought it
impossible that the works could stand, and expecting their
immediate fall, instantly determined on descending as quick
as possible; but as the rampart was a perpendicular height
of seventeen feet, I was obliged to run back towards the
nearest ramp, which was a flight of stone steps at the distance
of seventy-five yards; Lieut. L. followed; as we passed long,
at a quick run, the sensation felt was similar to that hazardous
and disagreeable one of running along an elevated and elastic
plank, the ends alone of which are supported. I every instant
I do not imagine that a 24 hours fire from 10 pieces of
expected to fall with the works, or to be precipitated from

them; but reaching the steps, ran down as fast as I could,
each step apparently meeting the descending foot, which I
sincerely believe it did in reality, and the whole flight was
violently agitated. While passing down, I expected to be
overwhelmed by the works, which were touching my right
shoulder, and were partly above my head. Although the
rampart and parapet are ten feet thick, and twenty-two in
height, yet this wall of masonry waved to and fro like a sea.
Fortunately, the steps were broad; had they been narrow, as
is frequently the case, it is doubtful, so great was their
agitation, if we could have got down without having been
thrown over their side, for, as they joined the works, they
were not only affected by their own motion, but also by that
of the wall to which they were attached. Arrived at the
bottom of the flight of steps, we did not cease running until
we had got a sufficient length from the works to prevent
their falling on us. On stopping, we were surprised to find
that the works had not fallen, after having been agitated by
so extraordinary a violent and sea-like motion. On reaching
a spot of comparative safety, for then no place was safe, the
attention was directed to a vast cloud of black dust, arising
could reach it he was thrown down a second time; he then
at about 300 yards distance, and from the sea face of the
outside of the fort, rather than trust themselves under their
fort, which runs at right angles from that which we quitted.

The danger being past, for the shock was now over, my
curiosity became excited, and approaching the cloud of dust,
heavy ordnance could have produced so extensive a

destruction as was thus effected in a minute and a half !!!
We conjectured that the shock had not lasted more than the
above short period. But its effects were sufficiently
powerful to have destroyed the work of ages.
We now directed our attention towards home, and the first
occurrence we met with near it was the horsekeepers, with
our horses in their hands, standing in the open air, having,
as they said, been apprehensive that the stables would have
fallen and killed them. On entering my house the servant
informed me, that while making the bed in the upper
apartment he had been thrown down on the floor; recovering
himself, he attempted to escape out of doors, but before he
got up, and ran quickly into the open air. Dr. and Mrs. A.
on hearing all their tiles violently agitated, and cracking as
if in a fire, and observing the whole of their furniture in a
rocking motion, immediately ran down into the open air,
the former with his infant in his arms. He informed me that
though his stairs are broad, and built of pukka masonry, yet
he experienced much difficulty in descending, from the
violent agitation of the steps, and that of the house to which
they were joined. Lieut. L.s house is a strong pukka stone
building, of about forty feet high; as it stands by itself, the
shock appears to have shaken it more than most other houses.
The sepoys describe it as having rocked from side to side,
like a tree in a high wind. On examination, there was found
so many rents in its walls, that it was deemed advisable for
Lieut. L. not to sleep beneath its roof. I believe there are
few houses throughout this large city which have not been
more or less injured; some have fallen and blocked up the
streets in which they were situated. I am happy to say that
but one life has been lost in this town, a circumstance which
appears almost miraculous from the danger which existed.
The Rajah and principal inhabitants are now encamped
unsafe roofs, which, should they fall, would prove most
destructive, since they are made (as is the case with all upper
floors also) of a thick terrace, supported by stone on large
I found it to proceed from the fall of nine towers [the towers
timbers. The earth opened, and water issued from the cavity
were 30 and 40 feet high] and a large part of the curtain
over an extensive piece of ground in a plain, distant fourteen
[22 and 25], leaving 21 breaches of 40 and 60 yards wide.
miles hence. The atmosphere to-day has been impregnated
This devastation extended for 500 yards, and over a part of
with a strong smell of sulphur; and there has been several
the fort which I had been walking on not five minutes before.
other shocks between 10 A. M. and 2 P. M., which brought
66
some old houses down, and violently shook the seats of those
who were seated within doors, which caused them to run out
of their houses; but these inferior alarms are not to be compared
with yesterdays awful phenomenon. It was observed that all
animals were much frightened during the great shock; the
dogs lay down on their bellies and would not be moved. The
earthquake has been felt far and wide, but its effects appear
to have been less violent in the interior than on the sea shore.
I fear that all the line of towns and fortresses situated
immediately on this coast have suffered much. I am this
moment informed that fifty men were killed by the fall of
walls at Mangrole, on this coast, which is distant sixty miles
in a S.E. direction. The shock appears to have proceeded from
west to east. The injury which this fort has sustained is
estimated at half a lac of rupees. There is nothing in nature
more awful than to see the proudest works of men in an instant
vanishing, and becoming a heap of shapeless ruins.
Porebunder, 18th June, 1819.I have viewed the whole
extent of injury at this place, since writing to Col. B., and
am sorry to inform you it far exceeds the estimate which I
had formed; were I now to address the Colonel, I would
rather say, twenty pieces of cannon could not have produced
so much destruction. I have corrected my heights and
distances by measurements, which are as now mentioned,
though in some places they differ from the original letter.
As Dr. A. and myself, yesterday morning, at daybreak, were
riding on the borders of a lake, we were alarmed by a strong
smell of sulfur, and an appearance of smoke resting on the
still waters. On the opposite side of the lake is a jungle,
beyond and above, which is a range of sand hills; we thought
we saw on these a line of thick flame about three feet high,
but the distance was too great to allow of our being positive.
I am the more inclined to believe that what we saw was a
flame, as I am since informed that at a place on the S.E.
coast, distant hence forty miles, the earth opened, and a
flame issued from the cavity. I am informed that at a place
distant hence sixteen miles N.W. by N., what was a rising
ground or small hill, has become a level. My varandah tiles
were turned but ten days ago for the monsoon, but are now
quite removed in some places, and in all greatly disordered,
so as to induce Lieut. L. aptly to observe, that they appeared
as if they had been convulsed. That part of the parapet which
I described as having been so violently agitated, now leans
considerably on one side, and retains its wave like shape.
Dr. A. and myself experienced a pain and weakness in the
knee joints, immediately after the inferior shocks of the 17th;

these unpleasant feelings troubled us all that morning. Sound
sleep has left us; we allow one eye to shut, but the other is on
the watch. A person, 82 years of age, on being questioned as
to the physical operations of nature during his remembrance,
says, he has neither seen nor heard of any thing so terrific and
destructive as that he witnessed on the 16th.He recollects
four earthquakes, but the worst was not more violent than to
cause the shaking of a vase to be visible to the sight. The late
hot season here, was by no means particularly hot, nor have
we experienced any indicative of the horrid scene which we
have witnessed. From the account of Cossids [Kasids], who
felt the shock at Gundel [Gondal], in the interior, distant hence
80 miles; in a N.E. by E. direction, and the centre point of this
peninsula, it is evident that the earthquake was much more violent
inland than on the coast, for although the Cossids mention the
fall of houses in the interior, yet they did not witness the ruin of
fortresses though they passed seven. They state that the town
of Kooteeauna [Kutiyana] has suffered severely, but not so
much as Porebunder; it is distant 20 miles east of this, and 16
miles from the sea. Every hour brings some afflicting account,
particularly from the coast, of fortresses fallen, lives lost, and
injury sustained from the awful catastrophe. Myself and Dr.
A. have just returned from a visit to the sand hills on which
we thought we saw a flame, and found the shrubbery which
was on them much scorched, and divested of its vegetation.
Bhooj, 23rd June, 1819. The loss in lives has not been
correctly ascertained. Bodies continue to be dug out of the
ruins, and almost 1000 have been already found; 7000 houses
have been overturned, and few or none in the city left uninjured.
Although the whole of Kutch has suffered pretty equally in
regard to loss of houses, the proportion of lives lost in different
places bears no affinity; perhaps Bhooj has lost as many as
the whole of Kutch put together. ln Mandavie 116, and in
Lackput 150 are said to have suffered. A number of phenomena
are said to have occurred at the moment of the shock; but I
shall only remark those which appear the most striking. The
Run and Bhun, on the north of Kutch, between that province
and the insolated district of Kawra, which was quite dry, was
suddenly filled with a sheet of water, the extent of which
east and west was not known, but its breadth was generally
about six miles, and its depth gradually increased to upwards
of two feet, after which, in a few hours, the water subsided
to about half that quantity; horsemen who crossed this tract,
on the day following the shock, describe a number of cones
of soft sand elevated above the water, the tops of which were
the streets; many native houses were thrown down, and

several boats upset by the extraordinary motion of the river.
It lasted about three minutes. I never in my life felt such an
awful moment, every one expecting instant death. This
morning at ten we had another slight shock for a few seconds;
I sincerely hope it will be the last.
bubbling with air and water when they passed. As far as I

have learnt the sandy bed of every dry river in Kutch, was
filled for a short space of time with a flood of water; these
waters have the colour and taste of the soil from whence they
were ejected.
Broach, June 17th , 1819We had last night, about a quarter
past seven oclock, a very severe shock of an earthquake;
the ground moved just like the waves of the sea; it was with
the greatest difficulty I could keep on my legs; the walls of
the houses moved backwards mid forwards, and the lamps
went with a very quick motion; the water in our well rose
many feet with a great noise, and did not subside for an
hour after all was over. Europeans and natives all ran into
June 16
(iii) Further particulars of the late earthquake and account

of subsequent shock (page 89)
A letter from Anjar of the 7th July, mentions that a slight

shock was felt on the morning of that day. We are indebted
for the following sketch of the shocks at Surat to an esteemed
friend.
at 7. 20 PM awful to a degree
17
at 10 AM two slight ones
18
at 7 AM rather strong
19
at 1.20 PM several slight ones
21
at 9 AM rather strong
23
at 2 AM strong; the house and furniture in great agitation three quarters of an hour
29 & 30
two or three slight ones
July 8
67
at 11 PM slight
11
at 5 AM alight
21
at 10 PM strong, the house, &c. in agitation three quarters of a minute. (Bombay Gazette, Aug. 4.)
A subscription has been (July 17) opened for the relief

of the distressed people in Anjar, who have suffered
from the late earthquake; and no sooner was the idea
of opening a subscription agitated, than the sum of
about 5,000 rupees was most liberally forwarded to
Capt. MMurdo for immediate distribution among the
unfortunate sufferers.
(iv) Observations made at Porebunder since the 17th of
June regarding the Earthquake. Charles WM, Elwood.
Porebunder, June 30, 1819 (page 164 - 165).
It is necessary to state, that these notes of the subsequent

phenomena were communicated in a letter to a literary friend
in India. This will account for the familiar style of the remarks
and the local allusions.
June 18th , 1819Thermometer at 2 P.M. 90 degrees; wind

light, at S.W.; large electric clouds approaching from all
quarters; vegetation much advanced. Neither shock nor tremors
in the earth; but in the person, a giddy and slight sickish or
faint feel, with pains in the knees, and an inclination to lay
down on the earth rather than sit or stand, and cannot apply
myself to any thing. These feelings appear to be general.
June 19th , 1819 Thermometer at 2 P.M. 90 degrees; cloudy;
wind light, S.W. by S; A tremor in the earth at midnight, but
of too short a duration to allow of quitting the bed. The same
unpleasant personal feelings all day and night as on the 18th;
feel relieved by lying down, particularly on the earth.
June 20th, 1819 Thermometer at 2 P.M. 90 degrees; wind
S.W. A sensible tremor at noon, repeated at 50 minutes
afterwards; the same disagreeable feel as on the 18th
68
June 21st, 1819 Thermometer at 2 P.M. 90 degrees; slight
I was up at 12, expecting a shock, and found the heavens so
breeze at S.W. Felt a continued tremor of the earth at midnight
clear, and the stars so numerous and so bright, that I was
while in bed; removed bed, and slept in the open air, lest other
inclined to imagine the earthquake had swept the atmosphere
shocks should bring down a shaken house.
of all its impurities. At present we are quite free from our
June 22nd, 1819 Thermometer at 2 P.M. 88 degrees; wind

west. Weather changed to a gloomy, cloudy appearance, with
indications of rain. Less tremor of the earth, but a consciousness
that I am rather in a long rocking motion than standing firm:
when I walk, I do not think I go straight. The same unpleasant
sensation as on the 18th though in less degree; from this and
the change in the weather, entertain hopes that the tremors
are ceasing, and that we shall soon be quit of our alarms and
unpleasant feelings.
June 23rd, 1819 Thermometer at 2 P. M. 82 degrees; wind
late unpleasant feelings, and as the springs will be over

today, so do I trust will all future shocks and tremors of the
earth. At 2 P. M. heard, at a considerable distance, in an
easterly direction, about eight distinct sounds, like the
discharge of cannon. I expect to hear of the bursting of one
or more volcanoes in that direction. This being the end of
the springs, though I know not that they influence
earthquakes, yet I think it probable they do, and hence
imagine, that the disorder in the bowels of the earth, arriving
with the springs at a crisis, will cease with the discharge it
has found for its foul air, and that now will be left at rest,
S.S.W.; our first rains set strongly in at 12 last night, with the
and bear no more of earthquakes.
change of the moon; there were then tremors in the earth, but
Certainly, the commencement of the late phenomenon had
to-day our personal disagreeable sensations have abated and

we trust and hope, that with the change of season, all physical
effects of the earthquake are leaving us for ever.
June 24th, 1819 Thermometer at 2 P. M. 82 degrees; wind
high, S.S.W.; rough monsoon weather; much rain.
Notwithstanding our hopes of yesterday, we were again
alarmed last night, between 12 and 1 oclock, not by a tremor
but by a shock, which awakening us, caused us to jump out
of our beds and run into the open air, where we remained an
hour. The shock lasted about two seconds. Immediately after
it, observed a long narrow black cloud, running west and east,
or quite the reverse way to which I am accustomed to see
a line of clouds extend; it appeared stationary for half an
hour, during which period there were constant tremors in
the earth. Some houses in the town were thrown down. Our
knees ached for half an hour after the shock; but, on the
whole, we are much relieved from the disagreeable sensations
of lassitude, giddiness, and fiendishness, which we have
constantly experienced since the great shock of the 16th. I
attribute the sickish feel to the rocking motion which we
were constantly subject to. We were confident that the earth
was in a long rocking or rolling motion, though we could
not observe it.
no connection with the springs, neither has that of a fever in

the human frame, yet its crisis is always affected, and frequently
determined by them. I allude to the effect of the springs on
fevers, beneath the tropic in particular, where the sameness
of the atmosphere causes them to act with greater influence
on all physical matter, than beneath more variable latitudes.
The late phenomenon has brought to my recollection, my
having observed to an officer of the marine, about the beginning
of March last, that there was a cloud in the N.E. which
appeared uncommonly charged with electric fluid. Its direction
was nearly opposite to the one from which I heard the sound
that preceded the great shock of the 16th. I have observed
that previous to the approach of the S.W. monsoon, the electric
clouds first appear in the N.E., on the opposite direction to
that of the monsoon. Earthquakes are said almost always to
be preceded by great droughts, but not so with that of the
16th. It was preceded by the usual hot season, but not by any
uncommon drought. You will recollect, Sir, that in 1812 we
had an uncommon drought in this country, so that many
thousand of the inhabitants died for the want of food, and the
cattle for grass, but it was not followed by an earthquake! I
have observed that the tremors and shocks have invariably
been most constant and strong at 10 A.M.; at noon, and at
midnight. There has been no occurrence worthy of observation
June 25th, 1819Thermometer at 2 P.M. 82 degrees; wind
since the 25th, and as this is now the 30th, my conjecture of
light, at S. S. W. No rain. There was neither shock nor tremor
the former date has been so far correct, that the principal
last night. I never experienced so charming a star-light night.
effects of the earthquake did subside with the springs. The
69
sensations felt since the 25th have been so slight, that were
actually rocked, particularly the mess one of the 1st bat. 19th
it not for their being somewhat generally acknowledged, they
regt., in which the officers were at dinner at the time, and the
might be taken for the effects of the imagination.
huts of the soldiers were a good deal damaged. The heat for
I now, Sir, bid you adieu, with the assurance, that we have
experienced the truth of the admirable Blairs assertion, that
this world is a region of danger, in which perfect safety is
possessed by no man.
(v) Information relating to the earthquake from some distant
places (page 184)
Muttra [Mathura 27.50N:77.73E], June 19, 1819: We had
a smart shock of earthquake here on the evening of the 16th,
the last two or three days has been excessive, and not a drop
of rain has yet fallen.
(vi)
The late Earthquake (page 307-309)
The advantages to science from collecting the accounts of

various observers at distant places have been stated in a former
number. The annexed are the more valuable, as they contain
traces that many of the writers exercised great intelligence
with unusual presence of mind.
between 7 and 8 oclock, which lasted, I should imagine,
Surat, 17th June, 1819: At 20 minutes past seven yesterday
about 30 or 40 seconds.
evening, I felt a strange trembling sensation; I looked up, and
Chunar and Mirzapore [25.15N:82.63E]: About eight oclock

in the evening of the 16th June, 1819 the shock of an earthquake
was experienced at these places. At Chunar [25.11N: 82.91E]
the motion was accompanied by a noise in the atmosphere,
which resembled that occasioned by the rapid flight of birds.
Mynpooree [Mainpuri 27.23N: 79.05E], June 20: On the
evening of the 16th, 1819 we had a slight shock of an
earthquake; the undulating motion continued little more than
a minute, and seemed to come from the west. It was felt very
nearly at the same time at Futteghur, and at one of my police
observed the wall shades shaking violently and the chandeliers

swinging. There was not a breath of air, though not a minute
before the wind was blowing very pleasantly. I ran down
stairs out of the house, fully expecting it would fall, but this
not happening, I ventured up stairs again, being desirous of
observing the barometer. The quicksilver was moving up and
down rapidly, but this was occasioned merely by the motion
communicated by the shaking wall to which it was suspended.
I remained, however, no longer than was absolutely necessary
to observe this, and ran down again, my speed not a little
accelerated by the increased velocity in the movement of the
chokees across the Jumna.
wall shades and chandeliers, the latter of which swung so
Jounpoor [25.68N: 82.71E]: A strong shock of an earthquake
against the sides of the shades. When I reached the open air,
much as to throw all the tumbler glasses off their stands,
was felt here on the night of the 16th June, 1819 at a quarter
the earth still moved, and it is my belief that the shock must
past eight oclock; there were three distinct vibrations from
have lasted nearly a minute and a half; I did not return into
west to east, with the usual accompaniments of rattling wall
the house for some minutes after the trembling ceased. When
shades, swinging punkahs, and flapping doors. There are
I did so, I went directly to the barometer, but no change had
different opinions as to its duration, which appeared to me
taken place in it. It remained as before the earthquake
about 25 seconds; the intervals were very distinct. It was
commenced; the thermometer at 83.
not accompanied by the rumbling noise I have usually heard

on such occasions, and which I have hitherto imagined to
be the earths vibration. Both the noise and motion must be
separate effects of some unknown cause. The rains have not
yet commenced, and the weather has been unusually hot.
Broach: On the 16th June, 1819 about 19 minutes past seven

in the evening (the time corrected by observation), a violent
shaking of the earth was perceived throughout the town of
Broach; such of the houses as are elevated, and at all loosely
built, creaked like the masts and rigging of a ship in a gale,
Sultanpore [24.80N:89.05E], Oude, June 17, 1819: A severe
the Venetians and window-frames rattling violently, and the
and awful shock of an earthquake was felt at this station last
buildings threatening immediately to fall; a considerable
night, at seventeen minutes past eight, which lasted some
lateral motion was impressed on every thing that admitted of
time, and occasioned very considerable alarm. The Bungalows
it. After this more violent concussion had lasted a minute or
70
upwards, it was succeeded by an oscillatory motion of a more
peculiar, however, was observable which was not to be
equable character, which continued for more than a minute
apprehended at this season of the commencement of the
and a half, making the whole period of the convulsion nearer
monsoon, which set in mildly ten days before, though little
3 than 2 minutes. The direction of the vibrations of objects
rain had fallen three or four days previously. To assist
was between west and east; and this direction was distinctly
philosophers in accounting for this wonderful phenomenon
marked in Mr. Shubricks garden by the projection of some
of nature, they should be informed of the state of the weather
water from the brim of a large earthen jar, two or three feet
for the last twelve months in the province of Guzerat, as
to the eastward of it; the vessel is about two feet high, and
compared with former years. The rains of 1818 were late,
about the same diameter at top. After the commotion, the
and at the close immoderate. The cold season exhibited ice
water stood about five inches below the brim, and this is of
it was so cold, and the hot season was actually insufferable.
course the height that some of it must have been raised to
Although the present rains have set in mildly and without
escape over the side.
much violent thunder and lightning, yet a great quantity of
It is remarkable that those in palankeens were scarcely, if at

all, sensible of the convulsion, and two gentlemen who were
in a carriage without springs, were so little aware of it, that
they were not easily persuaded that any thing extraordinary
had taken place. A gentleman riding through a narrow street
at the time, was not conscious of the motion in his own person,
rain has fallen, especially to the northward of this. The river

Saburmuttee, which runs under the walls of Ahmedabad, had
a high fresh in it, which rendered it impassable for many days
before the shock, a circumstance quite unusual at this early
period of the monsoon.
This city is justly celebrated for its beautiful buildings of
but was alarmed by seeing the houses on both sides of him
stone and other materials, and was not less so for the famous
shaking violently, the tiles falling from the roofs, and the
shaking minarets, which were admired by every stranger.
people, with one instinctive movement, quitting them and
Alas! the devastation caused by this commotion of the earth
flying to the open spaces.
is truly lamentable. The proud spires of the great mosque, the
On the 17th, at one minute before 10 in the morning, another

shock was perceived, but it was over in an instant, and
appeared to consist of two slight undulations; four minutes
afterwards there was another, still slighter.There was
nothing unusual in the state of the atmosphere; the day had
been cool and showery, Fahrenheits thermometer ranging
from 81 to 85.
Juma Muzjid, erected by Sooltan Ahmud, the king of Guzerat,

and the founder of the city of Ahmedabad, which have stood
nearly four hundred and fifty years, have tumbled to the
ground, within a few yards of the place where they once
reared their heads! The mosque itself has sustained less injury
than could have been expected, and the handsome arch which
divided the minarets has escaped unhurt. Another Muzjid, of
elegant structure, which lies to the left of the road leading to
Ahmedabad, June 18, 1819: On the 16th June, a few minutes
the Shahee Bagh, denominated the Beebees or Uuchunt
before 7 oclock P.M. the city was visited with an earthquake,
Koonkee ke Muzjid, has shared the same fate. A gentleman
of unusual violence and duration for this part of India. It
while riding out saw the minars come down; the tops were
commenced gradually with a slight trembling of the earth,
thrown to a distance, and immediately afterwards the stones
attended with a rumbling noise; this increased every second,
came tumbling down one after another. The only remaining
and was succeeded by a strong rushing noise, with a violent
shaking minarets, which are at all worthy of notice, and much
undulating motion, so that it was with difficulty we could
inferior to the others, have, I hear, been sadly fractured; they
keep on our legs. At this time, all the disagreeable sensation
are situated in the Goompteepoora, to the east of the city,
was experienced of being tossed in a ship at sea in a swell,
outside the walls. The mausoleums (Rozas) and places of
and the rocking was so great, that every moment we expected
Moohummudan worship have suffered considerably, both in
the earth to open under our feet. From its commencement to
the city and surrounding country. Hindoo temples are few in
the termination of the shock, it could not have been less than
number, and of recent build in the city, since its conquest
four or five minutes. The sky was overcast, dark and cloudy,
from the true believers seventy years ago by the Mahrattas;
and the thermometer an hour before was at 90. Nothing
consequently a very small number have been damaged. The
71
walls of the Udalut, an old building erected by the Mahrattas,
place, and the loss of lives terrible. The fort and town are
and the palace of the Peshwas Viceroys in Guzerat, have
reduced to ruins; many of the people killed, were already out
been much injured, and the walls rent in many places. The
of doors, which is usually considered a situation of comparative
magnificent towers also forming the grand entrance into the
safety. A marriage was about to be celebrated in a rich mans
citadel have been much shaken, and cracked in several places,
family, and the casts had assembled from various distant
especially the one on which the flag-staff has been placed.
quarters; the shock occurred when they were feasting in the
Many private houses have been reduced to ruins; and it is
streets, and upwards of 500 of the party were smothered in
most fortunate, amidst all our disasters, that not a single life
the ruins of the failing houses.
has been lost, and but few accidents.
Surat, 17th June, 1819: At 20 minutes before eight yesterday
Between the hours of 12 and one the same night, we
evening, the city of Surat, its vicinity for some miles round,
experienced two or three slight shocks, and the following
and the opposite banks of the Taptee, were visited by the
morning (the 17th) another at six. At a quarter before 10
phenomenon of an earthquake in a very awful degree. The
we had one very severe, which shook the houses and caused
vibration of the couch I was lying on was so great that I was
the windows and doors to rattle violently. We were now
glad to get off of it; the house was considerably agitated, the
on the alert, and quitted our houses in haste; but the shock
furniture all in motion, a small table close to me kept striking
did not continue above a few seconds, and was trifling
the wall, and the lamps swung violently. I ran down stairs
when compared with the one of the previous night. At half
and got out of my house as fast as possible. This occupied
past 10 oclock we were against visited slightly, and at
about the space of three minutes. On getting on the outside,
intervals during the whole of the day. The last which I felt
I found a number of people collected, gazing with astonishment
occurred about half past 12 in the night, and since then I
at my house, which stands alone, and was so violently agitated
cannot say that I have experienced any more, although
that I expected it to fall down. The earth was convulsed under
fancy has frequently led me to pause, and expect a return
our feet. The shock lasted about five or six minutes, and
of this terrible visitation.
appeared to me to run from east to west. There was not a
Kaira: Further extract of the letter from Ahmedabad:
breath of wind, and the sky was serene.
reports from Kaira mention, that the grand shock was
On enquiry this morning I find that some damage has been
experienced there 22 minutes after us, and that it lasted
done. At the village of Omer, about two miles west, several
only 37 seconds; two natives were killed by the falling of
houses were thrown down, and one side of a Parsee pagoda
their houses, and a good deal of damage has been done
fell down; report says one man was killed. I likewise felt two
there. The Adawlut has suffered, and the walls rent; the
slight shocks about half past 8 last night and 10 minutes past
Jain Temple opposite to it has also received a terrible
10 this morning. This last shock stopped my watch. The
fracture. With respect to the difference of time between
glasses containing the oil in the lamps were upset in several
the two places, I do not know whether it is exact or not.
houses, and the water in the well of the jail, which is ordinarily
Our watches vary much, having nothing but the sun and
about four feet from the surface, overflowed. The water in
Bombay calendar to regulate us, which is seldom looked
the river was also much agitated, and the water from the tank
at; it however tends to show that the course of the earthquake
in the bazar was thrown out.
from this was southerly. Kaira is distant from Ahmedabad

eighteen or twenty miles.
An interesting letter by one Mr. Terrestris dated February 1820,

addressed to the editor of Bombay Courier, was published in
Jelilsheer [Jaisalmer]: Letters thence received in the camp
the Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register, July- December,
at Bhooj, state that the earthquake was severely felt in that
1820, Volume 10, pages 435- 439.
72
c)
1820 - Part c Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register,
Poorbunder, whither the intelligence would doubtless have
July - December, 1820, Volume 10, pages 435 - 439.
been brought by natives. Hyderabad is about N. 30 degrees
(i) Earthquake in India in June 1819

As it is not now likely that any additional particulars will
appear of the earthquake which occurred on the 16th of June
last, and which for violence and extent is, perhaps, without
a parallel on record or in tradition in this part of the world,
it may not be uninteresting to review some of the most
remarkable circumstances of this awful phenomenon. An
event so sudden, so uncommon and so terrific, became, of
course, the subject of communication from every spot at
which it was experienced, and your columns and those of the
other Indian papers afford information that it might be well
worth the while of some person, with ability and leisure, to
collate and reason upon: and this scrap of paper can be of
little other use than to draw the attention of some such person
to the undertaking. If the centre of a convulsion of this
description is the spot where the surface is the most agitated,
and where, consequently, the most mischief is done, Kutch
must have been, from all the accounts before us, the centre
of this earthquake. At the cities of Bhooj and Anjar, the
W. in bearing, and about 170 British miles in distance from

Bhooj.
Now, in The Bombay Gazette of the 25th of August last, an
account via Bhooj mentions, that at the town of Jeysulmeer
the earthquake had been severely felt, the fort and town being
reduced to ruins, and many people killed; five hundred persons,
indeed, who were feasting in the streets in celebration of a
marriage, are said to have been smothered in the ruins of the
overthrown houses. Jeysulmeer is in bearing about N.13
degrees E., and in distance about two hundred and sixty miles
from Bhooj. Seeing the shock thus violent at Jeysulmeer, and
inferring it from the silence of rumour to have been but slightly
felt at Hyderabad, we should be led to suppose that it did not
extend westward beyond the Indus, and that Kutch, although
the most agitated spot, was not the centre of the earths throws,
but at the western extremity of them. People might, I have
no doubt, be found in Bombay who were at Hyderabad at the
time, and whose information would prove whether this curious
circumstance was really the fact or not.
fortifications, which were built with stone and earth, and of
There is abundance of evidence of the earthquakes having
unusual strength, together with more than half the houses,
occurred to the south eastward and north-eastward, as well
were laid in ruins, and at the former place two thousand
as to the eastward. The description of it in the district of
people were supposed to have lost their lives. Although we
Coimbacoonum, more than a thousand miles from Bhooj, is
know of the extent of the earthquake to the eastward of these
thus given in The Madras Courier of the 29th of June last.
places at least twelve hundred miles, yet we have not been
The writer appears to have been the district moonsif, who
told a word of its being felt at all to the westward of the little
states, that at about half-past seven P.M. when holding his
insulated country of Kutch. This may be owing to your having
kutcherry, the earth suddenly became convulsed, that all
no correspondents in Belochistan, Mekran and Kerman. And
present became as if intoxicated and could not stand, that the
it is not impossible that the phenomenon may have extended
pillars of the building shook, and threatened its destruction;
as far west as it did east, and we here know nothing of the
boxes were moved from their places; that the pagodas and
matter. In this case, however, Busheer, Sherauz, and Ispahan
town remained in motion for about four minutes. He states
would be just within its scope; and as there are English
that the thanadar was also at his duties at the time, and was
gentlemen, I believe, at some of these places, they would
thrown down, as was also the peon who went to assist him.
probably, had it been felt there, have written of the event to
These persons, with many of the town people, experienced
Bombay. We do not hear, indeed, that it was felt at Hyderabad,
violent vomiting. Allowing for some exaggeration, as the
the capital of Sind; and if any thing like the effects which
account comes from a native, yet still by this description it
might be expected to have taken place in that capital, from
would appear that the convulsion was at least as great at
its vicinity to the centre of commotion (supposing that to be
Coimbacoonum as it was at Surat. The time at which it took
Bhooj), had actually been experienced, it would surely have
place was the same, no doubt, to a minute, at Bhooj and at
been made public through the means of some of your
Coimbacoonum, yet at Poona, which lies nearly on a line
correspondents, or those of your brother Editor, in Kutch or
drawn between these two places, the earthquake was scarcely
73
felt at all. Drawing a line, therefore, from Bhooj to the south
of the atmosphere of particular places, at which the
east, the extreme known point of agitation on it was much
phenomenon was remarked, is either an indication or an effect
more convulsed than the centre of the same line. Drawing
of it. I have, however, noticed only, I think, one correspondent,
another line to the north-east, the same fact seems observable.
who supposes that a possible connection may exist between
From Sooltaunpoor, in Oude, they wrote on the 17th of June:
the springs, and even the position, shape, and colour of certain
A severe and awful shock of an earthquake was felt at this
clouds within his view, and the earthquake.
station last night, at seventeen minutes past eight, which lasted

some time, and occasioned considerable alarm. The bungalos
actually rocked, particularly the mess-room of the 1st battalion
19th regiment, in which the officers were at dinner, and the
huts of the soldiers were a good deal damaged. While In our
cantonment at Mow and Malwa, which is not much out of
the direct line between Bhooj and Sooltaunpoor, the shock
was so trifling as to have been noticed only by a few of the
officers. The extremity of our accounts on the north-east line
is Katmandoo, whence it was written that the earthquake was
felt in the valley of Nepaul, and continued for some time.
These are circumstances which would appear to deserve the
attention of a reasoner on these matters.
The moment of the occurrence of the earthquake was very
accurately noted by a scientific gentleman at Broach, and his
watch was corrected by sights of the sun the next day. It was
thus ascertained to be nineteen minutes past seven P.M. A
well-regulated clock was stopped by it at Surat at twenty
minutes past seven. In your paper of the 17th of July last,
you very correctly observe, that the earthquake of the 16th
The undoubted fact of the instantaneous occurrence of the

shock over so large an extent of the globes surface would
also seem to render all speculations as to the direction of the
motion as idle as those on the state of the atmosphere as
connected with the convulsion. There is another fact, too,
which appears to me to be well worth remembering, as bearing
on this branch of the reasoning on the subject: I mean the
manner in which the lofty minarets at Ahmedabad fell to the
ground; the summits were projected a little to the north-west,
but the whole of the remainder fell down by small fragments,
or stone by stone, all round the bases, and within a few yards
of them, which would appear to prove how quick, short, and
various the vibrations must have been. These minarets had
stood something more than four centuries, evidence that no
such convulsion had taken place hereabouts within that period
of time.
In recording the particulars of this earthquake, the frequent
recurrence of slighter agitations at different places, for at least
two months after the first and greatest shock, should not
remain unnoticed. I think I have heard it rumoured that a
of June appears to have been felt at Calcutta almost at the
shock of earthquake was felt in Sicily, and also in China, on
same instant of time that it was in Kutch, Ahmedabad, and
or about the same day that we had ours. If you can collect
in this (Bombay) neighbourhood. The Calcutta Journal
any authentic accounts of this having been the case, would
mentions the time when it occurred there as half-past eight
it not be worth while to publish them? I dare say it would be
in the evening, which corresponds nearly to the time here
interesting to many besides to your well-wisher.
(Bombay), of fifteen to twenty minutes past seven, taking

into account the difference of longitude. Here it is
demonstrated, that an instantaneous throw is felt over twelve
or fifteen hundred miles of the earths surface, from a given
point of greatest agitation in an easterly direction. If, from
analogy, you suppose it to have been felt in an equal extent
in a westerly, about three thousand miles of the earths
surface, in all directions, is moved in the twinkling of an
eyeby what?
What difference in the atmosphere, in the climate, in the state
We shall now reproduce the six original documents that appeared

in The Transactions of the Literary Society of Bombay, 1823,
Volume III, London, pages 97- 124. The first letter, below is
from Captain J MacMurdo, written from Bhooj on 27 January
1820 addressed to William Erskine, Bombay.
d) 1823 - Papers relating to the Earthquake which occurred
in India in 1819
(i) Captain James MacMurdo
of the weather, and in the state of the tides, must have existed
On the 16th of June 1819, between fifteen and ten minutes
in this extent! Yet how common it is to suppose that the state
before seven oclock P.M., a shock of an earthquake was felt
74
in Cutch; and as it appears to have been remarkable in India
person made what haste he could to leave the tower, which,
for the great extent of its range, and also for the very confined
after rolling and heaving in a most awful degree, gave way
limits of its severe effects, I shall attempt to describe the
at the bottom, on the western face, and crumbling down,
course and results of the phenomena as they appeared in this
buried guns and carriages in the rubbish: a moment after, the
province, without offering any scientific speculations, for
towers and curtains of the fort wall, and upwards of fifteen
which I am totally unqualified, or even stating opinions on
hundred houses, were reduced to ruins; but as I was within
the subject which I have heard advanced by others.
thirty yards of the round tower, my attention was particularly
The shock was foretold by no uncommon appearance in the
drawn to it.
heavens; at least nothing was remarked previously, either in
The opinions with regard to the length of time which this
the heavenly bodies or in the atmosphere, to indicate the
shock lasted are various, but appear to be limited to from two
approach of any convulsion of nature. The hot months had
to four minutes: my own conviction is that the first is nearest
passed on with the clear and serene sky, the burning sun, and
the truth, and perhaps even a little beyond the mark. On
the westerly wind, which commonly prevails at that season
subsequently observing the time by a watch, it seems to me
of the year. It was observed that the month of May was
that if the motion had continued for more than two minutes,
extremely hot, perhaps more so than usual, but the thermometer

seldom higher than 108 or 110 of Fahrenheit in the shade
of a tent, and generally not above 105. On the evening of
the 3rd June we experienced a severe storm of rain and wind,
with thunder and lightning from the north-east quarter, an
occurrence by no means uncommon at the same season; the
storm lasted about two hours, with rain through the night,
was pretty general through the province, and was felt in some
places to the eastward of Bhooj in a degree approaching to
a hurricane.
In the description of the shock it will be necessary to speak
in the first person, because I can only pretend to describe
with correctness my own feelings, thoughts, and observations.
In the subsequent observations, however, I shall avail myself
of those felt and made by others under different circumstances
no building could have been left entire. Allowances must be

made for agitation at the moment, and the general voice seems
to fix the duration of die severe shocks at two minutes and
a half. A philosopher, who had been in the habit of observing
and speculating on the great convulsions of nature, might
have coolly taken out his watch and been delighted with the
opportunity of adding to the knowledge which the experience
of the shock might have afforded. For my own part, however,
my feelings at the moment were such as for an instant to
deprive me of all presence of mind and power of reflection;
and when self-possession did return, my mind was too deeply
occupied with the awful and appalling spectacle of the face
of nature in a state of excessive agitation to admit of other
thoughts or impressions. It certainly was terrific to behold
hills, towers, and houses, the stability of which we had been
and in different situations.
in the habit of considering as proof against every power, and
At the moment already mentioned, after a hot day, I was
and sinking, while the former sent forth clouds of dust, or
sitting with a party of friends on an earthen terrace, in front

of a house in which we were about to dine. The evening was
against the lapse of centuries, rocking to and fro, or rising

perhaps smoke, and the latter crumbled into rubbish.
remarkably serene, not a cloud to be seen, and a light and
With regard to the nature of the motion there is likewise a
cool breeze from the west. The situation was on a ridge of
variety of opinions. Some persons with whom I have conversed
slate rock in the town of Anjar, and close under a large round
feel convinced of the action of the shock being directly
tower with four heavy guns mounted on it. Our notice was
upwards, as if the earth was on the point of opening under
first attracted by a slight motion of our chairs, as if they had
their feet; a few assert that it was vibratory, whilst others
been lifted up, and a noise from the doors and windows, as
attribute to it an undulating motion. I confess I am one of
if they had been moved by the breeze: before the question of
those who favour the last-mentioned opinion, although the
What is that? could be uttered a second lifting of the chairs
slight motion at the commencement did certainly feel as a
took place, and the motion became too evident to be mistaken
direct elevation of the chair attended by a blow as if under
even by me, who had never before experienced a shock. Every
its feet. When the shock was at its height, the motion of the
75
earth was so strongly undulatory that to keep our feet was no
interval, until the 23rd of November, which seems to be the
easy matter. The waving of the surface was perfectly visible,
last distinct one we have had.
and in attempting to walk, the motion has been most aptly

compared by a gentleman to that felt when walking quickly
on a long plank supported at both ends;when one foot was
elevated, the earth either rose and met it, or sunk away from
it in its descent.
It would be hazardous to state a decided opinion of the number

of shocks felt, both in consequence of the cause before
assigned, and because motions of the earth appear to have
been felt in one spot and not in others; but as it is necessary
to give some vague idea to enable a judgement to be formed
The shock was attended with a violent gust of wind and a
by the reader, it may be observed that probably until the 1st
noise like that of a numerous flight of birds; but this did not
of July there were not fewer than two or even three shocks
precede the event; I think, on the contrary, that the noise was
every day; one daily throughout that month; one every three
heard even after, or at all events towards the conclusion of
days in August and September; and perhaps six in the course
the motion. Both of these occurrences have been denied,
of October; and three in November. This calculation, which
although, for my own part, I feel convinced that they did
is made avowedly on no solid grounds, gives short of 100
happen; more especially as the noise has been frequently
shocks in all; and it is probable that the number is at least a
heard to accompany subsequent shocks.
third within the truth.
The night of the 16th proved extremely serene and beautiful;
I know not how to class the shocks, unless in the fanciful
and as we slept in the open air, we had a favourable opportunity
manner of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, implying the degree of their
of remarking any thing extraordinary that might occur. We
severity. Of the 1st, we had only the first and most violent;
observed, as we thought, a more than usual number of the
of the 2nd, which were such as could be felt by a person
meteors known by the name of falling stars; but whether we
while standing, but without affecting buildings in any material
might not have been biased by what we had read of such
degree, we had, I think, about four; these occurred as follows:
phenomena having been supposed to attend earthquakes, I

will not venture to affirm. Before 11 oclock P.M. we
experienced three shocks; and, according to the statements
of the sentinels and townspeople, there were many in the
course of the night. These were however trifling, and their
effects were confined to shaking the tiles and bringing to the
ground loose stones from the ruined houses. The next day,
the 17th, the earth was frequently in motion, attended by
gusts of wind and a noise like that of wheeled carriages.
17th June, 10 A.M.; 29th June, 2 P.M.; 4th July, 3 A.M.:

and another at midnight in the same month, but the day
forgotten; the longest of these did not last more than 50
seconds. The third class, which is the most numerous, are
those shocks evident to persons sitting or reclining; few of
these lasted longer than perhaps 30 seconds, and did no
damage. The fourth class is that in which are included slight
motions of the earth, felt by some and disputed by others.
For some time before 10 A.M. these symptoms intermitted
The motions of the different classes were by many considered
only for a few minutes, until about a quarter to 10, when a
as undulatory and vibratory; although in some instances direct
severe shock was experienced; this lasted for about fifty
perpendicular shocks were certainly felt. The second class
seconds, and brought down a number of shattered buildings.
was remarked to be attended by a noise like that of a flight
As no register has been kept, or could well have been preserved,

of the number of shocks felt, it is impossible to furnish
particulars on this head. Until the beginning of August, no
day passed without one or more shocks; and subsequently
they became less frequent, only occurring every third or fourth
of birds and gusts of wind, and in some cases similar noises

to those already mentioned followed or preceded the third
class. Noises were frequently heard as if proceeding from the
earth, and the expectation which they occasioned of the usual
shock was never disappointed.
day. During the whole of this time the shocks were generally
The direction in which the motion travelled was, as almost
very slight; many persons did not feel what was sensibly felt
every other part of this phenomenon, disputed; many (of
by others. Subsequently to this period shocks became still
which I was at first one) believed that the direction was nearly
less frequent, occurring at uncertain periods of many days
from N.E. to S.W. The most general opinion, and which
76
appears since to be corroborated by circumstances, was that
eighteen minutes later than the shock was felt in Cutch. At
it was from S.W. to N.E.
Chunar the severe shock was felt at seven minutes past eight
The severe effects of the shock of the 16th were principally

confined to the province of Cutch, the damage done to other
countries even bordering on it being comparatively trifling;
and it is remarkable that the shock appears to have been more
severely felt in many distant countries than it was in those
intermediate, and even in some closely bordering on Cutch.
The great shock was felt at Calcutta about twenty minutes
past eight oclock; which, when corrected to the longitude of
Bhooj, will give six minutes past seven oclock P.M., or
E. Long
oclock P. M. on the 16th, equal to 7h 15m 16s Cutch time.

At Pondicherry it was experienced at eight P.M., equal to
twenty minutes past seven oclock Bhooj time. At Ahmedabad
the shock occurred about seven oclock; but at Broach, which
is little more than 3 E. of Bhooj, it occurred at nineteen
minutes past seven oclock, corrected by observation (Bombay
newspaper). This extraordinary variation in the moment of
the occurrence of the great shock can hardly be accounted
for by neglect or error in fixing the moment, or from errors
in the watches.
E. Long
E. Long.
Calcutta
88 28'
Chunar,
82 54'
Pondicherry
79 58'
Bhooj,
69 58'
Bhooj
69 58'
Bhooj
69 58'
18 30' or diff
12 56' or diff
10 00' or diff
TIME
TIME
TIME
1h 14m
0h 51m 44s
0h 40m
8h 20m
8h 7m 0s
8h 0m
7h 6m
7h 15m 16s
7h 20m
The utmost limits, within which this earthquake was felt, as
The ocean extending S. and S.W. from Cutch will prohibit
far as we have yet learned, may be fixed at Catmandoo in the
our ever knowing the limits of the shock in those directions;
north, Pondicherry to the south, Calcutta to the east, and the
but it may be remarked that early in June a severe earthquake
Mountains of Billoochistan to the west. In Nepal it was felt
occurred at Mockha on the Red Sea; but I have never heard
sensibly on the evening of the 16th June, the exact time not
that it was experienced (or that of ours of the 16th) at Muscat,
specified. At Calcutta the shock was felt very sensibly, but
which is nearly due west of Cutch [It may not be superfluous
apparently not so severely as at Chunar, and more so than in
to remark, that about the beginning of June 1819, Mount
Malwa and Khandesh, in many parts of which it was not felt
Etna was threatening to bury in its lava the cities in its vicinity;
at all. At Pondicherry it was severely experienced, and
Vesuvius was in a similar state of violent agitation; and
described as much more awful than in many intermediate
earthquakes were felt in different parts of Italy, and I believe
provinces. In Sindh it was felt very partially and slightly; and
in Sicily, although not in the vicinity of these mountains].
similarly at Shikarpoor on the southern frontier of the Peshawar

country.
What forms, in my opinion, one of the most striking

circumstances connected with this phenomenon is, that it
The range of the great shock is therefore known to have
should have been felt over such an extensive surface, and
embraced a space of 18 of lat. and 20 of long. In many
that its severity should have been confined to the limited
particular spots in this extent of country, of course, the motion
space of 200 miles or less. The damage sustained by Bulliaree,
was either not noticed or did not occur; but it was severely
Amercote, and Jesilmer, which all lie in the Desert and north
or sensibly felt at these limits on the evening of the 16th June.
of Cutch, points out that the severity of the motion extended
77
beyond Cutch in that particular direction; yet Sindh, Marwar,
European and native societies. In the latter, despair and
and Guzerat, including the peninsula of Kattewar, all of which
helplessness were strongly depicted in their countenances,
border on this province, suffered nothing [Poorbundor,
and their language and actions both corroborated the fact of
Moorbee, and Amrun, are exceptions; but those people who
these feelings being the sole tenants of their minds. They
have seen its effects in these places and in Cutch declare the
insisted to a man that there was almost a constant undulatory
former to be comparatively insignificant] The destructive
motion in the earth, and frequent vibrations between the shocks,
motion, therefore, seems to have been confined to a narrow
for ten days after the 16th; and this last feeling among Europeans
space, running in a direction of N.N.E. from Bhooj, as far as
was, I believe, confined to myself and one or two other persons.
Jesilmer. How far it extended in an opposite point it is

impossible to say; but taking Cutch as a centre, the radius
should have extended into Persia and Arabia, and nearly to
the equator. As we know, however, that the shock of the 16th
was not felt in these countries, it follows that Cutch was not
the centre of motion, because, if the cause of this phenomenon
had its origin in Cutch [From the circumstance of the shocks
still continuing in this province alone up to this day, now
nearly eight months, I confess that, ignorant as I am of the
theory of earthquakes, I am inclined to think that the causes
are to be found in the structure of the country], the power
which agitated the earth must have acted nearly entirely to
the eastward of a line extending north and south through the
centre of the province.
That the cause of the shock, wherever it had its seat, must
have been at a vast depth below the surface of the earth, may
perhaps be admitted, when we reflect on the immense surface
moved; but, as I have already observed, my want of knowledge
on the philosophical branch of the subject warns me to stop.
We come now to speak of the effects of this awful occurrence.
And first of all it may be proper to advert to our own feelings,
and the state of our minds, on witnessing, for the first time,
such a visitation. If I were to say that the impression, after
the shock had subsided, was an agonizing fear, it might
perhaps offend, although the strong oppression at the heart, a
kind of gasping anxiety, weakness in the limbs, and, in some
cases among Europeans, and generally throughout the natives,
a slight sickness of stomach [The information from Pondicherry
states a similar feeling to have been excited there on the 16th],
certainly cannot be interpreted in more appropriate language.
The brute creation in general did not appear to show much

sensibility to the motion; but it was remarked that horses in
action partially lost their equilibrium, and that pigeons and
other birds roosting were delicately sensible of the least
motion. The elephants in Bhooj broke from their pickets, and
seemingly in great alarm attempted to rush through the street,
till obstructed by the falling of houses.
The shock of the 16th was the only one by which the face of
nature or the works of man were materially injured or changed.
In the province of Cutch it may be fairly asserted that no
town escaped feeling its effects, either in the fall of houses
or in that of its fortifications. It would be difficult to
particularize the damage done to each. I shall therefore confine
myself to general remarks.
The capital naturally attracts our first attention; and, as fortune
would have it, Bhooj suffered in many respects more severely
than any other town; nearly seven thousand houses, great and
small, were overturned, and eleven hundred and forty or fifty
people buried in the ruins. The houses were built of stone and
chuna, or in many cases mud instead of this cement. Such
houses as were built of mud alone were little or no ways
affected by the shock. Of the original number of houses which
escaped ruin, about one-third is much shattered. Bhooj stands
in a plain of sand-stone covered with a thin soil of sand and
clay, but in many parts the rock is exposed. To the northeastward about half a mile raises an abrupt hill, apparently
composed of solid rock, on which are extensive fortifications.
The north-eastern face of the town wall, which is a strong
modern building, on an average four and a half and five feet
broad, and upwards of twenty feet high, was laid level nearly
For a long time, and indeed I believe up to the present day,
to the foundation; whilst the hill works suffered in a very
among natives, similar symptoms in a less degree are felt on
trifling degree. The south and western sides of the town are
the occurrence of the slight shocks; but for a short time after
situated upon a low ridge of sand rock, and the water from
the 16th there was a restlessness and disinclination to be
the town finds its way out to the northward, where is an
alone, or to attend to usual occupations, visible in both
extensive swamp of low and springy ground. This face has
78
also been overturned in many places, and not a hundred yards
level with the ground, 1333 yards destroyed to within ten feet
of entire wall left. The town has been utterly destroyed in the
of the bottom, and only 667 yards standing to the rampart, and
N.N.E. quarters, while the S. and S.W. quarters stand
the greatest part of this split in half [The walls of Anjar were
comparatively little injured. I have entered thus particularly
remarkably bad, and in most places off the perpendicular: they
into minutiae, to explain what I conceive to have been the
are not more than one hundred and ten years old]. All the
case every where, that buildings situated upon rock were not
houses excepting four are cut as it were in two; in some the
by any means so much affected by the earthquake as those
inner and in others the outer half has crumbled into ruins. The
whose foundations did not reach the bottom of the soil, which
east and swampy face is down to the very surface of the earth.
I conceive to have been the case with those houses on the

swampy and low sides of Bhooj [There are some strong
exceptions to this observation: Roha, which is a fort on a rocky
hill, was laid in ruins, while the lower town, on the plain,
escaped and undamaged. Moondra, Mandree, and Sandhan,
close to the sea shore, situated very low, and in sandy plains,
escaped with little damage. It is probable, however, that their
foundations are on the strata of sandstone, which at different
depths appear to be the support of the soil of the whole province]
There are, or rather were a great number of fortified towns

throughout Cutch; in general their works are destroyed. Thera,
which was esteemed the best in the province, has not a stone
unturned; the town fortunately did not suffer in the same
unparalleled degree, although few or no houses were left
securely habitable [The towns mentioned do not contain more
than 5 or 6000 inhabitants]. Kotharee, another town of the
same kind five or six miles from Thera, was reduced to a heap
of rubbish, only about fifty or sixty gable ends of ruins left
At Anjar, half of the town, which is situated on low rocky
standing. The fortifications down, but not so utterly destroyed
ridges, suffered comparatively nothing; whilst the other half,
as those of Thera. Mothora, a similar place to those described,
upon a slope to a plain of springs and swamps, into which
suffered equally in houses and ramparts, and more in lives than
the town is drained, was entirely overturned. About 1500
any place of its size. Nulliah [Naliya], Kotharee [Kotera],
houses were destroyed from the foundations, and about a
Venjan [Vinjhan], and many other towns of the same size and
similar number rendered uninhabitable. The loss in lives
description, suffered nearly in the same manner; but it would
amounted to 165, besides a number who afterwards died of
be a much easier task to enumerate those that escaped. Among
their bruises. The fort wall consisted of 3000 yards of masonry
the latter, Mandvee, Moondra, Sandhan, Poonree, Buchao, and
in circumference, not more than three feet and a half thick,
Adooee, may be recorded as the most fortunate. The total of
and in some places forty feet high; and in this extent are
lives lost, according to the best information I have been able
included 31 towers, round and square. Of this 1000 yards are
to procure, does not exceed two thousand; of these,

Bodies
Bhooj
[23.27N:69.67E]
1140*
Anjar
[23.13N:70.02E]
165
Mothora
[23.20N:69.13E]
73
Thera
[23.28N:68.93E]
65
Kotheree
[23.13N:68.93E]
34
Nulliah
[23.26N:68.82E]
Mandvee
[22.86N:69.39E]
45
Luckput
[23.82N:68.77E]
13
1543
* Registered and discovered; but upwards of 300 bodies never found in the ruins
79
The rest are chiefly sufferers in villages and small towns, of
pleasure to send a specimen of this earth to the Society. It is
which no very authentic account can be procured. Many very
burnt as an incense by the rajpoots, and those who worship
distressing accidents might be related; but I know of none so
the goddess Asshapoorra], fire is stated by the inhabitants to
much so as that of a whole family of women and children,
have issued to an alarming extent. The Government Agent
male and female, to the number of eleven people, the wives
on the spot reported the circumstance, and that the hill had
and offspring of a Jhareja family of rank in Mothora, being
been shattered, and rent into ravines: the height was likewise
smothered in one room (where they had hastily assembled)
asserted to have been obviously reduced [A letter from my
by a lofty bastion being precipitated directly upon their
friend Captain Elwood states, that an appearance of fire was
apartment. An aged grandfather and one son, I believe, are
perceived by him near Poorbunder; and the earth on
alone left of the stock. It is remarkable that under the heaviest
examination proved to be scorched, and to bear marks of
misfortunes of mankind there is generally some cause for
fire].
congratulation; and in the case of this calamity, had the

accident occurred in the night time, perhaps a third of the
population of the province would have been buried in the
ruins of their own dwelling-houses.
The rivers in Cutch are generally dry (excepting in the

monsoon), or have very little water in them. Native accounts
seem to confirm the fact of almost the whole of their beds
having been filled to their banks for a period of a few minutes,
As far as comes under our notice, the face of nature has not
and, according to some, for half an hour. They are said to
been much altered by the shocks. The hills, which are most
have subsided gradually. I was not in the way of observing
likely to show its effects, although from their abruptness and
this part of the phenomenon, but have no reason to doubt it.
conical or sharp ridge summits, and from the multitude of
Two chieftains were sent by me to settle a dispute among the
half-detached rocks with which they are generally covered,
Sandhan Bhyaut; and as they travelled in a Ruth, they knew
they might have been expected to have displayed strong marks
nothing of the shock. After it was dusk they reached the
of the convulsion by which they were agitated, have in no
Sandhan River, in which, to their utter astonishment, they
instance, to my personal knowledge, suffered more than
found a strong stream from bank to bank; nor did they learn
having had large masses of rock and soil detached from their
the cause till they reached the town. It is remarked that rivers
precipices. I have seen none with the cones flattened, or in
in the valleys, and those with sandy beds, were alone affected.
any remarkable degree altered.
Wells every where overflowed, many gave way and fell in,
At the moment of the shock vast clouds of dust were seen,

to ascend from the summits of almost every hill and range of
hills. Many gentlemen perceived smoke to ascend, and in
some instances fire was plainly seen bursting forth for a
moment. A respectable native chieftain [Jharejah Vijerajjee
of Roha: which place is twenty-six miles W. of Bhooj] assured
me, that from a hill close to one on which his fortress is
situated, fire was seen to issue in considerable quantities. A
and in numerous places spots of ground in circles of from

twelve to twenty feet diameter threw out water to a considerable
height, and subsided into a slough. I saw none of these actually
forming, but frequently met with them in their slough state.
The colour of the waters sent forth gave great alarm to the
natives, many of whom affirmed that the rivers had run in
blood, doubtless from the colour of the soil through which
they had been forced.
ball of a large size was vomited as it were into the air, and
This convulsion of nature has affected the eastern and almost
fell to the ground, still blazing, on the plain below; where it
deserted channel of the river Indus, which bounds Cutch to
divided into four or five pieces, and the fire suddenly
the westward, and the Runn or desert, and swamp called the
disappeared. On examining the hill next day (the chieftain
Bhunnee, which insulates this province on the north, in a
stated) it was found rent and shattered, as if something within
more remarkable manner than it has any other part of the
had sunk, and the spot where the fire-ball was supposed to
country. I myself have seen this branch of the Indus forded
have fallen bore marks of fire in the scorched vegetation. In
at Luckput, with water for a few hundred yards about a foot
the neighbourhood of Murr, where alum is made, and where
deep. This was when the tide was at ebb; and when at flood
an entire hill is formed of a bituminous earth [I have the
the depth of the channel was never more than six feet, and
80
about eighty or one hundred yards in breadth: the rest of the
strangers to such a phenomenon, and were terrified in
channel at flood-tide was not covered in any place with more
proportion to their ignorance. The instantaneous and firm
than one or two feet of water. This branch of the river Indus,
belief adopted by all sects and descriptions was, that the world
or, as it may now with more propriety be termed, inlet of the
was at its end; and their minds were impressed accordingly
sea [It is many years since the eastern branch of the Indus
[A few minutes after the shock, I walked through the streets
has been almost deserted by the waters of the river], has since
of Anjar, which were crowded with people sitting on the ruins
the earthquake deepened at the ford of Luckput to more than
of their houses and shops which had fallen into the road.
eighteen feet at low water; and on, sounding the channel, it
They appeared to me to be in a state little short of mental
has been found to contain from four to twenty feet from the
derangement; and to a question put, the only answer to be
Cutch to the Sindh shore, a distance of three or four miles.
got was Ram Krishna which they repeated constantly and
The Allah bund has been damaged; a circumstance that has
loudly, apparently unconscious of what they were saying].
re-admitted of a navigation which had been closed for centuries.
After the first alarm had subsided, advantage began to be
The goods of Sindh are embarked in craft near Ruhema Bazar
taken of the circumstance. The Brahmins enjoined charity to
and Kanjee Kacote; and which, sailing across the Bhunnee
the Hindoos; and placards were issued from unknown quarters,
and Runn, land their cargoes at a town called Nurra on the
foretelling misfortunes to those who did not feed their priests,
north of Cutch. The Runn, which extends from Luckput round
or who persevered in sin. One of these papers was stated to
the north of this province to its eastern boundary, is fordable
have come from Kassee (Benares); and as it had a remarkable
but at one spot, at this period of the year, at which it has
effect upon all classes of Hindoos, I am induced to submit a
heretofore been dry; and should the water continue throughout
verbal translation of it.
the year, we may perhaps see an inland navigation along the

northern shore of Cutch: which, from stone anchors &c. still
to be seen, and the tradition of the country, I believe to have
existed at some former period.
Sindree, a small mud fort and village belonging to the Cutch
Government, situated where the Runn joins the branch of the
Indus, was overflowed at the time of the shock. The people
escaped with difficulty, and the tops of the town-wall are now
alone to be seen above the water. The fate of Sindree was
owing to its situation, for there cannot be a doubt of all the
Runn land having during the shock sent forth vast quantities
of water and mud. The natives described a number of small
cones of sand six or eight feet in height, the summits of which
continued to bubble for many days after the 16th. The sea
must have been affected by the motion of the earth but nothing
material or positive has been discovered on this part of the
subject.
A letter has been received in the name of Shri Ramjee. It

has come from Kassi Benares. In the middle of this Iron Age,
the Golden Age will make its appearance: Shri Bhuddajee
will appear. Of the iron age have elapsed 4912 years [This
appears to be a mistake, as 4920 years have elapsed]; and
after Sumvut 1876 (A.D. 1819) the golden age will last 13,033
years. On the 5th Asonsood (or 24th September 1819), after
twenty-two ghurries of the night have elapsed, at that moment
will Bhuddajee appear, and the golden age commence. The
earth will shake for seven ghurries and thirty pulls. The earth
will open; then will false and uncharitable people be swallowed
up. They, who are charitable and religious, depend upon
Bhugwan, give alms, do virtuous actions, and fear bad
actions,these will be saved. The golden age will last 13,033
years; the age of man will be 250 years. There will be universal
friendship and peace. Every month will consist of forty-five
days; every day consists of ninety ghurries. There will be
thirty-six mansions of the moon; there will be twelve planets;
Although the appearance of the country in Cutch bespeaks
there will be fifteen signs in the zodiac. At night, when thirteen
that it has suffered at some period from convulsions of nature;
ghurries remain, then will the golden age commence:
and although there are strong signs of volcanic matter thickly
Bhuddajee will appear. This event has been extracted from
scattered over its surface, still there does not exist even a
the Vedes after much study. From the Shri Bhud Maha Grunth,
tradition of an earthquake [The slight shocks felt of late years
after intense study, has it been extracted? Whosoever reads,
in Guzerat were also experienced in this province] of any
hears, or causes to be heard, copies, or spreads abroad this
violence having occurred. The natives, therefore, were perfect
letter, will be fortunate. Believe in it, for he who denies its
81
truth kills a Brahmin or a cow. He who has no faith will be
we had it less severe, though equally constant; and were I to
damned; he who believes will be saved, he will be happy, he
say that for two months we never had a day without some
will attain to the presence of Bhugwan Shri Krushan
rain, I believe I should not be exaggerating. In consequence,
Damotherjee is truth.
the crops have either failed, or could never be sown; and
This paper was written in the Bridge Bhakha dialect, and

Balbood character. At the hour appointed in it for the
destruction of sinners, almost every Hindoo of respectability
purified himself, and sat with the toolsi leaf in his mouth,
patiently expecting a fate which he had endeavoured to evade
by liberal donations to Brahmins [Even the Banians are said
to have sold their goods at just rates and with fair weights
for some time previously to the dreaded day. A circumstance
so extraordinary, as honesty in a Banian retailer, is certain
grain is now selling at the rate at which it sold in Cutch in

the famine of 1812-13. We have always much thunder and
lightning in Cutch during the monsoon, this season I think
more than common; and the heavy clouds, which for a period
of three months never ceased to travel close to the earth from
the S.W., obscured the sun for many days successively. We
had also a storm of wind from the westward, which amounted
to a hurricane in the western parts of Cutch. These occasionally
have happened before, and are called by the natives, hoowah.
proof, of the impression which the prophecy had made on his
Such are the details of the circumstances attending the
mind].
earthquake of 1819. I have much reason to solicit the pardon
The Moosulmans were equally alarmed, and abundance of

threats of punishment to the wicked were fulminated from
the musjeeds; and a paper asserted to have come from Mecca,
with the usual seals attached, foretold the approach of the
of the Society for having descended to such trifling particulars;

and the only apology I have to offer, is the circumstance of
such a phenomenon having so seldom occurred in India with
similar violence.
day of judgement. The Moolahs and mendicant Syeds stated
On the covering letter (Camp: Bhooj, Jan 27, 1920) of the
the cause of the earthquake to be, that the horse Dooldool
above note Macmurdo states: At noon this day we had a very
was pawing for his food, and strict injunctions were issued
strong shock, attended by a loud noise like distant thunder.
to all good Mahomedans to send a certain quantity of grain
Several shocks have likewise occurred since the accompanying
and grass to the Moolahs &c. to satisfy Dooldool, which
details were written.
supplies were appropriated to the pious Moolahs own private

emolument.
The next two letters are from Capt. Ballantyne addressed to
The Hindoos attributed the earths motion to a quarrel among
[Jodiya 22.76N:70.46E], dated 17th and 18th June, 1819
the Dyets and Dewas, and fabricated the most ludicrous stories
on the subject. Prophets sprung up from all classes, casts and
sects; some asserted that they had foretold the calamity which
had occurred; others boldly pointed out the hour and moment
at which still more calamitous events were to happen; and in
short there was a superabundant display of every thing absurd
or extravagant that could be advanced by ignorance and
presumption, deceit and superstition.
Lieut. Col. Barclay and to Mr Williams, both from Jooria

respectively.
(ii) Capt. Ballantyne
We have had a complete earthquake since yesterday evening
at half past seven oclock. The shocks have been numerous
and severe, and the tremulous sensation does not yet cease.
The whole town is literally a ruin; the works are shaken from
the foundation, and in many places thrown down. The old
It may be remarked that the monsoon commenced about the
tower, which I had given up to Dr. Roy, is a complete ruin:
11th of July in some places of the province, and later in others.
the roof falling in crushed all his things, and it is almost
The memory of any person living can furnish no example of
miraculous that we happened to be out. My sitting bungalow
so severe a season. The rain in the western parts of Cutch fell
and sleeping apartments are one shattered ruin. The Dewanjee
in such torrents for hours successively, that, combined with
has quitted the town, and lives outside, it being really not
occasional shocks of the earthquake, it excited, the most
safe remaining in buildings so much injured as those here are
alarming fears in the minds of the inhabitants. To the eastward
[letter of 17 June].
82
Yesterday morning we went out to the westward of the town
little connected with medical science; but as forming by far
to see some rents which had been caused by the earthquake
the most interesting and awful part of the natural history of
in the fields there. The earth separating had in some places
the globe, I have no doubt every thing relating to it will be
emitted water and fire. On examining the different rents, we
acceptable to the Board.
found them to be of various extents from an inch to a foot in

breadth; the depth however in all of them was considerable,
being 10, 15, and 20 feet. In some places a black sandy and
gravelly soil had been thrown out; in others, a black wet earth.
The shocks during the night of the 16th were frequent, but
not very severe, and the tremulous motion of the earth scarcely
ceased. On the morning of the 17th the weather was close,
and the tremulous motion continued in a very sensible and
disagreeable degree: about 10 A.M. a distinct and severe
shock was felt, but it did not last long. We have had no rain,
thunder, or lightning, for these six or eight days. The
thermometer has ranged from 86 to 90 and 92 degrees. We
had remarked on the 18th that the thermometer had risen two
degrees. The dreadful noise accompanying the earthquake
was of a rumbling kind, and resembled sometimes that
produced by the quick motion of wheeled carriages, and
sometimes of a distant cannonade. It is now between five and
six oclock (morning of the 18th); I have felt the motion
frequently during the night, and am anxious as to what may
yet happen. The morning is close, and appearances
unfavourable. My table and chair are at this moment shaking
under me. We have already had accounts of this earthquakes
having been severely felt and committing great havoc at
Nowanuggur, Zoona-bunder, Moorvee, Tunkaria, Dhewrole,
Amrun, &c.; at the last place much of the fort has been thrown
down, and eight or ten persons have been killed, besides
many horses and cattle [letter of 18 June].
The following letter of 29th June 1819 is from James MAdam,

Assistant Surgeon, reporting from Anjar [23.13N: 70.02E],
addressed to George Ogilvy, Secretary to the Medical Board,
Bombay.
(iii) Dr. James MAdam
Different from what has generally been observed in the greater

number of severe earthquakes, nothing in this previously
occurred, in the state of the atmosphere or otherwise, to
indicate the probability of any unusual phenomenon taking
place. The months of March and April were extremely hot
and oppressive; but during May the weather became milder,
and remained much the same as it generally is in that month.
About the second or third of June, at night, there was a severe
squall of thunder and rain, which lasted for about an hour
and a half. After this the temperature of the air became mild
and agreeable; and till the very moment that the earthquake
took place, nothing could be observed to indicate even the
smallest change in the weather, far less the approach of such
a dreadful convulsion.
The first and great shock took place a few minutes before
seven oclock in the evening of the 16th, and the general
opinion is that it lasted nearly two minutes. The motion of
the earth during this period was most awful and alarming,
giving to most people the feeling as if it was about to open
and swallow every thing up. In this short space the town of
Bhooj, nearly three miles in circumference, became almost
a heap of ruins; most of the houses were thrown down, and
the greater part of the ramparts and towers, with the guns,
were precipitated into the ditch. Nothing was seen by those
at a distance but a thick cloud of dust. The same occurred
in a greater or less degree in every town and fort from the
eastern extremity of Wagur to Luckput on the Indus; and
even the smallest villages have been leveled with the ground.
The shock appeared to increase in violence as it continued,
and suddenly to stop, leaving a kind of tremor; some people
said it was preceded by a noise like thunder or the rattling of
a number of carriages, but this was not generally observed.
I have the honour to report, for the information of the Medical
Difference of opinion also exists as to the kind of motion that
Board, all the circumstances which have come to my
took place; some people considering it was undulatory, others
knowledge regarding the earthquake which took place in
as a kind of tremor, and others again as coming directly
Cutch on the 16th instant; and which, if we take into
upwards. The last kind of motion appeared to me very evident,
consideration the severity of the shock, and the damage
though being at the time surrounded by houses and walls
sustained within the range of its operation, has seldom been
falling in every direction, I might not be so well able to judge.
equaled in modern times. This subject, I am aware, is but
I felt as if the force was acting directly where I stood, and as
83
if the earth was making an effort to burst immediately under
being more severe in that particular place, as, extending over
my feet. People appear to differ as much as to the quarter
such a considerable tract of country, its force could not have
from which the shock came; nor is it to be ascertained from
differed in such a small space.
any general direction in which the walls of the towns or

houses have fallen: they appear to have tumbled in every
direction indiscriminately, and frequently one half of the same
wall has fallen on one side and the other half on the other.
Since the 16th constant shocks have been felt, perhaps all
together nearly thirty in number. The weather continues much
the same as might be expected at this season. The wind is
very variable: heavy squalls are suddenly succeeded by dead
As far as I have been able to ascertain, in no place has the
calms. The atmosphere is cloudy, with a hazy horizon. There
surface of the earth suffered any important alteration from
is nothing peculiar in the appearance of the sun at rising or
the shock. There are reports of fire having issued from hills
setting; only one meteor (a ball of fire) has been observed
to the westward of Bhooj, but I do not think they will be
since the occurrence of the earthquake, and that was on the
found correct. On the 17th I travelled between Bhooj and
night on which the first shock took place.
Anjar, a distance of twenty-seven miles, and part of the road

through hills; and though I looked carefully in every direction,
I could perceive no recent changes. In the bunds of tanks and
the steep banks of ravines, small rents could be perceived; in
the hard rocky soil, which forms the general surface of the
country, no alteration was to be seen. After the shock several
dry rivers became filled with water, which afterwards gradually
subsided. About Anjar the water in the wells became of a
milky colour, but was not altered in taste.
With respect to the places affected by the shock, Anjar and
Bhooj appear to have suffered much more than any other I
have yet heard of; in the former nearly 200 dead bodies have
been dug out of the ruins, and in the latter 1000 are supposed
to have perished, besides numbers in both towns miserably
maimed. It would be impossible even to guess at the number
of victims throughout the country: it will be sufficient to
remark that not only in large towns the fatal effects of the
shock have been felt, but even in the smallest villages some
lives have been lost. In Anjar the effects of the shock appear
to have been greatly modified by difference of situation; the
quarter of the town towards the east, and which is the lowest,
has been reduced to one mass of ruins. Neither street nor lane
is to be discovered, and literally there is not one stone remaining
on the top of another: the town wall on this side has suffered
in an equal degree. The other part of the town, with the wall,
though dreadfully shattered, does not appear to have suffered
one tenth part of the injury. This must be accounted for from
Gorge Ogilvy while forwarding [date not given] the above

letter to the Society further adds:
I had no opportunity of forwarding the above letter till today. Shocks still continue to be felt, and there was a very
smart one yesterday evening. The earthquake appears to have
been felt all over Kattiwar, and as far east as Kaira and Baroda;
also at Radhunpoor, and I believe in Sind. Cutch, from all
accounts, appears to have been the centre of its operations,
and especially the western part of it. Moondra and Mandavi,
two large towns on the sea-coast, have suffered in
comparatively a trifling degree; but the inland towns and forts
towards the Indus have been almost completely destroyed.
There has been a heavy fall of rain at this place, and the
weather continues cool and pleasant.
The fifth letter is from Capt. Elwood written from Porebunder

dated 17th June 1819. The same document with slightly different
wordings was also published in Asiatic Journal and Monthly
Register, January- June, 1820 Vol-9, page 85 [see above under
1820b] and again in Selections from Asiatic Journal and
Monthly Register (Jan 1816 to June 1822), Volume I, 1875,
p 356-360 under heading A Terrible Earthquake at Porebunder,
17th June 1819. The following version is as published in 1823
in Transactions of the Literary Society of Bombay.
(iv) Capt. Elwood
the lower part being situated at a considerable distance from
We yesterday evening experienced in this fort and city
the rock, upon a bed of white aluminous earth, while in the
one of the most awful scenes in nature, that of a violent
higher part the foundations of the houses are situated
and destructive shock from an earthquake. The weather was
immediately upon the rock. It could not be owing to the shock
close and sultry; the thermometer ranged at 86 at sunset, and a
84
light air, scarcely perceptible, was sometimes felt from the
quitted. The danger being past, my curiosity became excited;
southward. An officer and myself were taking an evening
and approaching the cloud of dust, I found it to be occasioned
walk on the ramparts of the fort, and had gone nearly all
by the fall of towers and of large portions of the curtain,
round, when, at 40 minutes past six, we observed to each
leaving several breaches, some forty and some sixty yards
other how excessively close and oppressive the atmosphere
wide. This devastation extended for five hundred yards, and
was; and five minutes after, I heard a distant sound not unlike
over a part of the fort which I had been walking on not five
that of a cannonade at sea. A thought had scarcely passed the
minutes before.
mind as to what could give rise to the sound, when I felt a

violent shock beneath my feet, and instantly exclaimed, An
earthquake! Looking at the same time forwards, I saw the
stone parapet at two yards distance violently agitated by a
quick, short, wave-like motion, bending in and out with the
greatest pliability, and with the vibration of about a foot, and
attended with an incessant hissing cracking noise. I thought
I do not imagine that a twenty-four hours fire from ten pieces

of heavy ordnance could have produced so extensive a
destruction as was thus effected in the space of a minute and
a half. We conjectured that the awful shock had not lasted
more than that short period. Short as it was, it was powerful
enough to destroy the work of ages.
it impossible that the works could stand, and, expecting their
We now directed our attention towards home, and the first
immediate fall, I instantly determined on descending as quickly
occurrence that was met with near it, was the horse-keepers
as possible; but as the rampart was a perpendicular height of
with the horses in their hands standing in the open air; having
masonry of about 20 feet, I was obliged to run back towards
been apprehensive, as they said, that the stables would have
the nearest ramp, which was a flight of stone steps at some
fallen and killed the horses. On entering the house, my servant
distance. The officer I was walking with followed; and as we
informed me, that while making my bed in one of the upper
passed along at a quick rate, the sensation felt was similar to
apartments he had been thrown down on the floor, and that
that dangerous and disagreeable one of running along an
before he could make his escape he was thrown down a
elevated and elastic plank, the ends alone of which are

supported. I every instant expected to fall with the works, or
to be precipitated from them; but, reaching the steps, ran
down as fast as I could, each lower step apparently meeting
the descending foot (which I really believe was the case, as
the whole flight of steps was violently agitated). While passing
down, I expected to be overwhelmed by the works, which
were touching my right shoulder, and above my head. Although
the rampart and parapet are about twelve feet thick, and
twenty-five feet in height, yet this wall of masonry waved to
and fro. Fortunately the steps were broad; had they been
narrow, as is frequently the case, so great was their agitation
that it is doubtful if we should have got down without being
thrown over the side. Arrived at the bottom of the ramp, we
did not cease running until we had got to a sufficient distance
from the works to prevent their falling on us. On halting, we
were surprised to find that the works had not fallen after so
extraordinary an undulating motion. On reaching a place of
comparative safety, for there was no place absolutely safe,
the attention was attracted by a vast cloud of black dust arising
second time. A gentleman and lady, on hearing all the tiles

of their house in motion, and crackling as if in a fire, and
observing the whole of their furniture shaking, immediately
got down stairs into the open air. The gentleman informed
me, that although his stairs were broad and built of very solid
masonry, such was the agitation they were thrown into by the
earthquake, that he experienced much difficulty in descending.
An officers house, a very substantial stone building about
forty feet high, which stands by itself, appears to have been
affected by the shock more than the other houses. The sepoys
describe it as having rocked from side to side as a tree in a
high wind. On examination, so many rents were found in the
walls that it was deemed unadvisable to sleep under its roof.
I believe there are few houses throughout this large city which
are not more or less injured. Some have fallen so as to block
up the streets in which they were situated. The rajah and the
principal inhabitants are now encamped outside; which they
prefer to trust themselves in their own houses, the fall of
which would prove very destructive, as they are made of a
thick terrace supported by stone or weighty timber.
at about three hundred yards distance, and from the sea
The earth opened, and water issued from the cavity, in a plain
face of the fort, which ran at right angles with the one we had
fourteen miles hence. The atmosphere to-day has been
impregnated with a strong smell of sulfur and between 10
A.M. and 2 P.M. there were several other shocks, which
brought down some old houses: but these shocks were not to
be compared with yesterdays awful phenomenon. It was
observed that all animals were much frightened: the dogs lay
down on their bellies and would not be moved. The earthquake
in the interior appears to have been less violent than near the
sea-shore. I am this moment informed that fifty men have
been killed by the fall of walls at Mangarole [Mangrol], which
is distant hence 80 miles in a S.E. direction.
The sixth and the last letter printed in the Transactions of the
Bombay Literary Society was from G. A. Stuart, Assistant
Surgeon from camp - Sirdas, addressed to Capt. Kennedy dated
17 June, 1819:
(v) Dr. G. A. Stuart
Being a Member of the Literary Society, I deem it a kind of
duty that attaches to me, to record for the information of the
Society any fact or circumstance of considerable interest
which may fall under my observation connected with the
objects of the Society In these sentiments, I now have to
mention the occurrence of the shock of an earthquake here
yesterday evening. It occurred about seven oclock. It was
such as to alarm every one who felt it. The earth under us
seemed to rise and fall very considerably; so considerably,
indeed, that I myself could not stand steadily. Every one who
felt it became in some degree giddy. It was not felt by any
one who was on horseback; and this was the case with several
of our officers. Every one, however, who was on the ground
felt it to be very alarming. The duration of it was not measured
by any one, but I think it lasted about two minutes. It was at
first slight, and towards its termination the motion became
less and less violent. We have had no accounts of it from
neighbouring towns; so that I am led to suppose it has not
been so violent as to do much mischief in other places. This
country, Kattiwar, is rocky and rugged. The rock is of the
trap kind, containing great quantities of agate and crystallized
quartz. I have observed nothing of a volcanic nature, unless
the trap to be considered such.
85
stationed at the respective sites and actually witnessed the

earthquake. There are a few more subsequent publications that
essentially compiles information from documents presented
above but as these are frequently referred in contemporary
research papers we shall reproduce three such notes that are
from Huge Murray (1832), Baird-Smith (1843) and Oldham
(1883) in spite of unavoidable repetition; these papers however
also discuss the Allah Bund, a morphotectonic feature in the
Indus delta, considered to be related with the earthquake.
Original contributions on the Allah Bund shall be placed after
these three notes.
e) 1832 - Huge Murray and others
On the 16th June, 1819, the western part of India was visited
by an earthquake, which spread desolation and panic over a
vast extent of country. It was felt from Bombay to beyond
the tropic of Cancer; but the centre of the shock seems to
have been in the province of Cutch, which suffered severely.
The first and greatest shock took place on the 16th June, a
few minutes before seven P.M. The wretched inhabitants of
Bhooj were seen flying in all directions to escape from their
felling habitations. A heavy appalling noise, the violent
undulatory motion of the ground, the crash of the buildings,
and the dismay and terror which appeared in every
countenance, produced a sensation fearful beyond description.
The shock lasted from two to three minutes, in which short
period the city of Bhooj was almost leveled to the ground.
The walls, from the sandy nature of the stone, were crumbled
into dust; nearly all the towers and gateways were demolished;
and the houses left standing was so shattered as to be
uninhabitable. It was calculated that nearly 2000 persons
perished at Bhooj alone.
The devastation was general throughout Cutch. In other
quarters its effects appear to have been equally disastrous.
Thus, from Ahmedabad, the capital of Guzerat, we have the
following description: This city is justly celebrated for its
beautiful buildings of stone and other materials, and for the
famous shaking minarets, which were admired by every
stranger. Alas! the devastation caused by this commotion of
the earth is truly lamentable. The proud spires of the great
So far we have reproduced all descriptive accounts on the
mosque erected by Sultan Ahmed, which have stood nearly
earthquake of 16th June 1819 that were published between
450 years, have tumbled to the ground within a few yards of
1820 and 1824. These accounts are by observers who were
the spot where they once reared their heads! Another mosque
86
of elegant structure, which lies to the left of the road leading
violent concussion had lasted a minute or upwards, it was
to Shahee Bagh, has shared the same fate. The magnificent
succeeded by an oscillatory motion, of a more equable
towers which formed the grand entrance into the citadel have
character, which continued for more than a minute and a half,
been much shaken and cracked in several places. The fort
making the whole period of the convulsion nearer three than
and town of Jelelsheer are reduced to ruins. Many of the
two and a half minutes. An intelligent native residing in
people killed were already out of doors, which are usually
Iseria gives the following account: yesterday, in the evening,
considered a situation of comparative safety. A marriage was
a noise issued from the earth like the beating of the no but,
about to be celebrated in a rich mans family and the castes
and occasioned a trembling of all the people; it appeared most
had assembled from various distant quarters: the shock
wonderful, and deprived us all of our senses, so that we could
occurred when they were feasting in the streets, and upwards
not see, every thing appearing dark before us; a dizziness
of 500 of the party were smothered in the ruins of the falling
came upon many people, so that they fell down. The
houses.
inhabitants of Cutch, however, were much relieved from the
The effects of this earthquake were indeed so extensive that

we cannot afford room for more minute particulars; but we
may add some account of the sensations felt by individual
sufferers during the continuance of the shocks. In the British
camp, which was pitched in a plain between the fort and city
of Bhooj, the general feeling was an unpleasant giddiness of
the head and sickness of stomach, from the heaving of the
ground; and during the time the shock, lasted, some sat down
dread of further convulsions by the circumstance of a volcano

having opened on a hill about thirty miles from Bhooj ; and,
about ten days after the first shock, a loud noise like the
discharge of cannon was heard at Porebunder. The sound
came from the east, and was supposed to indicate the bursting
of one or more volcanoes in that direction. The earthquake
affected in a remarkable degree the eastern and almost deserted
channel of the Indus, which it refilled and deepened.
instinctively, and others threw themselves on the ground.
The account of Lieut. A. Burnes, who examined the Cutch
Those who were on horseback were obliged to dismount; the
portion of the delta of the Indus in 1826 and 1829, as stated
earth shook so violently that the horses could with difficulty
by Mr. Lyell, furnishes the following very interesting details
keep their feet; and the rider when upon the ground, were
regarding the submergence and upraising of land during the
scarcely able to stand. At Ahmedabad, all the disagreeable
earthquake of 1819: A tract around Sindree, which subsided
sensations were experienced of being tossed in a ship at sea
during the earthquake in June, 1819, was converted from dry
in a swell; and the rocking was so great, that every moment
land into sea in the course of a few hours; the new-formed
we expected the earth to open under our feet. One gentleman,
mere extending for a distance of sixteen miles on either side
writing from Surat, where the earthquake began at twenty
of the fort, and probably exceeding in area the lake of Geneva.
minutes past seven, says, The vibration of the couch I was
Neither the rush of the sea into this new depression, nor the
lying on was so great that I was glad to get off it; the house
movement of the earthquake, threw down the small fort of
was considerably agitated, the furniture all in motion; a small
Sindree, the interior of which is said to have become a tank,
table close to me kept striking the wall, and the lamps swung
the water filling the space within the walls, and the four
violently. I ran down stairs, and got out of my house as fast
towers continuing to stand; so that on the day after the
as possible. On getting on the outside, I found a number of
earthquake the people in the fort, who had ascended to the
people collected, gazing with astonishment at my house,
top of one of the towers, saved themselves in boats.
which stands alone, and was so violently agitated that I
Immediately after the shock, the inhabitants of Sindree saw,
expected it to fall down. The earth was convulsed under our
at the distance of five miles from the village, a long elevated
feet. Another writes from Baroach: Such of the houses as
mound, where previously there had been a low and perfectly
are elevated, and at all loosely built, creaked like the masts
level plain. To this uplifted tract they gave the name of Ullah
and rigging of a ship in a gale; the venetians and window-
Bund, or the Mound of God, to distinguish it from an
frames rattling violently, and the buildings threatening
artificial barrier previously thrown across an arm of the Indus.
immediately to fall; a considerable lateral motion was
It is already ascertained that this newly-raised country
impressed on every thing that admitted of it. After this more
is upwards of fifty miles in length from east to west, running
87
parallel to that line of subsidence which caused the ground
called Denodur, situated thirty miles north-west from Bhooj,
around Sindree to be flooded. The breadth of this elevation
the capital of Cutch, burst into action, and the movements of
from north to south is conjectured to be in some parts sixteen
the earth immediately stopped.
miles, and its greatest ascertained height above the original

level of the delta is ten feet. This upraised land consists of
clay filled with shells. Besides Ullah Bund, there appears
to be another elevation south of Sindree, parallel to that before
mentioned, regarding which, however, no exact information
has been communicated. There is a tradition of an earthquake
having, about three centuries before, upheaved a large area
of the bed of the sea, and converted it into land, in the district
now called The Runn, so that numerous harbours were
laid dry, and ships were wrecked and engulfed; in confirmation
of which account, it was observed in 1819 that in the jets of
black muddy water thrown out of fissures in that region there
The effects of the shock in the western portion of the province

were remarkable and severe. An extensive subsidence of the
Delta of the Indus took place, which is thus described by Mr.
Lyell, on the authority of Captain Macmurdo: Although the
ruin of towns was great, the face of nature in the inland
country was, not visibly altered. In the hills, some large masses
only of rock and soil were detached from the precipices; but
the eastern and almost deserted channel of the Indus, which
bounds the province of Cutch, (on the westward) was greatly
changed. The estuary or inlet of the sea was before the
Earthquake, fordable at Luckput, being only about a foot deep
were cast up numerous pieces of wrought iron and ship nails.
when the tide was at ebb and at flood tide never more than
f) 1843 R. Baird-Smith:
shock to more than eighteen feet at low water. On sounding
From the numerous volcanic phenomena presented throughout

the tracts of country bordering on, and forming the Delta of
the Indus, the frequent occurrence of Earthquake shocks might
have been anticipated, but it is not until the year 1819 that
any have been recorded, so far as I have yet ascertained. The
various circumstances attending the great shock of the 16th
June 1819 have already been ably brought before the scientific
public by different authors, and a careful analysis of the whole
has been made by Mr. Lyell in his Principles of Geology,
Chapter XIV. Since it is my object to present in this memoir
a complete view of Indian Earthquakes, in so far as existing
information will permit, it is necessary that I should repeat the
accounts already given, and it is my intention to do so, in as
full detail as the various published notices will admit of. We
have no accounts of the effects of this Earthquake at any point
farther westward than in the province of Cutch, although from
its violence, it is probable, that it extended to Sinde and Mekran.
Commencing however with Cutch, its course will be traced
eastward, and its effects at various spots detailed.
six feet; but it was deepened at the fort of Luckput after the
other parts of the channel it was found, that where previously
the depth of water at flood never exceeded one or two feet,
it had become from four to ten feet deep. By these and other
remarkable changes of level, a part of the inland navigation
of that country, which had been closed for centuries, became
again practicable. In describing the effects of the shock in
this neighbourhood, Captain Burnes remarks: Wells and
rivulets without number changed from fresh to salt water; but
these were trifling alterations compared with those which
took place in the Eastern branch of the Indus and the adjacent
country. At sun-set, the shock was felt at Sindree, the station
at which the Cutch government levied their customs, situated
on the high road from Cutch to Sinde, and on the banks of
what had once been the Eastern branch of the Indus. The little
brick fort of 150 feet square, which had been built there for
the protection of merchandise, was overwhelmed by an
inundating torrent of water from the ocean, which spread on
every side, and in the course of a few hours converted the
tract, which before had been hard and dry, into an inland lake,
which extended sixteen miles on either side of Sindree. The
Cutch:The greatest force of the Earthquake under notice,
houses within the walls filled with water, and eight years
appears certainly to have been exerted within the province
afterwards, I found fish in the pools of water among them.
of Cutch. Nearly every town and fort in it was seriously
The only dry spot was where the bricks had fallen upon one
injured, many levelled with the ground, and among their ruins
another. One of the four towers only remained, and the Custom
numerous lives were lost. The first and greatest shock occurred
House Officers had saved their lives by ascending it, and
at a few minutes before 7 P. M. on the 16th June, but shocks
were eventually transported to dry land by boats on the
of inferior violence continued until the 20th, when the volcano
following day.
88
But it was soon discovered, Captain Burnes continues, that
Bhooj and Chanu westward of Nerona, are both said to have
this was not the only alteration in this memorable convulsion
been sea-ports. The people of Puchum, the largest island in
of nature; as the inhabitants of Sindree observed at a distance
the Runn, have traditions of boats having been wrecked on
of five miles northward, a mound of earth or sand, in a place
the hills of the island, and they point out several considerable
where the soil was previously low and level. It extended East
harbours, called Dorut, Doh, or Dohee and Phungwuro, to
and West for a considerable distance, and passed immediately
the westward of Puchum. On the Sinde, or western side of
across the channel of the Indus, separating as it were for ever,
the Runn, like traditions prevail. In farther confirmation of
the Phurraun river from the sea. The natives called this mound
these traditionary accounts, it was observed that during the
by the name of Ullah Bund, or the Mound of God, in
shock of 1819, numerous pieces of iron and ship nails were
allusion to its not being like the other dams of the Indus, a
thrown up with the black muddy water near Phungwuro, and
work of man, but a dam thrown up by nature. This remarkable
like materials have subsequently been discovered in digging
bund was cut through by a great inundation of the Indus, and
tanks in the neighbourhood. The traditions of the inhabitants
from the section thus exposed, it was found to be composed
of Cutch indicate the cause of this change of sea to land to
of clay and shells. To the eye, Captain Burnes remarks, it
have been some great natural convulsion, and they have, as
did not appear more elevated in one place than another, and
is usual among a superstitious people, connected the occurrence
could be traced East and West as far as it could reach: the
with a mythological legend. A Hindoo saint, by name
natives assigned to it a total length of 50 miles. It must not,
Dhoorumnath, a Jogee, underwent penance by standing on
however, be supposed to be a narrow strip like an artificial
his head for twelve years on the summit of Denodur, one of
dam, as it extends inland to Raomoka Bazaar, perhaps to a

breadth of sixteen miles, and appeared to be a great upheaving
of nature. Its surface was covered with saline soil, and I have
the highest hills in Cutch, overlooking the Runn. At the close

of his penance God appeared to him, the hill on which he
stood split in two, and the present Runn dried up, the ships
already stated, that it consisted of clay, sand and shells.
and boats then navigating its waters were overturned, its
Thus at the western extremity of Cutch, the effect of the
for the pre-existing waters. It is thus that barbarous nations
Earthquake of 1819 was to produce simultaneously an elevation
preserve the memories of great physical events, while they
of a tract of country, fifty miles in length, sixteen miles in
are incompetent to form any written record of their occurrence;
breadth, and ten feet in height, and a depression of another
and in such traditions, although interwoven with circumstances
tract extending over about 2,000 square miles, which latter
sometimes impossible, sometimes absurd, there is usually a
became an inland lake or lagoon. The depth of the channel
substratum of actual truth. In the present case, considering
of the river was variously affected, at some spots becoming
the frequent occurrence of Earthquakes in Cutch, the volcanic
greater, at others less, but all indicating material changes of
appearance of the hills and lava which covers the face of the
level throughout the tract.
country, there can be but little doubt, that a great alteration
Runn of Cutch: This remarkable tract of country extends

from the Indus to the Western confines of Gujerat, having a
total superficial extent of about 7,000 square miles. During
harbours destroyed, and the existing waste of land substituted
of level took place throughout the Runn, in consequence of

some great convulsion, the existence of which is indicated
only by the legends above referred to.
the Earthquake, numerous jets of black muddy water were
Bhooj: Lat. 2315' N: long. 6959' E; At Bhooj, the capital
thrown out from fissures throughout this region, and cones
of Cutch, the destructive effects of the Earthquake of 1819,
of sand, six and eight feet high, similar in character to those
were very great. They are thus described: The first and
observed during the Chilian and Italian Earthquakes, were
greatest shock took place on the 16th June 1819, a few minutes
thrown up. It is traditionally reported, that the Runn of Cutch
before 7 P. M. The wretched inhabitants of Bhooj were seen
was formerly an inland sea, freely accessible from the main
flying in all directions to escape from their falling habitations.
ocean; that an extensive commerce was carried on along its
A heavy appalling noise, the violent undulatory motion of
shores; and that many towns, now far inland, formed its
the ground, the crash of the buildings, and the dismay and
harbours. Nerona, a village about twenty miles N. N. W. from
terror which appeared in every countenance, produced a
89
fearful sensation beyond description. The shock lasted from
to get off it; the house was considerably agitated, the furniture
two to three minutes, in which short period the city of Bhooj
all in motion; a small table close to me kept striking the wall,
was almost levelled to the ground. The walls, from the sandy
and the lamps swung violently. I ran down-stairs, and got out
nature of the stone, were crumbled into dust; nearly all the
of my house as fast as possible. On getting outside I found
towers and gateways were demolished; and the houses left
a number of people collected, gazing with astonishment at
standing were so shattered, as to be uninhabitable. It was

calculated that nearly 2,000 persons perished at Bhooj alone.
In the British camp, which was pitched in a plain between
the fort and city of Bhooj, the general feeling was an unpleasant
my house, which stands alone, and was so violently agitated,

that I expected it to fall down. The earth was convulsed under
our feet.
giddiness of the head and sickness of stomach, from the
Baroach:Lat. 21 46' N: long. 73 14' E; at this place the
heaving of the ground; and during the time the shock lasted,
violence of the shock was very considerable. Such of the
some sat down instinctively, and others threw themselves on
houses as are elevated, says an observer who was on the
the ground. Those who were on horseback were obliged to
spot, and at all loosely built, creaked like the mast and rigging
dismount; the earth shook so violently, that the horses could
of a ship in a gale: venetians and window frames rattling
with difficulty keep their feet; and the riders, when on the
violently and the buildings threatening immediately to fall:
ground, were scarcely able to stand.

Ahmedabad: Lat. 23 1' N: long. 72 42' E; At this city,
the chief town of Gujerat, the shock was very severely felt.
The following description of its effects is given in the work
a considerable lateral motion was impressed on every thing

that admitted of it. After this, more violent concussion had
lasted a minute or upwards, it was succeeded by an oscillatory
motion, of a more equable character, which continued for
above quoted: This city is justly celebrated for its beautiful
more than a minute and a half, making the whole period of
buildings of stone and other materials, and for the famous
the convulsion nearer three than two and a half minutes.
shaking minarets which were admired by every stranger. Alas!

the devastation caused by this commotion of the earth is truly
lamentable. The proud spires of the great mosque erected by
Sultan Ahmed, which have stood nearly 450 years, have
tumbled to the ground within a few yards of the spot where
they once reared their heads. Another mosque of elegant
structure which lies to the left of the road leading to Shahee
Bagh, has shared the same fate. The magnificent towers,
The extreme eastern limit of the Earthquake of 1819 appears

to have been Poonah, where its force was only very feebly
experienced. The tract affected therefore extends, so far as
existing information shows, from about the meridian of 69
to that of 74 East longitude, and from about 18 to 24 North
latitude. These limits are, however, by no means well
ascertained, especially to the westward of Cutch, and also to
which formed the grand entrance into the citadel have been
the northward; our information from both of these directions
much shaken, and cracked in several places. The fort and
being deficient.
town of Jelelsheer are reduced to ruins. Many of the people

killed, were already out of doors, which is usually considered
a situation of comparative safety. A marriage was about to be
celebrated in a rich mans family and the castes had assembled
from various different quarters: the shock occurred when they
were feasting in the streets, and upwards of 500 of the party
were killed among the ruins of the falling houses. All the
It is to be regretted that our information relative to the actual

occurrence of Earthquakes here is so very limited; but the
inhabitants of the country are unsuited for retaining and
transmitting such observations, since even the great shock of
1819 was, as Captain Burnes informs us, early forgotten, and
had intelligent European observers not been on the spot shortly
disagreeable sensations were experienced of being tossed in
afterwards, the event would probably never have been heard
a ship at sea in a swell, and the rocking was so great, that
of, and the many interesting phenomena their labours have
every moment we expected the earth to open under our feet.
served to eliminate, would have been lost to science.
Surat:Lat. 21 11' N: long. 73 7' E; The Earthquake at
Captain Burnes informs us, that it is the general belief among
Surat is thus described by an eye-witness: The vibration of
the inhabitants of the province, that the sea is receding from
the couch on which I was lying was so great, that I was glad
the southern shores of Cutch, or more correctly, as the sea-
90
level continues unaltered, that there is now taking place a
across the channel of Indus. The natives called this Allah
very slow and insensible elevation of the coast of Cutch,
Bund, or mound of God. The elevation was nowhere more
similar most probably in its nature to that in progress on the
than 10 feet. It was afterwards cut through by the Indus, and
coasts of Sweden, the reality of which has been satisfactorily
was found to be composed of clay with embedded shells. In
established by Mr. Lyell. This elevation would seem to be
the Runn of Cutch, numerous jets of blackish, muddy water
much more extensive than Captain Burnes was aware of,
were thrown out from fissures, and cones of sand, 6 and 8
since, if native traditions are to be depended upon, a like
feet high, were thrown up. The details of this earthquake have
process has taken place in the province of Lus, on the same
been so often quoted, and with such exaggeration of statement,
coast of the Arabian Gulf, but much farther to the westward;
that I would advise those who desire to investigate the facts
in the same tract of country indeed in which the mud volcanoes
to resort to the original authorities.
formerly described are said to occur. No definitive information

on this very interesting point has yet, however, been obtained,
but the establishment of proper marks to which future reference
could be made, would be an object worthy of the attention of
the Officers just deputed to the survey of Sinde; for on the
coast of Sinde as well as on that of Cutch and Lus, if the
movement be a real one, indications of its existence would
1819 June 17th, 18th, 19th: shocks continued to be felt at

intervals, but none serious. On 20th the hill Denodur is said
to have burst into volcanic action, and shocks immediately
ceased. Recent examination could find no trace of volcanic
action in this hill. The shock of 16th is stated to have been
felt very sharply also at Pondicherry, Pulicat, Coimbatore,
in time be furnished.
but this is most probably a different earthquake. Also sensibly
g) 1883 Sir Thomas Oldham:
accompanied by a loud noise like thunder.
1819 June 16; 6.45- 6.50 PM: This was one of the most severe
and destructive earthquakes on record in India. The main
felt in Nepal, Khatmandu. On 27th June felt at Bhooj
Changes in Landscape
focus of disturbance must have been Cutch, where the damage
We would now put in place the original papers that dealt with
done was terrible. Bhooj, the chief town, was reduced to
the co-seismic landscape of Allah Bund. In the preface of the
ruins, 2000 people perishing; shocks lasted from 2 to 3 minutes

with a heavy appalling noise. At Ahmedabad, a city famous
for its noble architectural remains, spires of great mosque of
Sultan Ahmed were overthrown; other mosques also destroyed;
500 people assembled for a wedding feast, all perished in
ruins. At Surat, motion heavy, but destruction of buildings
slight. At Broach, motion very heavy. At Poonah, only slightly
felt. The shock extended right over the north of India; was
6th edition (1840) of his book Principles of Geology, Sir

Charles Lyell states and we quote, In the year 1838 I caused,
with Captain Grants assistance, a survey to be made of the
site of Ullah Bund and the fort of Sindree, in Cutch, which
has enabled me to speak of the present condition of that district
as compared to its state immediately after the earthquake of
1819. We shall reproduce the assessment of Lyell that was
felt sharply at Sultanpur in Oudh, Jaunppore, Chunar and
published in the 8th and entirely revised edition of his treatise
Mirzapur, and at Calcutta.
published in 1850, but before that we place the original
In Cutch, first shock at few minutes before 7 PM of 16th;

shocks continued of lesser intensity until 20th, when it is
stated the volcano called Denodur burst into action and the
shock ceased. (Denodur, however is not a volcano). In the
western portion the town of Sindree and adjoining country
were inundated by a tremendous rush from the ocean, and all
submerged, the ground sinking apparently 14 feet. While to
document of Burnes (1934) from his A Memoir on the Eastern

Branch of the Indus, and the Run of Cutch, containing an
Account of the Alterations Produced on them by an Earthquake
in 1819 published in Travels into Bokhara- A Voyage on
the Indus, Volume III.
a) 1834 - Sir Alexander Burnes
the north of this tract, about 5 miles, a long low ridge or swell
I cannot introduce more appropriately than on the present
of perhaps 15 miles in width, was said to have been raised
occasion, the following paper, which was drawn up some
and to extend 50 miles east and west. It passed immediately
time since. It is necessary to mention this circumstance, as
91
a few of the facts communicated are already before the public,
of his own dominions, he at once destroyed a large and rich
and have been noticed by Professor Lyell (Principles of
tract of irrigated land, and converted a productive rice country,
Geology, Volume 2, 1832) of the Run of Cutch I am not aware
which had belonged to Cutch, into a sandy desert. The mound
of any other account having been published, though it is a
which had been raised, did not injury of entirely exclude the
tract without parallel on the globe.
water of the Indus from Cutch; but so impeded the progress
In the north-western extremity of our Indian possessions, and

under the tropic, is situated the small and sterile territory of
Cutch, important to the British from its advanced position,
but of more attraction to the student of history, from its western
shore being washed by the waters of the classic Indus. Cutch
is a country peculiarly situated. To the west, it has the inconstant
and ever-varying Indus; to the north and east, the tract called
Run, which is alternately a dry sandy desert and a muddy
inland lake; to the south, it has the Gulf of Cutch and the
Indian Ocean, with waters receding yearly from its shores.
The physical geography of such a province is full of interest;
for, besides the alteration in its fluctuating boundaries, it is
subject to earthquakes, one of which has lately produced
some unlooked for changes in the eastern branch of the Indus.
To particularly detail and explain these is the object of the
present memoir. Cutch at present labours under disadvantages
inflicted on it by the vindictive hatred of a jealous and cruel
neighbouring Government. Previous to the battle of Jarra
(Jharra), in the year 1762 [This battle was fought near a
small village of that name. The inhabitants of Cutch made a
brave stand for their independence against a Sindian army
led by Ghoolam Shah Kulora] the eastern branch of the Indus,
commonly called the Phurraun, emptied itself into the sea by
passing the western shores of Cutch; and the country on its
banks participated in the advantages which this river bestows
throughout its course. Its annual inundations watered the soil,
and afforded a plentiful supply of rice; the country on its
banks being then known by the name of Sayra (Saira).
These blessings, which nature had bestowed on this otherwise
barren region, perished with the battle of Jarra; for the Sindian
chief, irritated at the unsuccessful result of his expedition,
returned to his country full of vengeance, and inflicted the
deepest injury on the country which he had failed to humble.
At the village of Mora he threw up a mound of earth, or, as
it is called, a bund, across that branch of the Indus which
fertilised Cutch, and by thus turning the stream, which so
much benefited its inhabitants, to flow into other branches of
the river, and by leading it through canals to desert portions
of the main stream, that all agriculture depending on irrigation

ceased. In process of time this trivial remnant of prosperity
disappeared, and the Talpoors, who succeeded the Kaloras in
the government of Sinde, threw up other mounds; and about
the year 1802, the erection of one at Ali Bunder excluded the
waters of the Indus, even at the period of inundation, from
the channel which had once conveyed them past Cutch to the
sea. Since then, the stripe of land which once formed the
fertile district of Sayra ceased to yield a blade of vegetation,
and became a part of the Run of Cutch, on which it had
formerly bordered. The channel of the river at the town of
Lucput shallowed [Captain (now Lieut.-Col.) D. Wilson, of
the Bombay army, found a ford here in 1820, in a part of the
river 500 yards wide. In 1826, I found a depth of fifteen feet
in the same place.]; and, above Sindree, filled with mud, and
dried up. Lower down it changed into an arm of the sea, and
was flooded at every tide. The Raos, or Princes of Cutch,
possessed at one time military stations in three different places
of Sinde, Budeenu, Ballyaree, and Raomaka-bazar,- yet
they submissively bore these indignities, as well to their own
detriment as that of their subjects. They used no exertion to
recover that which nature had bestowed on their country, or
to wipe off those injuries which had been offered, at variance,
as they no doubt were, with the law of nations, which requires
that different nations ought, in time of peace, to do one
another all the good they can, and in time of war, as little
harm as possible, without prejudice to their own real interests.
[Blackstone].
In this state of indifference, there occurred, in June, 1819, a
severe shock of an earthquake, by which some hundreds of
the inhabitants of Cutch perished, and every fortified stronghold
in the country was shaken to its foundations. Wells and rivulets
without number changed from fresh to salt water; but these
were trifling alterations, compared with those which took
place in the eastern branch of the Indus, and the adjacent
country. At sunset, the shock was felt at Sindree, the station
at which the Cutch Government levied their customs, situated
on the high road from Cutch to Sinde, and on the banks of
what had been once the eastern branch of the Indus. The little
92
brick fort of 150 feet square, which had been built there for
one another. One of four towers only remained, and the
the protection of merchandise, was overwhelmed by an
custom-house officers had saved their lives by ascending it,
and were eventually transported to dry land by boats on the
every side, and, in the course of a few hours, converted the
following day [Since my return to England, I have been so
tract, which had before been hard and dry, into an inland lake,
fortunate as to procure a view of Sindree, as it existed in the
which extended for sixteen miles on either side of Sindree.
year 1808, from a sketch by Captain Grindlay, who visited
The houses within the walls filled with water, and eight years
it at that time. It has been engraved for this work, and faces
afterwards I found fish in the pools among them. The only
Chap. XVI. Captain Grindlays observations on Sindree follow
dry spot was the place on which the bricks had fallen upon
in a note] (Fig. 3.).
Fig. 3. The Sindree Fort as on 1808, eleven years before the Cutch earthquake. This engraving was prepared from a sketch
by Captain Grindlay who visited the site in 1808. This has been printed in Travel into Bokhara- A Voyage on the Indus,
Volume III by Burnes (1834). The same has been published by Sir Charles Lyell in his book, where in the footnote
he adds: I am assured by Captain Grant, and others well acquainted with the scene that the land introduced by the
artist in the back-ground is ideal. The flat plain of the Runn could alone be seen in that direction as far as the eye can
reach. The mirage so common there may have caused the apparent inequalities which have been introduced as rising
ground into the sketch. The reproduced sketch of the fort in the NW panel is after Pande (2011).
But it was soon discovered that this was not the only alteration
in this memorable convulsion of nature; as the inhabitants of
Sindree observed, at a distance of five miles northward, a
mound of earth or sand, in a place where the soil was previously
low and level. It extended east and west for a considerable
distance, and passed immediately across the channel of the
Indus, separating as it were forever the Phurraun river from
the sea. The natives called this mound by the name of Ullah
bund, or the mound of God, in allusion to its not being, like

the other dams of the Indus, a work of man, but a dam thrown
up by nature.
These wonderful events passed unheeded by the inhabitants;
for the deep injury which had been inflicted on Cutch in 1762
had so thoroughly ruined that part of the country, that it was
a matter of indifference whether it continued a desert, or
became an inland lake. A feeble and unsuccessful attempt
93
was made by Cutch to establish a Custom-house on the newly
and Lucput, so late as May, 1829, there was a communication
raised dam of Ullah bund, but to this the Ameers of Sinde
by water.
objected, and Sindree being no longer tenable, the officers

were withdrawn to the mainland of Cutch.
The Ullah bund, which I now examined with attention, was,

however, the most singular consequence of this great earthquake.
Matters continued in this state till the month of November,
To the eye it did not appear more elevated in one place than
1826, when information was received that the Indus had burst
another, and could be traced both east and west as far as it
its banks in Upper Sinde, and that an immense volume of
could reach; the natives assigned to it a total length of fifty
water had spread over the desert which bounds that country
miles. It must not, however, be supposed to be a narrow stripe
to the eastward, had likewise burst every artificial dam in the
like an artificial dam, as it extends inland to Raomaka-bazar,
river, as well as the Ullah bund, and forced for itself a

passage to the Run of Cutch. In March, 1827, I proceeded to
investigate the truth of what I have stated, to examine the
natural mound, and to endeavour to account for these constant
alterations in physical geography. I journeyed from Bhooj,
the capital of Cutch, to Lucput, a town on the north-western
extremity of the province, situated on the Koree, or eastern
perhaps to a breadth of sixteen miles, and appeared to be a

great upheaving of nature. Its surface was covered with saline
soil, and I have already stated that it consisted of clay, shells,
and sand. The people universally attributed this bund to the
influence of the earthquake, and also assigned the shallowness
of the river at Sundo to the same cause.
branch of the Indus. Here I embarked in a small flat-bottomed
The inland lake which had been thus formed, extended for
boat, and sailed up the river. At Lucput, and for twelve miles
about 2000 square miles, and its limits were well defined,
up, it was about 300 yards wide, and from two to three fathoms
since the roads from Cutch to Sinde passed on either side of
deep, retaining all the appearance of a river. At Sundo, a sand
it. The one led from Nurra to Loonee and Raomakabazar, and
bank so called, which is about four leagues distant from that
the other from Lucput to Kotree Garee and the Jattee. I am
town, the channel shallowed to four or five feet, for two miles;
disposed to believe that this sheet of water has collected from
but then regaining its depth, I entered on a vast inland lake
a depression of the country round Sindree; for the earthquake
that bounded the horizon on all sides, amid which the remaining
had an immediate influence on the channel of the river below
tower of Sindree stood, like a rock in the ocean. At Sundo
Ullah bund, which became deep enough to be navigable
the water was brackish; at Sundree it was quite fresh. Hence
for boats of 100 tons from the sea to Lucput, which had never
I proceeded to Ullah bund, which I found to be composed
been the case since 1762. While the basin of Sindree, as I
of soft clay and shells, elevated about ten feet from the surface
of the water, and cut through like a canal, with perpendicular
banks on either side. The channel was about thirty-five yards
broad, and three fathoms deep; and a body of fresh water, a
may call it, was depressed, it is evident that the mound of

Ullah bund was raised at the same time, as the description
already given will have satisfactorily shown.
portion of the real Indus, rolled down it into the lake which
In the month of August, in the year 1827(1828 see p. 95), I
I had traversed, below Ullah bund. Here the stream took
proceeded a second time to the eastern branch of the Indus,
on once more the appearance of a river, and I found several
to make further investigations regarding a subject on which
boats laden with ghee (clarified butter), which had descended
many individuals, as well as myself, had taken an interest.
it from Wunga, and thus corroborated all which I had heard,
Great alterations had taken place in this changeable country;
that the bunds of the Indus had been burst, and that the
the river and lake were deeper in all places by two feet, the
communication between the great river and its eastern and
channel through Ullah bund was much widened, and the
long-forsaken branch was once more restored. I learned
sheet of water was now entirely and everywhere salt. The
likewise that the far famed fortress of Omercote had been
stream which passed Ullah bund was fresh, but greatly
partially overwhelmed in this inundation; for instead of
diminished in size: in the time that had intervened between
being an oasis in the desert, as had long been supposed, this
my visits, the south-westerly winds had prevailed, and blown
birthplace of the great Acbar is a small brick fort only three
the sea water in upon the fresh, which, appeared to account
or four miles distant from the Indus, and between which
for the change that had taken place.
94
Besides the facts which have been recorded, it appears clear
immense quantities of black, muddy water were ejected from
that a portion of the waters of the Indus have a tendency to
these openings for a period of three days, and that the water
escape by Lucput and Cutch. We find an inundation of the
bubbled out of the wells of the tract bordering on the Run,
river seeking an old channel which had been deserted by them
called Bunnee, till it overwhelmed the country in some place
for sixty-five years. It [Run] is a vast expanse of flat,
with six, and even ten feet of water. The shepherds with
hardened, sand, encrusted with salt sometimes an inch deep
difficulty saved themselves and their flocks. During this time
(the water having been evaporated by the sun), and at others,
numerous pieces of iron and ship-nails were thrown up at
beautifully crystallized in large lumps. So much is the whole
Phangwuro, the sea-port before mentioned; and similar things
surrounding country corrupted by this exuberance of salt, that
have been since found in the same neighbourhood while
all the wells dug on a level with the Run become salt. The
digging tanks. I give this fact on the authority of respectable
depression of the Run below the level of the surrounding
men at Nurra, who also assured me that nothing of the kind
country at once suggests the probability of its being a dried
had ever been discovered before the earthquake of 1819.
up lake or sea. The natives of Cutch, Mahommedans as

well as Hindoos, believe that the Run was formerly a
sea...The natives, however, carry their traditions beyond
the vague legends of a saint, and point out at this day different
positions, said to have been harbours, in the Run of Cutch.
At Nerona, which is a village about twenty miles NNW of
Bhooj the capital, and close to the Run, there is said to have
been a sea-port. In other words, that Nerona was a sea-port
(tur), when Goontree (an ancient city in Cutch) flourished in
the neighbouring district of Chitrano. At Charee, a village
westward of Nerona, and on the Run, there is also a like
tradition. The people of the Puchum, the largest island on the
Run, have similar traditions, and speak of boats having been
wrecked on the hills of the island; also that there were
considerable harbours near them, called Dorut, Doh or Dohee,
and Phangwuro, which are yet pointed out to the westward
of Puchum. Bitaro, a small place on the high road to Sinde,
between Cutch and Ullah Bund, is also said to have been
a seaport, and I could point out several others. Nor are the
traditions less concurrent on the Sinde, or northern side of
the Run: Veego-gud, near Ullah Bund, is said to have been
I have since found, in some manuscript papers of the late

lamented Captain MMurdo, written as long since as 1815,
that he formed similar conclusions with myself regarding the
Run of Cutch. He is treating of that part of it near Kattywar,
of which I have not spoken, and the following extract is both
curious and satisfactory: The Runn has every appearance
of the sea having shortly withdrawn from it. This is supported
by the semblance and production of the neighbouring country,
and large stones are found on the shore several miles from the
present Runn, of a description similar to those used as anchors;
they have holes bored through for the cable. On the shore, at
different places, are shown small ancient buildings, called Dan
Derees, or houses where the dan or customs were collected;
and, in short, it is a tradition in the country, that Khor, a village
two miles east of Teekir, was a sea-port town. About fifty years
since, the wreck of a vessel, of a size far beyond that of any
of the craft now in use in the Gulf of Cutch, was discovered
at Wawania, sunk in the mud about fifteen feet deep [Captain
MMurdos Ms. Memoir on Kattywar, August, 1815].
I annex the following extract, describing a journey from
the principal sea-port, and its brick ruins are yet visible.
Lucput in Cutch, to Hydrabad in Sinde, by way of Sindree,
Vingur and Ballyaree, which lie eastward, claim likewise the
from the MS. of Captain R. M. Grindlay, written in the year
same privileges. This sea had the name of Kiln; nor do I
1808, when with a mission to the Ameers of Sinde, and
believe that the testimony of so many people, regarding it,
which has been kindly furnished to me. It will be seen that
can be discredited, informed as I was of these traditions by
the neighbourhood of Sindree, which I have described to be
different persons, who had no communication with one another.
under water, was then dry, and that the fort of Sindree existed
The effects of the earthquake of 1819 have been already
at that time, as an outpost of the Cutch Government.
mentioned, in so far as relates to the country adjoining the
We embarked on the creek at Lucput Bunder, which is about
Indus; but occurrences of an equally singular nature happened
three quarters of a mile broad, and runs between east and
farther eastward. It made numerous cracks or fissures in the
north, for six or eight miles, when it begins to narrow very
Run; and I state, on the authority of eye-witnesses, that
much: the shore on each side is a wet marsh, covered with
95
short bushes. In the evening we anchored at the turn of the
At the distance of about twelve miles from Aly Bunder, the
tide, and at twelve oclock next day we passed Sindree, which
river divides, and soon after becomes so narrow, that our
is about thirty miles from Lucput, and dependent on it, with
boats, though not large, had difficulty in passing through the
a small garrison of sepoys: it is a small fort, with a few huts
large bushes which overhang the bank, and has great
outside, and one well: the creek here is about a mile and a
appearance of a cut canal, or at least of a channel cleared out
quarter broad, and has a ferry across. The travellers who take
and deepened; the banks are irregular in their height, and the
this route to Sinde are not numerous, and leave no vestige of
land immediately beyond them low, and in several places
a road in the light sand, of which the dry part of the Run is
swampy. We passed the mouth of a creek on the west, said
composed. The heat of the meridian sun is said to be so intense,
to lead to Tatta, besides several other inferior streams which
that they generally travel in the night. From Sindree, by land,
run through the country, and are cut into a variety of channels,
the next stage is about twenty-four miles to Baura, after which

the Run ends, and water becomes tolerably plentiful.
We passed Sindree, and observed several inferior branches
leading through the Run, among which we saw a few straggling
men and women; about twenty miles beyond Sindree, we
reached Aly Bunder, at eight oclock at night, and came to
anchor close to the mound which confines the fresh water:
when the day appeared, we observed it to be a poor mud
village, of about fifty huts, and a tower of the same
unsubstantial materials. Here we encamped for the purpose
of collecting the boats from the freshwater side of the mound,
and not finding a sufficient number, several of those we
brought with us were dragged over: this, however, was a work
of three days; and, during that time, from the nature of the
soil, we were annoyed by the dust in such a manner as would
scarcely be believed by those who had not been in a similar
situation: the sun was completely obscured by it, an object
at the distance of 100 yards was invisible; and the natives
moving about were so disguised, that their colour was not
distinguishable. The soil of the Run is a mixture of fine sand
and the salt deposited by the inundation. This, dried by several
months, sun, becomes a most impalpable powder. The Run,
which ceases about a line with Aly Bunder, from north-east
and north, is covered with aquatic bushes and a few shells:
the sand entangled amongst these bushes forms hillocks of
various heights, from five to fifteen feet, according to the
size of the bush. It does not appear that any of the side channels
lead beyond the Run, or that any of them are navigated by
boats, except those which again join the main stream: that by
which we came is certainly by far the most considerable.
for the purposes of cultivation.

About ten miles beyond Aly Bunder, on the west bank, is
Chuttee Thur (or ferry), opposite to which is the mouth of a
considerable stream, with a dam across, which we understood
to be the Phoran. This was formerly a very large branch of
the Indus, and ran past Nusserpoor, which I learn is to the
south-east. Many of the inhabitants of that place recollect a
remarkable change in the river: the inundation swallowed up
a great part of the town, and altered the course of the river,
which since then has had much less water in it. The whole of
Sinde, from the nature of its soil, is subject to these alterations
by the annual floods, many striking instances of which the
inhabitants are well acquainted with, particularly that which
I have already mentioned, and the great alterations in the
branches below Tatta [See Captain Grindleys Journal in MS].
Lieutenant Burnes also published the same document (language

& paragraph sometimes different) in Transactions of the Royal
Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume III, 1835,
page 550-588; Memoir on the Eastern Branch of the River
Indus, giving Account of the Alterations produced on it by an
Earthquake. drawn up in the years 1827-1828. We shall
reproduce some portion from this document that discusses
more elaborately of his visit to the site second time in August
1828 (note that in previous document it was printed 1827).
The subject of the preceding Memoir had engaged much of
my attention for some months subsequent to my visiting the
Indus in March 1827, and I was naturally desirous of
ascertaining whether or not the surmises which I had then
On the 10th we embarked again on the freshwater river, which
thrown out were likely to be realized, or prove in any degree
is there about 400 yards broad, and soon after widens very
just. In August 1828, therefore, I prepared for a second visit
much, with high sand-hills on the banks, and a few huts with
to the river, selecting that month because the floods in the
a little cultivation. The river here takes the name of Goonee.
Indus would have properly set in before I arrived, and the
96
opportunity, on that account, would be very favourable for
the Pacham island, a distance of twenty-four miles; westward
its examination.
as far as Ghari, a distance of eighteen miles, which would
I sailed from Lacpat to Allah-band on the 9th of August,

which, as may be remarked, is about the period when the
south-westerly winds blow with the greatest violence, and I
was, therefore, prepared to meet a greater body of water, and
found the inland lake, before described, deeper by two feet,
and the river increased in proportion. The channel through
the Allah-band I found to be wider, with more of the west
side washed away, and changed from a sloping declivity to
a perpendicular bank, like the eastern shore. I sailed two miles
up the river or channel which the flood of 1826 cut through
Allah-band, and found the water gradually to decrease from
two and a-half fathoms to as many feet, which I was informed
was its depth as high up as Chatitar, above Ali band, and
about twenty miles distant, where the water comes from the
Guni river, and to which the flat-bottomed boats could still
ascend. This proved, at all events, that the bands have not
make its whole length upwards of fifty miles. That there must
be some foundation for the extent of it eastward is clear; for
there is an elevated mound, about a mile broad, on the road
from Luna to Raoma ca bazar, sixteen miles south of that
place, in the middle of the Runn, which is made the halting
ground in wet weather, and which was not there prior to the
earthquake of 1819. The elevation of Allah-band prevents
rain-water settling on it and I am more inclined than ever to
view it as a tract which might be very easily brought under
cultivation. A little to the eastward of the mouth at Allahband, I observed the remains of a band which had been
thrown up by Fateh Muhammed, to prevent the water of the
Caira-nalla flooding the road between Cutch and Sinde,
one of the many memorials of that public-spirited and
enterprising chief. It is, of course, now useless, for the road
is not open during the monsoon between the two countries.
been again thrown up in the Pharran river, though I could
The grand alteration which had taken place in this variable
glean no more positive information on this head than I have
country was the entire change of the sheet of water above
already given.
Sindri from fresh to salt. The charm which had drawn me
The grand embankment called Arrore, the bursting of which

produced the changes before described, has been renewed,
which will fully account for the decrease of water from the
channel of the river between Allah-band and Chatitar. The
greater distance which I ascended the river gave me a clearer
view of the effects of the inundation of 1826; the banks of
the channel which it cut through are of clay, and as they are
perpendicular, and the river comes directly from the north,
without any windings, I can compare it to nothing so correctly
as a canal, nor does its breadth, when a little way up, destroy
the resemblance, being only sixty-six feet. I might have
extended my journey higher up than I did, but after reaching
the shallow water, and falling in with a boat belonging to the
first Sindian village, I judged it more prudent to say for myself
non amplius ibis than to encounter any of the subjects of the
Amirs, I therefore retraced my steps by land to Allah-band.
The natural band, so called, is certainly the most singular
effect of the earthquake of 1819. To the eye it does not appear
more elevated in one place than another, and being covered
with a saline soil, has the appearance of the Runn on all parts.
here had therefore vanished, and the prospect of Cutch

regaining once more the fertile parganah of Saira seemed
more distant than ever; every thing, in fact, save the channel
through Allah-band had reverted to the state it was in before
the inundation of 1826, and the greater body of water, and its
agitation by the winds, gave the whole the appearance of a
great inland sea, bounding the horizon on all sides. The
decayed tamarisk, and other stunted bushes, which formerly
protruded their withered tops, and which had grown up in
this land since it became one of desolation, had disappeared
under the waves, and the sailors did not, as before, follow the
windings of this once-fruitful river, but bent their course by
the nearest line to their destination. The channel through
Allah-band, however, did contain fresh water, which was, of
course the water of the Indus, and when the north-westerly
winds set in, this may again make a slight impression on the
Sindri lake, but never such a one as was brought about by the
inundation of 1826.
As is apparent from the above notes, Lieut. Burnes visited the

eastern part of the Indus delta twice in March 1827 and August
I have been credibly informed that it extends much farther
1828, after it was reported in November 1826 that the Indus
than I before stated, and that it can be traced eastward towards
had overflowed its banks in upper Sinde and immense volume
97
of water spread over the desert, after it burst through all the
artificial dams on the river including the (co-seismic) Allah
necessary to annex this Map, since it will be shortly published

by Mr John Arrowsmith, in his new Atlas, under Lieut. Burnes
Bund and forced for itself a passage to the Runn of Cutch.

Neither of the two publications from which materials reproduced
directions. The detail sketch map of the area of interest prepared

by Lieut. Burnes in March 1827 was afterwards included by
Oldham (1926) in GSI Memoir XLVI, Pt 2, Pl.16; we include
contain any map; It has, however, been stated in footnote of

the second publication (page 571): It has not been considered
the relevant part of map along with Burnes document (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4. Map of River Koree or eastern mouth of the Indus [redrawn after Burnes 1827; present frame taken from Oldham
(1826)]. Note the location of Ullah Bund, Sindree Lake and the Sindree Fort (in cross).
98
Subsequent to the visit of Burnes, Colonel Grant surveyed

Cutch in 1834 and published in 1840 Memoir to illustrate a
Geological Map of Cutch. Grant, however, did not visit the
Sindri Lake or the Allah Bund but gave information on the
site from accounts as gathered from locals of Lakhpat. Wynne
(1872) observed that Grants publication was one of the most
important as it dealt with the geology of the whole province
accompanied with map etc., but commented that his opinions
seem to have been disadvantageously influenced by views
have since been discarded with progress of geological
knowledge. Nevertheless, as this document finds reference in
contemporary research, we extract relevant portion from his
Memoir related to landscape changes subsequent to the
earthquake and reproduce below.
b)
1840 - C. W. Grant
In Cutch we have evidence of movements within a very late

date, and every reason to believe that similar ones have
occurred at various periods. The earthquake of 1819 is
known to have produced a remarkable change on the
western extremity of the Runn, by throwing up a mound
of 50 miles in length, 16 in breadth, and 18 feet high; and
by depressing an adjoining tract, so as to convert it, from
a cultivated district, into a large tract of salt lagoon. As
the changes in level thus effected have however been
detailed in other papers, I shall merely observe that when
I was at Luckput in January 1834 very little if any change
had occurred since Captain Burnes, visit in 1828; except
that the Sindians had repaired all the bunds across the
river, and thus by preventing further supplies of fresh
water, the lagoon had assumed much the same appearance
as previous to the freshes of 1828. I was also informed by
a boatman who constantly plied up and down from UllahBund to the sea, that between Sindoo and Sindree there
is a bank six miles broad covered by only one foot of
water; and as there is no channel through it the boatmen
are obliged to get out and haul the boats across the bank
after which they follow the windings of the channel to
Ullah Bund. It would therefore appear that this portion
could not have been so much sunk as that around Sindree
and between it and Luckput. I was also assured that pieces
of iron and ship nails have been thrown up from fissures
in the Runn; and Capt. McMurdo mentions a boat which
had been buried under 15 feet of alluvium, having become
exposed in a mud bank near the village of Wuwania on the

Kattywar side of the Runn, or where it joins the Gulf of
Cutch. The number of places still pointed out as Bunders
or quays together with large stones formerly used as
anchors, one of which still lies on a small elevation on the
Runn not far from Puchum Island and the confident
assertion of all the inhabitants on its coast tend to confirm
the opinion that the district must once have been covered
by a navigable body of water. Some parts of the shores
have precisely the appearance of having been recently
deserted by the sea
Supposing the beds of the Runn to have been raised by a
series of violent movements, such as must have upheaved
the Keera, and its surface to have been broken, and covered
with fragments of rock, its present level outline may be
ascribed to subsequent operations..There are also many
facts to prove that this tract has been elevated at different
periods.. Still more striking instances of the effects of
upheavement since the Runn assumed its present characters
are exhibited in the detached elevated masses of rock which
I have called the Natural Walls on the Runn. They consist
of disconnected portions of rock rising abruptly from the
surface of the Runn and presenting a smooth vertical wall
occasionally upwards of thirty feet in height and in one
instance upwards of two miles in length. Some of them
resemble domed or vaulted buildings the reversed side
consisting of a talus of broken fragments of rock and soil.
The ruins of one of the towers of the Fort of Sindree remained,
when I visited Luckput in 1834, and in all probability now
stand as a monument of the changes, which are daily taking
place on the earths surface.
Captain Baker from Bengal Engineers who was then the

Superintendent of Canals and Forests in Scinde surveyed the
area during mid 1844. A map of part of lower Scinde showing
the Bunds on the Goonee and Pooraun Rivers [eastern
distributaries of Indus] along with a profile from Mora Bund
in the north to Sindree Lake in the south was prepared; and
submitted along with a note for publication in the Transactions
of the Bombay Geographical Society. It so happened that the
note was published in 1846 but without the map and the
profile, with a promise by the editor of the journal that the
illustrations shall be printed in the next issue; unfortunately
99
that never happened, till Oldham retrieved them and published
Having obtained permission of H. E. the Governor of Scinde
it the Geological Survey of India Memoir in 1898. We shall
to communicate to the Bombay Geographical Society the
reproduce the note of Capt. Baker along the map and section
result of my enquiries, I annex a copy of a map and profile,
below (Figs. 5A & 5B).

c) 1846 - W. E. Baker:
The Koree or Luckput creek has been called the eastern
mouth of the Indus, and there are two channels through
which it once received the waters of that River, viz. the
Narra, which commencing to exist as a defined channel
about the latitude of Roree, flows nearly south, skirting the
desert to near Oomurkote, from whence it takes the name
of the Pooruun; and 2nd, the Goonee, which under the
name Fulailee, leaves the Indus near Meanee seven or
eight miles above Hydrabad, and formerly joined the Pooraun
twenty-six miles north of where the Alla Bund now crosses
that channel.
which I made on that occasion, and subjoin a few remarks

(chiefly extracts from my report) which may serve to explain
them.
The Goonee, a branch of the Indus, as mentioned above,
is nearly dry during the cold weather, but carries a
considerable body of water during the inundations.
Throughout the course of this river the banks are intersected
by canals, through which the water is drawn off for the
irrigation of the adjacent lands. Many of these canals are of
considerable size and are navigated by boats, constituting
in fact the high roads of the country for the conveyance of
grain, which is seldom carried in any quantity by other
means. By this process of exhaustion the Goonee is reduced
to small dimensions before it reaches the Kaimpon district
The Eastern Narra has long ceased to flow as a branch of
(about sixty-seven miles east and eight miles south of Tatta)
the Indus, probably since that river, deserting the passage
where it divides into four branches, of which the most
through the rocks at Alore, took to its present channel
westerly, under the name of the Great Goonee, flows to
between Roree and Sukkur. It has now no direct
the Kuddun district; the second, an artificial canal, called the
communication with the river, but receives a precarious
Aliwah, passing west of the villages of Nunda Shahur and
supply of water from a remarkable depression which runs
Mittee, joins the Pooraun at Chuttee Tur; the third, called the
parallel with the Indus, to the eastward, from above
Sherewah, after following a parallel course with the second,
Bahawulpoor; and being considerably lower than the flood
to near Nunda Amhur, joins the little Goonee, and crossing
height of the river, receives a good deal of water from it,
it, sends a small branch in the direction of Wanga Bazar; the
through canals, and by direct overflow. The drainage of this
fourth, or little Goonee, passes East of Nunda Shahur to Mora,
natural hollow is collected in the Narra, but except under
and five miles south of that village falls into the Pooraun.
extraordinary circumstances, (as in 1826) is seldom in

sufficient quantity to reach the Alla Bund.
The Pooraun, from the junction of the Goonee to Lallah
The Goonee being directly fed from the Indus, would have
deep and 600 to 1200 feet wide, and is hedged in by sand
proved a more certain source of supply had not its channel
hills on both sides. The greater part of the channel is clear,
been obstructed by a series of Bunds thrown across it by

the Ameers of Scinde, both of the Kulhora and of the Talpoora
dynasties.
The effect of these natural and artificial obstructions has
been to ruin a tract of country bordering the Koree, which
was once the most fertile in Kutch, and in the hope of
recovering so great a loss, the Rulers of that province made
Puttun, has a well-defined channel twelve to twenty feet
but it is obstructed artificially by bunds, and naturally by

sand drifts: in these localities, the bed is choked up with a
dense jungle of tamarisk. Beyond Lallah Puttun the channel
is occupied by a chain of pools of salt water, and is partially
separated from the Sindree Lake by the Alla Bund.
The Bunds across the Goonee and Pooraun are as follows:
a reference to the Governor of Scinde, who deputed me in
The Mora Bund, the Bunds at Chuttee Tur and three miles
July last to enquire into, and report upon, the causes which
below it, the Bunds of Alli Bunder and Lallah Puttun, and
led to it.
the Alla Bund.
100
The Mora Bunds are on the Goonee. The first or original
in August 1828. He describes the channel as 2 fathoms
embankment is supposed to have been constructed in 1762
deep, and on both occasions as conveying a stream of fresh
by Meer Goolain Shah Kulhora; it bears marks of having
water into the lake: since that period, however, it appears
been frequently breached or turned. The second Bund, about
to have filled up so much (probably from the falling in of
half a mile S. E. of the first, is across a ravine falling into
the sides) that is in now dry in some places, and being one
the Goonee, and appears to have become necessary when
foot higher than the level of the lake, and seven feet above
the original Bund was turned by some unusual accumulation
that of the salt water pools of the Pooraun, it forms a barrier
of water. The pond formed by the second Bund feeds a small
between them. The Mound, where it is cut through by the
canal flowing southward, and has also another natural outlet
Pooraun, is nearly four miles in width, but in other places
which falls into the Pooraun.
is said to vary from two to eight miles. Its greatest height
The Bunds at and below Chuttee Tur are across the Pooraun;
they have had the mischievous effect of encouraging large
deposits of salt at their several localities, and of rendering
the onward progress of the water still more precarious. On
the other hand, they retain pools of fresh water for the use
of the scanty population and their cattle, and favor the
cultivation of the open spaces in the bed of the river.
is on the borders of the lake, above the level of whose waters

(on the 11th July 1844) it raises twenty and a half feet. From
this elevation it gradually slopes to the northward till it
becomes undistinguishable from the plain. On the surface
of the mound, the soil is light and crumbling, and strongly
impregnated with salt; at the depth of one and a quarter to
two feet it has more consistency, and is mixed with shells
such as are now found abundantly on the shores of the lake.
The Alli Bunder and Lallah Puttun Bunds have produced
The length of the Alla Bund has not been ascertained, but
effects similar to those above described, and have at different
it is said by the natives to extend fifty or sixty miles to the
times served the additional purpose of separating the fresh
eastward. The Sindree lake, though of inconsiderable depth
water from the salt, and preventing the latter from spreading
near the shore, appears to be of great extent. From the
further up the channel and injuring the land. The Bund at
elevation of the Bund, no land could be seen across it, even
Alli Bundur was so employed in 1808 - when it was visited
with the aid of a telescope, and the ruined Fort of Sindree,
by Captain R. M. Grindlay; and a reference to the
which still lifts its head above the waters, alone breaks the
accompanying profile will show that it might be so again
uniformity of their surface. It was asserted, however, by an
were the channel through the Alia Bund to be deepened, so
agent of the Kutch Government (and with much show of
as to admit the waters of the Sindree Lake to flow back up
probability) that the level of the water is much raised, and
the channel.
its extent increased, during the prevalence of the Southwest
The Alla Bund or Embankment of God, as is well known

was thrown up by an earthquake in 1819, the same convulsion
of nature having destroyed the flourishing town of Sindree
in Kutch, and depressed a large tract of land in its vicinity,
which, being filled with salt water through the Luckput
creek, now forms an extensive lake. This mound at first
appeared calculated to cut off for ever the fertilizing streams
of the Indus from the province of Kutch, but in 1826 an
extraordinary flood passed down the Narra or Pooraun, and
forcing for itself a narrow passage through the Alla Bund,
found its way into the Sindree Lake. In March 1827, the
spot was visited by Sir Alexander Burnes, and subsequently
monsoon, which drives the sea water up the Koree into the
lake; and that on the setting in of the north winds, a large
proportion of the present expanse of water would become dry
land. It is highly desirable that the extent of the Sindree Lake
and of the Alla Bund should be accurately traced, but the survey
would be a work of difficulty, in consequence of the barren
nature of the country, and of the total want of fresh water.
We now reproduce the text by Sir Charles Lyell from his eighth
revised edition of Principles of Geology published in 1850.
It may be noted that Sir Charles Lyell included just one
paragraph on this earthquake in his first edition published in
1830.
Fig. 5A.
Map of part of Lower Scinde showing the situation of the bunds on the Goonee and
Pooraun rivers (After Baker, 1846).
101
102
Fig. 5B. Profile along the same rivers from Mora Bund in the north to Sindree Lake in the south (After Baker, 1846).
A violent earthquake occurred at Cutch, in the delta of the
Fort and village submerged: The fort and village of Sindree,
Indus, on the 16th of June, 1819. The principal town, Bhooj,
on the eastern arm of the Indus, above Luckput, are stated
was converted into a heap of ruins, and its stone buildings
by the same writer to have been overflowed; and, after the
were thrown down. The shock extended to Ahmedabad,
shock, the tops of the houses and wall were alone to be
where it was very destructive; and at Poonah, four hundred
seen above the water, for the houses, although submerged,
miles farther, it was feebly felt. At the former city, the great
were not cast down. Had they been situated, therefore, in
mosque erected by Sultan Ahmed nearly 450 years before,
the interior, where so many forts were levelled to the
fell to the ground, attesting how long a period had elapsed
ground, their site would, perhaps, have been regarded as
since a shock of similar violence had visited that point. At
having remained comparatively unmoved. Hence we may
Anjar, the fort, with its tower and guns, were hurled to the
suspect that great permanent upheavings and depressions
ground in one common mass of ruin. The shocks continued
of soil may be the result of earthquakes, without the
some days until the 20th; when, thirty miles north-west from
inhabitants being in the least degree conscious of any
Bhooj, the volcano called Denodur is said to have burst out
change of level.
in eruption, and the convulsions ceased.
[I was indebted to my lamented friend the late Sir Alexander
Subsidence in the delta of the Indus: Although the ruin of
Burnes for the accompanying engraving (see Fig. 3, p. 92)
towns was great, the face of nature in the inland country,
of the Fort of Sindree, as it appeared eleven years before
says Captain Macmurdo, was not visibly altered. In the hills
the earthquake; but I am assured by Captain Grant, and
some large masses only of rock and soil were detached from
the precipices; but the eastern and almost deserted channel
of the Indus, which bounds the province of Cutch, was
greatly changed. This estuary, or inlet of the sea, was, before
the earthquake, fordable at Luckput, being only about a foot
deep when the tide was at ebb and at flood tide never more
than six feet; but it was deepened at the fort of Luckput,
others well acquainted with the scene that the land introduced
by the artist in the back-ground is ideal. The flat plain of
the Runn could alone be seen in that direction as far as the
eye can reach. The mirage so common there may have
caused the apparent inequalities which have been introduced
as rising ground into the sketch]
after the shock, to more than eighteen feet at low water. On
A more recent survey of Cutch by Sir A. Burnes, who was
sounding other parts of the channel, it was found, that where
not in communication with Capt. Macmurdo, confirms the
previously the depth of the water at flood never exceeded
facts above enumerated, and adds many important details.
one or two feet, it had become from four to ten feet deep.
That officer examined the delta of the Indus in 1826 and
By these and other remarkable changes of level, a part of
1828, and from his account it appears that, when Sindree
the inland navigation of that country, which had been closed
subsided in June, 1819, the sea flowed in by the eastern
for centuries, became again practicable.
mouth of the Indus, and in a few hours converted a tract of
103
land, 2000 square miles in area, into an inland sea, or lagoon.
recovered its saltness in 1828, when the supply of river-
Neither the rush of the sea into this new depression, nor the
water was less copious, and finally it became more salt than
movement of the earthquake, threw down entirely the small
the sea, in consequence, as the natives suggested to Sir A.
fort of Sindree, one of the four towers, the north-western;
Burnes, of the saline particles with which the Runn of
still continuing to stand; and the day after the earthquake,
Cutch is impregnated.
the inhabitants, who had ascended to the top of this tower,

saved themselves in boats.
In 1828 Sir A. Burnes went in a boat to the ruins of Sindree,

where a single remaining tower was seen in the midst of a
Elevation of the Ullah Bund: Immediately after the shock,
wide expanse of sea. The tops of the ruined walls still rose
the inhabitants of Sindree saw, at the distance of five miles
two or three feet above the level of the water; and standing
and a half from their village, a long elevated mound, where
on one of these, he could behold nothing in the horizon but
previously there had been a low and perfectly level plain.
water, except in one direction, where a blue streak of land
To this uplifted tract they gave the name of Ullah Bund,
to the north indicated the Ullah Bund. This scene presents
or the Mound of God, to distinguish it from several
to the imagination a lively picture of the revolutions now
artificial dams previously thrown across the eastern arm of
in progress on the earth a waste of waters where a few
the Indus.
years before all was land, and the only land visible consisting
Extent of country raised: It has been ascertained that this
of ground uplifted by a recent earthquake.
new raised country is upwards of fifty miles in length from
Ten years after the visit of Sir A. Burnes above alluded to,
east to west, running parallel to that line of subsidence
my friend, Captain Grant, F. G. S., of the Bombay Engineers,
before mentioned which caused the grounds around Sindree
had the kindness to send at my request a native surveyor to
to be flooded. The range of this elevation extends from
make a plan of Sindree and Ullah Bund, in March, 1838.
Puchum Island towards Gharee; its breadth from north to
From his description it appears that, at that season, the driest
south is conjectured to be in some parts sixteen miles, and
of the whole year, he found the channel traversing the Bund
its greatest ascertained height above the original level of
to be 100 yards wide, without water, and encrusted with
the delta is ten feet, an elevation which appears to the
salt. He was told that it has now only four or five, feet of
eye to be very uniform throughout.
water in it after rains. The sides or banks were nearly
For several years after the convulsion of 1819, the course

of the Indus was very unsettled, and at length, in 1826, the
river threw a vast body of water into its eastern arm, that
called the Phurraun, above Sindree; and forcing its way in
a more direct course to the sea, burst through all the artificial
dams which had been thrown across its channel, and at
length cut right through the Ullah Bund, whereby a natural
section was obtained. In the perpendicular cliffs thus laid
perpendicular, and nine feet in height. The lagoon has

diminished both in area and depth, and part near the fort
was dry land. The annexed drawing, made by Captain Grant
from the surveyors plan, shows the appearance of the fort
in the midst of the lake, as seen in 1838 from the west
(Fig. 6), or from the same point as that from which Captain
Grindlays sketch (see Fig. 3) was taken in 1808, before the
earthquake.
open Sir A. Burnes found that the upraised lands consisted
The Runn of Cutch is a flat region of a very peculiar character,
of clay filled with shells. The new channel of the river where
and no less than 7000 square miles in area: a greater superficial
it intersected the bund was eighteen feet deep, and forty
extent than Yorkshire, or about one fourth the area of Ireland.
yards in width; but in 1828 the channel was still farther
It is not a desert of moving sand, nor a marsh, but evidently
enlarged. The Indus, when it first opened this new passage,
the dried up bed of an inland sea, which for a great part of
threw such a body of water into the new mere, or salt lagoon,
every year has a hard and dry bottom uncovered by weeds or
of Sindree, that it became fresh for many months; but it had
grass, and only supporting here and there a few tamarisks.
104
Fig. 6.
View of Fort of Sindree as in March 1838, looking from West, located in the midst of lake; prepared by Capt. Grant from
surveyors plan (reproduced from the book Principles of Geology by Charles Lyell, 1850).
But during the monsoons, when the sea runs high, the salt-
infers, on various grounds, that this saint flourished about the
water driven up from the Gulf of Cutch and the creeks at
eleventh or twelfth century of our era. In proof of the drying
Luckput overflows a large part of the Runn, especially after
up of the Runn, some towns far inland are still pointed out
rains, when the soaked ground permits the sea-water to spread
as having once been ancient ports. It has, moreover, been
rapidly. The Runn is also liable to be overflowed occasionally
always said that ships were wrecked and engulphed by the
in some parts by river-water: and it is remarkable that the
great catastrophe; and in the jets of black muddy water thrown
only portion which was ever highly cultivated (that anciently
out of fissures in that region, in 1819, there were cast up
called Sayra) is now permanently submerged. The surface of
numerous pieces of wrought iron and ship nails. Cones of
the Runn is sometimes encrusted with salt about an inch in
sand six or eight feet in height were at the same time thrown
depth, in consequence of the evaporation of the sea-water.
up on these lands.
Islands rise up in some parts of the waste, and the boundary

lands form bays and promontories. The natives have various
traditions respecting the former separation of Cutch and Sinde
by a bay of the sea, and the drying up of the district called
the Runn. But these tales, besides the usual uncertainty of
We must not conclude without alluding to a moral phenomenon

connected with this tremendous catastrophe, which we regard
as highly deserving the attention of geologists. It is stated by
Sir A. Burnes, that these wonderful events passed unheeded
by the inhabitants of Cutch; for the region convulsed, though
oral tradition, are farther obscured by mythological fictions.
once fertile, had for a long period been reduced to sterility
The conversion of the Runn into land is chiefly ascribed to
by want of irrigation, so that the natives were indifferent as
the miraculous powers of a Hindoo saint, by name Damorath
to its fate. Now it is to this profound apathy which all but
(or Dhoorunnath), who had previously done penance for
highly civilized nations feel, in regard to physical events not
twelve years on the summit of Denodur hill. Captain Grant
having an immediate influence on their worldly fortunes, that
105
we must ascribe the extraordinary dearth of historical
report, the next tour through Kutch was by General G. Le
information concerning changes of the earths surface, which
Grand Jacob in 1851. Though we have incorporated his note
modern observations show to be by no means of rare
published in 1863, as below, it may be noted Jacob too did not
occurrence in the ordinary course of nature.
visit the Sindri Lake- Allah Bund area and based his narration
To the east of the line of this earthquake lies Oojain (called

Ozene in the Periplus Maris Erythr.). Ruins of an ancient city
are there found, a mile north of the present, buried in the
earth to the depth of from fifteen to sixteen feet, which
by accounts given by the residents of Lakhpat. We are thus

inclined to assume that the area north of Lakhpat up to the
Allah Bund through the Sindri depression was very difficult
to approach particularly during the winter either by boat or by
inhumation is known to have been the consequence of a
foot (road), though Wynne mentions that Mr. DaCosta, of the
tremendous catastrophe in the time of the Rajah Vicramaditya.
Great Trigonometrical Survey, visited Sindree by boat from
Since the above account was written, a description has been

published of more recent geographical changes in the district
of Cutch, near the mouth of the Koree, or eastern branch of
the Indus, which happened in June, 1845. A large area seems
to have subsided, and the Sindree Lake had become a salt
marsh.
Lukput in the year 1856. He found water continuously the

whole way, overlying salt in places 3 or 4 feet thick, and that
hardly any traces of the ruins of the fort remained. Wynne
himself however failed to do so as he states In connection
with the objects of the Geological Survey an endeavor was
made to reach the Sindree basin from Lukput in the middle of
December 1868, but this was impracticable from want of water
In between the visits of Burnes (in 1827-28) and that of Baker
in the old river channel. Another attempt was made from
(1844) we have two reports describing the situations in and
Nurrha in the following month with the help of camels carrying
around the Sindri Lake- Allah Bund. One is by Grant (1840)
supplies of wood and water.
who visted Lakhpat in 1834 wherefrom he described the

scenario of the area further north based on information as
d) 1863 - G. Le Grand Jacob
gathered from the locals at Lakhpat. The other one is by Carless
The ramparts of the town [Lukput on 18 November, 1851]
(1838) who in his Memoir to Accompany the Survey of the
completely encircling it are lofty nearly three miles round
Delta of the Indus, in 1837 described Lakhpat and Kori River

based on survey reports of 1833. None of these authors visited
the area of interest i.e., Sindri Lake- Allah Bund, and though
we have included the note by Grant (see above), we do not
include materials from Carless, as nothing substantive could
be extracted so far as tagging it to tectonic deformation in the
region. It may also be noted that subsequently Baker surveyed
the area starting from the north (Mora Bund) that culminated
at Allah Bund in the south and not beyond to include the Sindri
depression. Baker (1846) stated The length of the Alla Bund
has not been ascertained, but it is said by the natives to extend
fifty or sixty miles to the eastward. The Sindree Lake though
of inconsiderable depth near the shore, appears to be of great
extent. From the elevation of the Bund, no land could be seen
with parapet of about seven feet, banquette about six; numerous

bastions, some boasting a canon, all loop-holed for musketry
and in good order; the ditch narrow, shallow and dry. The sea
approaches within a few feet of the northern ramparts at
spring tide in the time of the Ameers this was one of the
chief ports for the Sindian trade. The Runn hugs the northern
ramparts at about of a mile from which the creek cuts
through it, bending round the bunder about 1 mile NE of
the town.
They [residents of Lukput] tell me that at high spring tides
there is three fathoms of water opposite Sindree, 16 kos from
this, but that some intermediate spots are so shallow, that it
was doubtful whether the ferry boat or Sind Dhondee capable
of carrying 30 persons could go through even then. These
boats are flat bottomed and draw a cubit (1 foot) water. As
across it, even with the aid of a telescope, and the ruined Fort
is well known Sindree was sunk by the earthquake of AD
of Sindree, which still lifts its head above the waters alone
1819; its bastons are still visible and left standing here and
breaks the uniformity of their surface. After Bakers survey
there, but the place is utterly desolate. The inhabitants affected
106
their escape in boats. The water up there is so salt, that fish
dry bed of the old river until we reach the Chuch, some
are not to be found except a few during the monsoon.. One
three kos higher up, where the water is waist high and salt;
of the Raos Garrisons in Sindree at the time of its destruction
it lasts for 4 kos and is terminated by the Suyudwalla Bund
in AD 1819 was also present. The following is an abstract of
above described.
the notes made after much examination
The earthquake of 1844 here referred to I do not remember
The Ameers embankment is called Alee Bunder Bund and
ever reading or hearing of, yet they are shown to have effected
the Meers Bund, but it is not the only one This bund is 10
an important change in the earths surface; the shocks are
kos above Sindree. The Alee Bund is described by one
said to have lasted during a whole month (all Jeth, Sumvut
who saw it four years ago, as one hundred yards long, twenty
five broad and four high, above it the water sweet and waist
high, below only driblets or dry; during the monsoon the
1901) and were so threatening that whilst they lasted the

inhabitants feared to sleep in their houses.
water below is salt. About 13 years ago a Suyud in service
Wynne was the first geologist from the Geological Survey of
of the Sind Government finding some water escape from Alee
India to visit the Sindri Fort and Lake in January 1869 since
Bund raised a small one lower down in mid channel about 3
Burnes visited the site in 1827-28. Though he himself did not
yards high, sufficient to dam up the overflow of the higher
survey this tract in details he incorporated in his geological
embankment; this is called Suyudwalla Bund (I have some

doubt as to the position of this Bund).
map of Kutch the location and extent of the Allah Bund and
that of Sindri depression, apparently from earlier map by Grant
The earthquake of 1819 that submerged Sindree elevated the
(1840) and that of the Pooraun River, after Baker. Wynne also
bed of the river to the height of 2 or 3 yards for the distance
made a sketch plan and view of the remnants of the Sindri Fort
of 2 to 3 kos, commencing about 2 kos above Sindree; the
that is published in the GSI Memoir. We reproduce this map
spot is called Ullah Bund (Gods embankment), but the
(Fig. 7) and view of the Fort in 1869 (Fig. 8) along with the
monsoon has worn a water way through it in an irregular

narrow channel; the material being clay, sand and gravel, this
would soon be deepened and widened by any flow of water;
the earth was also raised at a place called Sunda. The usual
tide only reaches this Sunda, the spring tide now goes over
it by a cubit, the earthquake of 1819 raised the ground so as
to leave the tide there waist high, but in 1844 a series of
shocks occurred, that raised the earth still more, so as to
leave a cubit (foot and a half) as the greatest depth of water
ever found there; these shocks also extended the breadth of
the Ullah Bund to the extent of 3 kos; before they occurred
the usual tide went over the Sunda by about half a foot, but
now not at all. At spring tides however a boat drawing cubit
document from Wynne.

e) 1872 - A.B. Wynne
Kutch has long been known as an earthquake region, the
earliest recorded event of the kind being the disastrous and
continued succession of shocks which commenced on the
16th of June 1819, and laid all its larger towns in ruins. An
early account of the results was given by Captain MacMurdo,
who was then engaged in a political mission to the provinces.
From this, from Sir Alexander Burnes Travels, from Sir
Charles Lyells description, and from that given by Lieutenant
S.N. Raikes in Kutch Selections we find that the first shock
water can with some labour be taken over the Sunda.
took place at nearly a quarter to 7 PM, and lasted about 2
After passing the Sunda a pool (Chuch) is reached called
the surface was quite visible. Before 11 PM three more
Muthar, where the water is waist high at all times; this is half
a kos long; then comes the Ibrahim Shah Peer flag station,
where there is nine feet of water or more, which continues
past Sindree until the Ullah Bund is reached; through this
minutes,- to keep the feet was not easy, and the motion of
trifling shocks occurred and on next day the earth was
frequently in motion, attended by gusts of wind and a noise
like that of wheeled carriages.
bund, as before explained, an irregular narrow shallow channel
For some time before 10 AM these symptoms intermitted for
continues the stream during the monsoon; at other seasons
a few minutes, but at a quarter to ten oclock a severe shock,
water terminates at the Ullah Bund so that there is only the
which lasted about fifty seconds, brought down a number of
107
shattered buildings. For some forty days, until the beginning
north-west from Bhooj, was said to have sent forth flames,
of August, no day passed without shocks, generally slight
and has thus received the name of a volcano, which it
and gradually dying out until the 20th of November, when
certainly is not; nor is there any spot in the whole province,
the last distinct one was felt.
that has been either seen or heard of, which would from its
Sir C. Lyell states that the shocks only occurred till the 20th
of June, and that the movement was felt over an area having
recent volcanic appearance at all support belief in the

assertions of fire and smoke having issued from the ground.
a radius of 1,000 miles from Bhooj, and extending to
The dry beds of the Kutch rivers are said to have been all
Khatmandoo, Calcutta and Pondicherry; also that the vibrations
filled to their banks for a short time, the water having the
were felt in North-west India at a distance of 800 miles, after
colour and taste of the soil, from which it would appear to
an interval of about 15 minutes after the earthquake at Bhooj.
have been forced. Many wells which had been fresh, became
At Ahmadabad (about 200 miles east of Bhooj), the great
salt, and vice versa. This part of the account may have a
Mosque, erected by Sultan Ahmad (1411-1443), nearly 400
better foundation than that about the bursting forth of fire;
years before, fell to the ground, attesting how long period
and it may be that the lower portions of the river courses only
had elapsed since a shock of similar violence had visited that
are meant. Very many of the Kutch rocks are retentive of
point.
water; and the undulating motion of the ground may have
The first shock of the catastrophe seems to have been the

most violent, shaking every house from the Princes Palace
to the paupers grass-hut to its centre: nor were the places of
the dead exempt from the devastation produced by this mighty
convulsion of nature. At Bhooj 7,000 houses, including the
Raos Palace, were destroyed, and, 1150 people buried in the
ruins, and of the houses which escaped, one-third were
shattered; hundreds of houses in Anjar, Mandavee and Lukput
were hurled to the ground. All the fortified towns throughout
the country were injured and that which was reckoned the
best fortress, at Tayra in the western maritime plain, was left
produced so much compression that this water was forced

from places where it had lodged, somewhat in the same way
as occurred recently at Cachar (January 10 1869).
But more lasting changes than these took place:- Formerly
a considerable arm of the river Indus, called the Koree,
traversing the delta found its way to the sea at the eastern
extremity of Kutch, and its annual inundations watered the
low ground north of Lukput, then called Sayra (? Sahra),
a fertile rice-producing country. Protracted feuds which long
existed between the Governments of Sind and Kutch, led to
the great battle of Jarra, fought upon the heights overlooking
with not a stone unturned.
the Runn at that place, south-east of Lukput, and shortly
With all this ruin the face of nature in the interior of Kutch
across the Koree, in the Sind territory, by Ghulam Shah. The
was not greatly changed, according to MacMurdo. Large
fresh water being thus stopped and led elsewhere, Sayra
masses of rock and soil were detached from the precipices of
became a sandy desert; other bunds continued to be built, but
the hills, and vast clouds of dust were seen to ascend from
the fresh water was not quite arrested until about the year
all their summits. Many gentlemen perceived smoke to
1802, when this was so effectually accomplished by one
ascend, and in some instances, fire was plainly seen bursting
erected at Ali Bunder, that even the inundations of the river
forth for a moment. A respectable native assured him that
failed to find a passage along its natural channel, which filled
considerable quantities of fire issued from a hill, and that a
with mud and dried up above Sindree and shoaled at Lukput;
ball of large size was vomited into the air and fell to the
Sayra becoming a part of the Runn, on which it formerly
ground still blazing. The hill next day was found rent and
bordered.
shattered, as if something had sunk, and the spot where the

fireball was supposed to have fallen bore marks of fire in the
scorched vegetation.
afterwards (about the year 1764) to the construction of a bund
Things remained in this state until the great earthquake which

was accompanied by a sudden depression of a large portion
of the Runn north of Lukput, and of smaller areas on its north
It is regretted that the sites of these occurrences are not given,
and south sides near Dera Bet or Beyt, and in the vicinity of
so that the places could be examined. Dhenodhur hills, west-
Nurrha.
108
In those days, Sindree was a station at which the Kutch
inhabitants saw a long elevated mound where the surface
Government levied customs; situated on the road to Sind, and
had previously been a low and level plain. It extended east
on the left bank of what had been the Koree river about 25
and west for a considerable distance and passed immediately
or 30 miles north-north-east of Lukput. It had a brick fort
across the channel of the Koree, separating as it were forever
150 feet square, built for the protection of merchandize, with
the Phurraun (Pooraun; or the Narra and Goonee rivers, its
a small garrison, a few huts outside, and one well. At sunset
upper waters) from the sea. The natives called this mound by
the shock was felt there, the fort was overwhelmed by an
the name of Allah Bund, or mound of God, in allusion to its
not having been a work of man but a dam thrown up by the
every side and in the course of a few hours converted the
nature. The height of the mound is given by Captain
tract, before hard and dry, into an inland lake which extended
MacMurdo at 10 feet, by Lieutenant Raikes at 18, and is said
for 16 miles on either side of Sindree.
to be pretty equal throughout. It has only the appearance of
The Runn and the Bunnee between Kutch and the Putchum
(also dry), were at the same time suddenly covered with a
sheet of water, the extent of which east and west was unknown,
but in width it was about 6 miles; its depth was upwards of
two and a half feet, and after a few hours sunk to half that
quantity. Horsemen who crossed this tract the day after the
shock described a number of cones of sand (6 - 8 feet) elevated
above the water, the summits of which were emitting air and
water. The inundation here was doubtless connected with
that at Sindree fort, where it was of much greater depth, that
the houses within the walls filled with water and one only of
its four towers remained standing; projecting sufficiently
above the flood for the custom house officers to save their
a mound as seen from the south side, presenting no feature

whatever to the north. Its length is indefinite, being usually
reckoned at fifty miles, or the east and west distance between
the routes across the Runn from Loona (on the Bunnee) to
Raoma-ka-bazar on one side, and from Lukput in Kutch to
Loonda and Garee on the other. The latter route is now
discussed in consequence of the dangerous state of the Runn,
quicksands occurring on that side of the Sindree basin, and
a more circuitous one has been adopted.
The beds of the Koree at a place called by different writers
Sindu or Sunda or Sundo, on the south side of the Sindree
depression, is reported to have been raised for two or six
miles by the earthquake of 1819 (two miles according to Sir
lives by ascending it.
A. Brunes; six according to Colonel Grants informant). The
The estuary of the Koree at Lukput was previously fordable,
Sir G. Le G. Jacob, who however had some doubt as to his
the water at ebb tide being about a foot and at flood not more
most definite information with regard to this spot is given by

notes made respecting the locality. He says, the earthquake
than 6 feet deep; but after the earthquake the depth at the fort
of 1819 raised the ground, so as to leave the tide there waist
of Lukput became more than 18 feet at low water; and on
high, and that it was subsequently raised still higher; but on
sounding the channel Captain MacMurdo says it was found
the oldest copy of Sir A. Burnes map procurable (dated 1828),
to have a depth of from 4 to 10 feet from Kutch to Sind shore.
the place affected by the tides is marked nearer to Lukput by
In 1820, however, a ford was found here, while at the same
eight miles.
place in 1826, Sir A. Burnes found a depth of 15 feet.
It is recorded (by Sir Alexander Burnes) that subsequently,
It is not clear that these measurements were all taken at the
in 1826, the Upper Indus burst its banks, overspread the
same place or very near it; a sharp bend occurs in the old
desert, burst every artificial dam in the river, and forced its
river course at Lukput, some portions of which may have
way by the old channel, cutting for itself a passage through
always been deep drohs or pools, while the rush of the sea
the Allah Bund.
water into the Sindree depression would be likely to deepen

the passage through which it entered. The estuary is now
again fordable near Lukput at low tide (1869).
To inspect this, Sir Alexander Burnes, in March 1827,

proceeded from Lukput in a small flat-bottom boat by the
river to the Allah Bund. At Lukput, and for twelve miles up
Simultaneously with or shortly after the submergence
stream, the river was 300 yards wide, and from two to three
of Sindree, and about five and half miles to the north, the
fathom deep [12 to 18 feet]. At Sindu or Sundo about four
109
leagues [12 miles] distant from that town, the channel shoaled
In 1844 the Allah Bund was visited by Captain (now General)
to 4 or 5 feet for two miles, but then regaining its depth, he
Baker, of the Bengal Engineers. On 11th of July, he found
entered on a vast inland lake that reached to the horizon on
the mound, where cut through by the Pooraun (or Koree),
all sides, amid which the remaining tower of Sindree stood
nearly four miles in width, but in other places it was said to
like a rock in the ocean. At Sundo the water was brakish; at
vary from two to eight miles. Its greatest height was on the
Sindree it was quite fresh. Thence he proceeded to the Allah
borders of the lake, above the level of which it rose 20.5 feet.
Bund, which he found to be composed of soft clay with shells
From this elevation it gradually slopes to the northwards
elevated about 10 feet from the surface of the water, and cut
through like a canal with vertical banks on either side. The
channel was about 35 yards broad and three fathoms deep;
and a body of the fresh water of the Indus rolled down it into
the lake. Here he met several boats laden with ghee, which
had descended from Wunga-Bazar; and he further observes
till it becomes undistinguishable from the plain. The bed of

the Pooraun was 1 foot higher than the level of the lake; and
7 feet above that of a chain of pools of salt water in the same
channel nearer Lallah Puttun Bund to the north (called
Bundrejo Duryao), three koss from the Allah Bund.
that there was water communication between Lukput and
This is the only observer who mentions that the Allah Bund
Omercote (in Sind) so late as May 1829. Captain MacMurdo
had any slope on the north side; and the section submitted
also mentions the water traffic of this period from Sind to
with his report to the Sind Government shows a slope in that
Kutch; and Sir A. Burnes says that the earthquake had an
direction from the line of depression northwards, amounting
immediate influence upon the channel of the river below the
to 19 feet in four miles.
Allah Bund, which became navigable for boats of 100 tons

from the area to Lukput, which had never been the case since
Mr. DaCosta, of the Great Trigonometrical Survey, visited
1762.
Sindree by boat from Lukput in the year 1856. He found
In August 1827 he again visited the locality, and found that
3 or 4 feet thick, and that hardly any traces of the ruins of the
great alterations had taken place: the river and lake were
deeper in all places by 2 feet, and channel through the Allah
water continuously the whole way, overlying salt in places

fort remained.
Bund was much widened, and the sheet of water was now
In the month of May 1863 an intelligent person named Shaik
entirely salt, but the stream passing the Allah Bund was fresh,
Kasim, Surveyor to His Highness the present Rao of Kutch,
though greatly diminished in size. This visit was made during
was sent to explore the channel of the Koree in this vicinity.
the monsoon, and the south-westerly winds had blown the
He likewise went by water from Lukput to Allah Bund;
sea water in upon the fresh.
northward of this river was dry and without salt; but its bed
When Colonel Grant visited Lukput in 1834, very little change

had taken place since Sir Alexander Burnes visit, except that
the Sindians had repaired all the bunds across the river, and
thus by preventing further supplies of fresh water, the lagoon
had assumed much the same appearance as of 1828 [?1826].
was quite visible, 50 yards wide, with sloping banks from 10

to 15 feet in height. The ground to the north of Allah Bund,
and thence to the margin of the Runn near Raoma-ka-bazar,
he describes as more broken and rather more sandy than the
Runn, of the kinds called kuller or lanna, with clumps of
coarse grass and a few bushes. It was generally speaking,
Ten years after the visits of Sir Alexander Burnes, at Sir C.
flat, with small undulations; had no perceptible slope to the
Lyells request, a native surveyor was sent to make a plan of
north; was traversed by a few little water channels (seldom
Sindree and the Allah Bund. In the month of March he
or never seen on the Runn Proper), which led to the old river
found the channel traversing the bund to be 100 yards wide,
bed for about a mile on each side of it, but outside this limit
without water, and encrusted with salt, and was told that it
were supposed by him to approach the Runn by circuitous
only contained 4 or 5 feet of water after rains. The sides or
courses to the east and west. He thought the Allah Bund lower
banks were nearly perpendicular, and 9 feet in height. The
than the shore of the Runn near Raoma-ka-bazar, where some
lagoon had diminished both in area and depth, and part near
sand hills formed the highest ground that he saw anywhere
fort was dry land.
in the neighbourhood. Following the bed of the river through
110
sand hills formed the highest ground that he saw anywhere
Lukput) feared to sleep in their houses.[The next earthquake
in the neighbourhood. Following the bed of the river through
occurring so soon after this and being felt in the same
this ground, he found it deep and with better marked banks
locality, there may be a doubt as to whether both are not
nearer to the above-named village; but at Lallah Puttun old
accounts of the same event]
bund it became again indistinct, and that bund on the upper

side was obscured by silting up. The bund at Dost Ali Bunder
northward of this was also silted up, but at Chaeta (? Chuttee
Thur) Bund, still further north, there was a visible dam with
fresh water on its upper side.
He estimates the distance from the Allah Bund to Raoma-kabazar at seven miles. As the result of his visit, he formed the
opinion that the small quantity of water which could be obtained
from Sind after supplying the irrigation there, would only be
beneficial to the country northward of the Allah Bund, by
restoring the cultivation once existing about Veego- Gud, or
rendering the laana west of that place cultivable; and that
bringing the water to Sayra again would be of no use while the
sea finds access to that part of the Runn during the monsoon.
From the accounts of the earthquake of 1819 little can be
gathered as to the direction and velocity of its wave. The
results were more marked in Kutch than elsewhere, which
may be taken to indicate proximity to the line or centre of
seismic disturbance; and this indication is strengthened by
the circumstance that other earthquakes have occurred in the
region. According to the data given by Sir C. Lyell, the
vibration travelled northwards at a rate of about 53 1/3 miles
in a minute, and it would appear to have occurred almost
simultaneously over Kutch.
The next earthquake recorded is a series of shocks in 1844,
mentioned by Sir G. Le G. Jacob in the paper already quoted.
They are said to have further raised the bank at Sindu or
Sundo, so that a foot and a half was the greatest depth of
water ever found there. Before they occurred, the usual
tide went over the Sundo by about half a foot, but in 1851
not at all. At spring tides, however, a boat drawing a foot
Some other severe shocks are stated to have occurred in the

very next year, in an extract from a letter to Captain Nelson,
R.E., communicated to the Geological Society of London by
the President. The first shock of this earthquake was felt on
the 19th of June 1845, at Lukput. It shook down part of the
walls of the fort, and some lives were lost. At the same time
the sea rolled up the Koree, overflowing the country westward
to the Goongra river, twenty miles; northward to beyond
Veyre, forty miles from the mouth of the Koree; and eastward
to the Sindree lake, which is stated to have become a salt
marsh, but on a map bearing date the same year, to be
constantly under water to the depth of from 1 to 4 feet. From
19th to the 25th, 66 shocks were counted, and much damage
was done, nothing remaining of Kotree; on the Sind side of
the river opposite to Lukput, except a few small buildings
on a bit of rising ground, of Veyre and other villages, only
the remains of a few houses were to be seen; and Lak was
totally submerged, nothing being above water but a flagstaff.
At this time there were said to be generally two earthquakes
in every year at Lukput [None of the villages above named,
except Kotree, are marked upon any map to which access
can be had. The river Goongra may perhaps be that elsewhere
called the Pinjaree or Seer; Veyre or Vaerr may be a village
in Sind, 24 miles west of Lukput on the road to Mograbi].
It was thought probable that a subsidence of the land
accompanied this catastrophe, but there is nothing to show
that the inundation was not caused by a great sea wave such
as has frequently occurred in connection with earthquakes.
The only other and latest authentic record of an earthquake
in this province is of one which occurred on the 30th of April
1864. It was chiefly felt in Wagir and was also felt at
Ahmadabad and Surat.
and a half of water could with some labour be taken over
The only one of these earthquakes which appears to have
the bank. These shocks also enlarged the breadth of the
produced any material alteration in the features of the country
Allah Bund to the extent of three kos (six miles). The shocks
within historic times was the first shock of 1819. The accounts
are said to have lasted during a whole month, and were so
given, point plainly enough to the fact of some permanent
threatening that while they lasted, the inhabitants (? of
depression of the portions of the Runn to depths not exactly
111
known; but in the case of Sindree sufficient to submerge
weight, the great fact of the Indus flood finding its way into
all but a small part of the highest tower of the fort. The
the Sindree basin by following the old channel across a belt
original height of this fort is unrecorded, but such buildings
of elevation four, or sixteen miles in breadth, instead of
in this country are generally carried up to about 16 feet.
accumulating on the upper side of the obstruction and finding
The access of the sea water to the Sindree basin may have
This fact becomes intelligible only (in case of the mound
been assisted by a great sea wave resulting from the shock,

and the undulation of the ground may probably have forced
out water from the silts forming the bed of the Runn sufficient
to considerably augment the quantity which sought the lowest
level in the Sindree depression.
having been really upheaved) on the supposition that a
The subsidence was not entirely confined to this place would

appear from a note on Sir A. Brunes map, that a dhooi or
beyt (Dera bet) near Balliaree on the north side of the Runn
was joined to the mainland before the earthquake of 1819;
and a depression of some low lands near Nurrha on its south
shore is mentioned by Colonel Grant as having occurred at
the same period.
The elevation of the Allah Bund, however, is not so clearly
established, though a general impression to this effect seems
to have been felt by those who had the earliest and best
opportunities of observing it. In all the accounts that have
been given, its height seems to have been estimated from the
fluctuating level of the water in the Sindree Lake. Its length
appears to correspond with that of this depression; but its
width is said to vary from two to ten or sixteen miles, that is
to say, the whole tract from the Sindree depression to the
margin of the laana or Runn near Raoma-ka-bazar has been
looked upon as elevated, apparently because no abrupt slope
such as exists to the south was observed on the north side of
the Allah Bund.
Captain Baker, the only person who records the existence of
any northerly slope, says that it is very gradual, and that the
bottom of the dry channel crossing this bund or mound was
7 feet higher than some salt water pools, remaining in the
same channel further up nearer to Raoma-ka-bazar; but as he
gives the depths of other parts of the channel as varying from
12 to 20 feet, this may not be satisfactory.
To decide this point of the real or apparent elevation of the
Allah Bund and explain existing discrepancies, some further
levelling would be necessary. Mere inspection of the ground,
as described by Shaik Kasim, could add little or nothing to
what is already known; and though the opinion of Sir A.
Burnes and Captain Bakers detailed section should carry
a new passage round one end, is worthy of consideration.
greater fall than the height of the mound existed between

it and the Sind margin before the earthquake; and that after
the general elevation of the intervening space, sufficient fall
still remained to enable the stream to follow its old direction.
Taking the height of the mound at about 20 feet as given by
Captain Baker, and allowing the distance from the Sind edge
of the Runn to be much as ten miles, this would give the old
fall as something more than 2 feet per mile or double that of
the whole of the Indus from Attock to the sea. If the height
of the mound be supposed even half of that stated by Captain
Baker, bringing it to the amount recorded by Lyell, the fall
of 1 foot per mile would still seem too great for the old river
to have had before the earthquake; and further, as the Koree
or Pooraun was replenished by distributaries of the Indus, its
fall, according to Mr Fergusson, may not have been more
than six inches to the mile, while if the general flatness of
the locality be considered, it was probably much less.
Had the former channel of the river possessed any
considerable depth where the Allah Bund was formed, this
ought to be deducted from the assumed elevation, but Burnes
says, above Sindree it filled with mud and dried up. From
this it would appear hardly possible that after the presumed
elevation of the Allah Bund, the country still retained
sufficient slope to allow of the Indus flood of 1826 following
the old channel southwards, and the fact of its being elevated
to any considerable extent become somewhat doubtful.
The sectional profile supplied by Captain Baker shows the
summit of the Allah Bund to be at the same level as the bank
of the Goonee (a tributary to the Pooraum river) where the
Mora Bund has been constructed thirty seven miles to the
northward of the former place. From this Mora Bund the bank
is shown to decline regularly until within about four miles of
the Sindree depression, when it commences to rise to the Allah
Bund, gaining there a height of about 19 feet above its lowest
point; so that if the channel of the river had become filled up,
as Burnes states, before the earthquake, this profile would lead
112
to the supposition that an obstruction 19 feet in height and four
miles in width was insufficient to divert the river from its old
channel, while there appears to have nothing to prevent its
turning aside over the lower ground to the east or west.
If the old channel was not entirely filled up, but a passage of
some 6 or 8 feet deep remained upon, this would still leave the
obstruction so much higher than the river bank above that it
seems hardly possible for the stream to have avoided seeking
another course, unless the country to the east and west of the
river is much higher than would appear likely from the situation.
From the amount of detail given in Captain Bakers profile
section, it seems to have been very carefully constructed, but
the difficulty still remains that, if correct, the country on each
side of the Lower Pooraun cannot be flat; or if it be so, the
stream must have preferred to ascend a rising ground, opening
a new channel across it 20 feet deep and four miles long,
rather than to seek the lowest level in the neighbourhood.
On the whole, while it is impossible to assert that some trifling
elevation may not have taken place, it seems improbable that
this amounted to throwing up a bund 10, 15, 18, or 20
feet in height.
Otherwise, if the maximum subsidence at Sindree took place
along a somewhat irregular line corresponding to the place
of the Allah Bund, and leaving the level of the ground to the
northward but slightly, if at all, altered, then a bank or scarp,
like that of the Allah Bund, might naturally result, its length
being conterminous with that of the depression and its height
marking the amount of this depression. Seen from Sindree,
within the depressed area, rising beyond the widely spreading
inundation, such a bank would assume the appearance of a
low hill, and present a marked feature in a view which had
previously been bounded by a distant line to all appearance
as level as the horizon of the sea itself.
Tradition far more ancient, though certainly less reliable, than
the history of the events of 1819, has left an impression with
the people of North-West Kutch that subsequently to the
period when the Runn was a navigable inlet to the sea, having
the ancient city of Veego-Gud upon its shore, another ancient
maritime city flourished near Sindree, which was its port, or
bunder, on the Pooraun or Koree river. In course of time the
river shoaled so much by accumulation of silt that navigation
was impeded, and the site of the city following the limits of
deep water was changed to Sindee or Sindu in the Sayra
country. Here again the channel became reduced in depth,
and the people moved their city till further down the stream
to Lukput, which had once a considerable trade, but is now
almost deserted; its traffic having left it for the same cause
and being now transferred to Kotesir and Narainsir on a
deeper part of the estuary which was formerly the mouth of
the Koree river. Mingled with tradition are vague tales of the
silting up of the Indus near Sukkur and the formation of the
Alore Bund near where the Nurrha or Pooraun distributory
branched from that river in Sind; these changes having
prevented the southward flow of the fresh water inundations
which formerly fertilized the now ruined country of Sayra.
In connection with the objects of the Geological Survey an
endeavour was made to reach the Sindree basin from Lukput
in the middle of December 1868, but this was impracticable
from want of water in the old river channel. Another attempt
was made from Nurrha in the following month with the
help of camels carrying supplies of wood and water.
The road lay from Nurrha northeast by Hajee Peer to Loona
about 10 miles, first over kanta or babul country and then
over Runn and laana. Thence northwards four miles across
the Bunnee to a group of grass huts and shallow wells (naess)
on its margin, called Bitaro. From this, the last place at which
fresh water could be obtained, the track to Raoma-ka-bazar
was followed for 12 miles mostly over salt Runn and kuller.
Branching from it to the left, at Jerruk Dhooi, about 4 miles
further on Ahmrai Dhooi was reached.
The whole of the Runn here was covered by a painfully
glaring, strong crust salt, as white as snow, thrown up into
waves by the shrinking of the ground beneath, and in the
neighbourhood of the dhooi thickly strewed with small salt
and sun-dried fish, marsh or land shells, and portions of
coleopterous insects. From here the direction or distance of
Sindree were but imperfectly known to the guides. Leaving
Ahmrai Dhooi left to the southeast, for about 2 miles the salt
was firm and even; then entering upon the mud of the Sindree
basin..the tower of Sindree at length rose to view
above the horizon of mud and half dissolved salt, but was not
reached till sunset. Upon approaching the place it was found
to be a small spot, still surrounded by water; about 50 yards
of ankle-deep, transparent brine with a sheet of white salt
beneath, having to be crossed to reach the tower.. The place
of the old river course was occupied by brine, without banks,
in which no current could be perceived; its width was estimated
at about 250 yards, and it extended as far as could be seen to
the northward and southward. All else around was level Runn,
Fig. 7.
Map of Sindri Lake - Allah Bund area from Sindu in the south to Chuttee Thur Bund in the north, mapped by A.B. Wynne and F. Fedden
of Geological Survey of India, 1868-69. Note that the course of Pooraun River is taken from the survey of Capt. W. E. Baker, Bengal
Engineers.
113
114
Fig. 8. Remains of the Sindri Fort as in 1869 (after Wynne, 1872).
over which to the south and southeast the Kutch hills as far
as Dhenodhur could be seen; to the east the Putchum
mountains; and to the north a thin dark line of rising ground
115
and 5B) which was not printed with the original document of
Baker (1846).
marked the Allah Bund beyond which Veego-Gud and Raoma-
f) 1898 Sir R. D. Oldham:
ka-bazar were said to lie. The distance from Ahmrai Dhooi
All who have read Sir Charles Leyells Principles of Geology
was estimated at thirteen miles, which would agree pretty

nearly with the position of the ruin as shown by cross
bearings upon the Kutch hills; these, however, being very
distant, the bearings could only roughly indicate the place.
The western half of the tower had crumbled and fallen; what
remained of it [See Figure 8] with small portions of adjacent
walls, was little more than 10 feet above the mud, but how
much had been buried in the silt could not be ascertained.
The ruins had the appearance of being near the foundations;
will be familiar with the account of the great earthquake of

Kuchh in 1819, by which a considerable area of the Rann of
Kuchh was depressed, and a strip of land, known as the Allah
Bund, was supposed to have been elevated.
In 1872, the Memoir on the Geology of Kuchh, by Mr A.B.
Wynne, of the Geological Survey of India, was published, in
which it was argued that the Allah Bund was not in fact an
elevated tract, but that it merely had appearance of such when
viewed from the south, and represented the comparatively
and some of the walls could be traced among fallen bricks,
steep slope connecting the area which had been depressed
pieces of sandstones and flags..The water on the west
from that which had remained unchanged in level. This view
side of the ruins retained no appearance of a river. It was said
was subsequently adopted by Professor Suess, who threw
to extend to the Allah Bund, visible northwards, and to the
over his original view that the Allah Bund was the
south nearly to Nurrha.
manifestation of a deep seated fold at the surface (Die
Thus it appears that the water of Sindree Lake is not permanent;

and that but little remains, somewhere near or over the old
river channel, when the Runn dries up. The miles of mud
which had to be crossed show, however, that after wet seasons
or partial rains this Sindree depression would be flooded. It
has doubtless become reduced in depth by 50 years
accumulation of silt, but this would appear to have been so
evenly distributed as to still preserve a hollow where the river
ran, and to have been partial or absent where the salt was
found 3 feet thick. On the return to Ahmrai Dhooi next day
Entstehung der Alpen, 1875, p.152) and in his Antlitz der

Erde (Vol.1, 1885, p.61) unreservedly accepted Mr Wynnes
suggestion. During the recent move of the offices of the
offices of the Geological Survey, a tracing of Captain Bakers
original map, referred to by Mr. Wynne, was discovered; and
as this survey is most distinctly at variance with Mr Wynnes
view, which the classic authority of Professor Suess work is
likely to make universally accepted, it has been thought worth
being published, that the evidence may be appreciated at its
true value.
a dangerous quicksand was pointed out in the mud, similar
The accounts of the various examinations of the Allah Bund
to those at the west side of the basin; these perhaps representing
need not be repeated here, as full references will be found in
such places as water was said to have issued from during the
Mr Wynnes memoir, but a brief abstract will enable what
great earthquake.
follows to be better appreciated. On the 16th June 1819, the
Wynne thus argued that the appearance of uplift of the Allah

Bund was deceptive though he concurred with the phenomenon
great earthquake occurred, by which a large portion of the

Rann north of Lakpat was depressed and immediately flooded
by the inrush of the sea. At the same time the inhabitants of
of subsidence south of it as the area remained submerged what
the fort of Sindri, on the margin of the Rann, saw a long
was once a dry land. This aspect has been dealt with by Oldham
elevated mound, where the surface had once been a plain,
(1898 and 1926); full version of the former and relevant
extending east and west for a considerable distance, and
portions from the latter document is reproduced below; however
separating, as it were, the waters of the Puran from the sea.
in between the two, relevant portions from Reid (1911) have
So far there is no difficulty; of the depression of the Rann
been included. It may be noted that the publication of Oldham

(1898) included the map and profile of Baker (see Figs. 5A
and of the appearance of what looked like an elevation, there

can be no doubt; but the question to be decided is whether
116
this apparent elevation was in reality a barrier, as implied by
on the south side of the barrier, and consequently represent
the name Allah Bund, or the Dam of God, or whether the
the sum of the depression on the south and the elevation, if
appearance was deceptive.
any, on the north. According to Captain Bakers survey, of
Owing to the feuds between the Government of Sind and

Kuchh the former had, after several unsuccessful attempts,
succeeded, about 1802, in permanently blocking the channel
of the Indus, which once flowed by Lakpat and out by the
Kori mouth. As a consequence of this there was no water
flowing in the channels across which the Allah Bund was
raised, and there was nothing to show whether there was an
actual elevation of the ground or not. In 1826, however, there
was a great flood of the Indus, which broke through all
artificial barriers, and forced its way along the old channel,
cutting a passage for itself through the Allah Bund.
which a reduced copy will be found on plate I (see Figures

5A & B), the total elevation on the north could not have been
more than 10 feet at the place where the Puran cuts through
the bund. Supposing this to have been the amount of the
elevation, and the channel to have had this depth- as might
well have been the case in spite of the long period during
which it was dry- it would have been quite possible for the
flood waters to have forced their way through the old channel
instead of forming a new one round the end of the elevation,
said to be some 50 miles long. There would certainly be some
ponding up of the flood waters above the barrier, but this
might easily have been regarded as a natural accompaniment
Such, briefly, is the history of this interesting feature, but of
of the flood, or have escaped notice altogether, as the country
all the accounts and examinations of it one alone is based on
had been depopulated.
such a survey as would render it possible to say whether there

had been any elevation or not. This one report by Captain
Baker, of the Bengal Engineers, in 1844, whose statement is
very precise, that the bund rises some 20 feet above water of
the Sindri lake and that from this elevation it gradually slopes
to the northward till it becomes undistinguishable from the
plain.
On the other hand, and opposed to the arguments which can

be urged against an elevation, we have the map and section,
and the very definite statement, evidently based on careful
leveling, that there was an actual upward slope of the ground
immediately behind the southern scarp of the Allah Bund.
There seem, consequently, good grounds for maintaining the
older view that the Allah Bund was an elevated tract, but of
Against this definite statement the only argument which can
the sum of this and the depression which certainly took place
be brought is that of Mr Wynne, that if there had been such
to the south. The former cannot have exceeded 10 feet, the
an elevation, the floods of 1826, instead of forcing their way
latter amounted to as much or more, and the two together
through the Bund, should have accumulated on its northern
represent the estimates of the height of the barrier as seen
side and found their way round, and not through, the supposed
from the south, estimates which range up to 20.5 feet.
barrier. He urges that the recorded facts become intelligible

only on the supposition that the fall which existed originally
g) 1911 - H. F. Reid
between the northern margin of the elevated tract and its
Let us glance for a moment at the accounts of some other
southern boundary of maximum elevation, was great enough
great earthquakes and see if the movements of the ground
to leave a slope sufficient to enable the stream to follow its
which accompanied them were similar to those found at the
old direction. As the width of the Allah Bund is put at 10
time of the California earthquake, and if the ideas of elastic
miles and the elevation of its southern face at 20 feet, this
rebound which we have developed can be applied to these.
would necessitate an original fall of more than 2 feet per mile,

or double that of the whole Indus from Attock to the sea.
A very severe earthquake occurred in the province of Cutch

near the mouth of the river Indus in 1819. An extensive flat
This argument is a telling one, but it must be remembered
plain known as the Runn of Cutch only a few feet above the
that though the height of the dam is given by some authorities
level of the sea and which was indeed formerly a sea bottom
as 20 feet, the statement of different accounts not only vary
occupies a large area in this region. It is traversed by a small
greatly, but in every case represent the total apparent elevation
distributary of the Indus called the Pooraun or Koree but for
some years before 1819 no water had flowed through this
channel on account of dams built across it further up. The
great shock occurred a little before seven oclock in the
evening of June 16 and was so severe that all villages in the
neighborhood were destroyed and a mosque at Ahmedabad
about 250 miles to the east which was erected nearly four
hundred years earlier fell to the ground; the vibrations of the
earthquake were felt in northwest India, to a distance of eight
hundred miles.
In the midst of the Runn and near the old bed of Pooraun,
stood the Sindree fort where customs were levied on commerce.
At the time of the earthquake the land in the neighborhood
of this fort sank a distance of about ten feet. Water apparently
burst up from the ground and rolled in from the sea by the
channel of Koree; an immense lake was formed of unknown
extent east and west but about six miles from north to south,
which was a feet deep and covered all but the highest parts
of the region. Two or three miles to the north of Sindree
117
was fresh water on account of the floods mentioned below.

In 1844 Captain Baker of the Bengal Engineers made a map
and section of the region. On the 11th of July he found the
mound where cut through by the Pooraun (or Koree) nearly
four miles in width but in other places it is said to vary from
two to eight miles. Its greatest height was on the border of
the lake above the level of which it rose 20 feet. From this
elevation it gradually slopes to the northward till it becomes
undistinguishable from the plain.
In 1826 heavy floods caused the Indus to break through the
dams and to pour down its former channel across the Bund.
Mr. Wynne thinks that if the Bund had actually been elevated
the stream would not have crossed it but would have flowed
to the side. Professor E. Suess accepts Mr. Wynnes explanation
and considers that there was no elevation of the Bund but
that it is simply a case of eruption of the subterranean water
and the consequent subsidence of a sharply defined portion
appeared a scarp, ten or twenty feet high running in an easterly
of the muddy ground
and westerly direction for an unknown distance but apparently
Dr. R.D. Oldham having found a tracing of Captain Bakers
about fifty miles which was called by the natives The Allah
Bund or the Mound of God. Mr. A.B. Wynne in the
Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India has described the
geology of the region and collected the available information
regarding the earthquake. He concluded that the land south
of the Bund had sunk, but the Bund itself did not represent
an elevation as was generally supposed at the time of the
earthquake, but was merely the scarp left by depression of
the land to the south. This depression did not extend indefinitely
but from the depth of water accumulated there it is evident
that the greatest depression occurred near the Bund and
diminished towards the south. Indeed there are some reports
of a slight elevation about eighteen miles south of the Bund
though they are probably not very reliable. No account is
given of any change on the sea coast forty or fifty miles to
the southwest except the apparent deepening of the channel
of the Koree which may be due to scour. A tidal wave would
undoubtedly have followed a sudden depression of the coast
but none was mentioned. The water which appeared over the
plain was supposed by some to have come from the sea
through the Koree; but this does not require tidal wave, for
map and section which were apparently unknown to Professor

Suess, as he does not mention them, concludes after a review
of Mr. Wynnes memoir that the Bund was actually elevated
ten feet at the scarp line with a gradual slope towards the
north and that there was an approximately equal depression
immediately south of the scarp. He writes: on the other
hand and opposed to the arguments which can be urged against
an elevation, we have the map and section and the very
definite statement evidently based on very careful levelling
that there was an actual upward slope of the ground
immediately behind the southern scarp of the Allah Bund.
There seems consequently good grounds for maintaining the
older view that the Allah Bund was an elevated tract but there
can be no doubt that the estimates of its height do not correctly
represent the amount of elevation, but of the sum of this and
the depression which certainly took place to the south. The
former cannot have exceeded ten feet, the latter amounted to
as much or more and the two together represent the estimates
of the height of the barrier as seen from the south estimates
which range up to 20 feet.
the level of the new lake was so low that in August 1827 at
When we consider the general character of the movement
the time of the monsoons the sea water was driven up the
which took place at the time of this earthquake, Prof. Suess
Koree and made the lake brackish. Earlier in the summer it
explanation seems entirely inadequate. Is it possible that the
118
subsidence of a portion of the land due to squeezing out of
in a region to which political events had attached special
contained water could present the characteristics noticed at
importance and where there was a concentration of picked
the Runn of Cutch? We have a well defined scarp some fifty
officers and officials, among whom were some keen observers
miles in length and about twenty feet in elevation sharply
of nature who have left on record the results of their
dividing the land which was depressed from the region not
observations and enquiries. Thirdly and perhaps more than
so affected; we find the subsidence was greatest at the scarp
either of the other causes, the interest which has always
and diminished towards south, with no other scarp limiting
attached to this earthquake must be attributed to the graphic
its area; and we find that lake so formed was not merely a
description and discussion incorporated in Sir Charles Lyells
temporary lake due to sudden supply of water and quickly
Principles of Geology
drained, but that remained as a permanent lake for some time

and that it is still occasionally flooded either by fresh water
from the rains and surrounding streams, or by salt water
driven from the sea by the southwest monsoon, conditions
which did not exist before the earthquake. And we have
Captain Bakers positive statement that the Bund slopes
downwards towards the north, and his section shows the slope
which was however so gentle that it could not have been
detected by the eye alone.
The geological interest of this earthquake has been so largely

dependent on the remarkable changes brought about in the
aspect of a part of the Runn of Cutch and as the full import
of those changes depends on an appreciation of the character
and peculiarities of the region affected it will be useful to
give a brief description of the Runn..The general surface
is hard and polished. It consists of fine sand and clay with
sufficient salt in it to attract any moisture..Traditionally
this plain is an old inlet of the sea now filled up and certain
In view of our present knowledge I think we may represent
places are recorded. As having formerly been sea ports..
very simply the movements which took place at the time of
The whole of the Runn lies at so low a level and gradient to
this earthquake as follows:
the sea is so gentle that large areas become flooded during
The Runn of Cutch, formerly below the sea level was gradually
raised by vertical forces which were stronger towards the
north. An elastic shearing strain was thus set up which finally
resulted in a rupture of the rock along an east and west line,
with an upward filling of the northern side to form the Bund,
and a corresponding downward fling of the southern side to
form the lake, the total relative movement being about twenty
feet, practically the same as the relative horizontal displacement
at the time of the California earthquake. It seem rather strange
that Professor Suess, who pointed out so clearly the relations
of earthquakes to fault lines, should not have seen that in this
the scarp was merely the surface indication of the general
movement on an underlying fault.
g) 1926 - Sir R. D. Oldham:
the monsoon..The sea level is certainly raised during the

monsoon apparently by about four to five feet but the area
directly submerged by this is only an insignificant fraction
of the whole and does not extend far inland from the permanent
limit of dry land. The rest of the Runn is liable to flooding
but the water is in part direct rainfall on the surface and in
part flood water from the streams draining into the Runn. The
surface of the Runn is broken in places by patches of higher
ground which rise like islands from the level barren plain of
the Runn. Some of these are rocky others low sandy patches
rising only a few feet and carry sparse growth of grasses,
thorny shrubs and occasional small trees. This land is known
as dohi (dhooee) or bet (beyt). Kalar (kuller) or Kara and
lana (laana) may be regarded as a transition between rann
and dhoi.....One large area of grassland lies south of Pachham
Island extending westwards along the north of the main land
The Cutch earthquake of 16th June 1819 ranks among the
of Cutch for a length of about fifty miles and a breadth of
classic earthquakes of geology, a position which it owes to
about fifteen. This is known as Banni, it supports a scanty
various causes. In the first place it was one of the foremost
population. And has not changed in form or size since the
rank in magnitude, whether the area over which it was felt,
time of Burnes survey.. Yet things were not always so;
the violence, the extent of the region over which it was
formerly a considerable and perennial river flowed down the
destructive or the changes in the configuration of the surface
channel now known as the Puran, across the western Runn
which accompanied it are considered. Secondly it occurred
to the sea, by Lakhpat and the Kori creek. This river was
bordered by a fertile tract known as Saira which according
to Burnes included the country between Lakhpat, Saira
(Sahera) and Mundhan in Cutch extending northwards to a
few miles north of where Sindri once stood. Shortly after
1762 the then ruler of Sind constructed a bund at Mora
diverting the stream into other channelsother dams lower
down the stream intercepted the overflow till about 1802, the
bund at Ali Bandar finally stopped the flow of fresh water to
the sea even when the river was in flood. By this stoppage
of the flow of the Puran the aspect of the district of Saira was
changed and a productive rice country relapsed into a barren
rann........The old channel seems to have remained navigable
for Capt. R.M. Grindlay, accompanying a Mission to Sind,
119
For the amount of the vertical displacements which took

place the most precise figures are Sir W. E. Bakers of 20
feet above the level of the Sindri lake, and Sir A. Burnes
of 10 feet; the latter is confirmed by the survey of I880-81,
which gives the height of the bank of the dry channel through
the bund as 11 ft, but this as has been explained, does not
necessarily represent the actual uplift of the ground, which
would be more correctly given by Bakers survey and
levelling. We have also an account, compiled by Lieut. S.
N. Raikes, Assistant Political Agent, in 1854, in which it is
stated that the height of the Allah Bund is estimated at about
8 feet.
records that the journey from Lakhpat to Ali Bandar was
We have less definite information of the depth of the depression
made by boat, passing the customs station at the old fort of
south of the Allah Bund; in the southern part of the lake the
Sindri, of which he made a sketch [see Figure 3] ... Captain
depth is given by Burnes as two or three feet but he says
Grindlay describes this fort as small, with a few huts outside
nothing of the depth of water close to the bund; on Sir W. E.
and one well; the creek here had a width of about a mile and
Bakers section a depth of 10 feet is indicated, though nothing
a quarter and a ferry across..... the site of Sindri must have
is said of how this was determined. Accepting this figure we
been high enough to protect it from flooding even when the
may put the ground levels, after the earthquake, at about 20
sea level in the Kori creek was raised by the southwest
feet above and 10 feet below the level of the lake in July
monsoon.
1844, which would represent very closely the mean sea level
Such was the condition in 1819 at the time of the earthquake.
at that time of the year.
A level desert country stretched northwards to the edge of
The differential movement was, consequently, about 30 feet,
the Runn, and through it passed a navigable salt water creek
the uplift on the north being 20 feet, less the original height
following the course of an old river channel. The only

contemporary account of the changes produced by the
earthquake in this region is that of Captain J. MacMurdo,
compiled from native information and reports....... Of Sindri
he reports that it was overflowed at the time of the shock, the
people escaped with difficulty and the top of the town walls
were alone to be seen above the water..... Fortunately this
contemporary account was supplemented by a more detailed
and graphic one by Lieut. Burnes, written only eight years
later....
After this Oldham quotes the descriptions as given by Burnes

who visited in 1827 and 1828 followed by that of Captain W.
E. Baker who visited in 1844, both of them describing the
Allah Bund as an elevated tract and then comments on the
reservations expressed by Wynne (1872) on the nature of the
Sindri lake as well as that of the Allah Bund. We have already
reproduced the original materials of these authors and hence
do not repeat here, and pass on to the syntheses part as written
by Oldham.
of the land above water level, and the downthrow 10 feet,

added to that same height. We have no precise measure of
the ground level before the earthquake took place, but on
Sir W. E. Bakers section the lowest point, to the north of the
bund, is about a foot or so above the level of the water in the
Sindri lake. We need not attribute greater precision to the
survey than its author would have claimed, but it shows that
the level of the ground at Sindri, before the earthquake could
only have been a very few feet above sea level and if this is
taken at not more than five feet it gives the actual uplift on
the north of the dislocation as somewhere between 15 and 20
feet and the depression on the south as between 15 and 10
feet, the displacement, tailing off in both directions till it
becomes zero, but extending to a greater horizontal distance
on the south than on the north [In the note in GSI Memoir,
XXVIII, 1898, 27-30, the author took the differential
movement amounting to about 20 feet].
Of the lateral extension of the Allah Bund recognizable as
such, the earlier accounts give little indication. Burnes mentions
120
that it was reported to have been traced eastwards towards
the track from Luna to Rahim-ki-bazar, and here the course
Pacham island, a distance of twenty-four miles; westwards
of the track changes from about NNE to about NNW on the
as far as Ghari a distance of eighteen miles, which would
raised patch of ground mentioned by Burnes and named
make its whole length upwards of fifty miles. He adds that
Talocha Doi on the map.
there must be some foundation for the extent of it eastward

is clear; for there is an elevated mound, about a mile broad,
on the road from Luna to Raoma ca bazaar, sixteen miles
south of that place, in the middle of Runn, which is made the
halting ground in the wet weather, and which was not there
prior to the earthquake of 1819.
Throughout this course the Allah Bund is bordered on the

south and west by a salt bed, or in the central portion by land
which was still permanently under water in 1880. The salt
bed must mark very closely the extent of the original
submergence and had been formed by evaporation from the
sea water which had free access to the depressed area through
The limits of the flooded area around Sindri were only known
a narrow channel; though dry, at the season of the year when
to from the facts, that, on the west, the road from Lakhpat to
the mapping was carried out, it was probably flooded when
Gari skirted the lake formed by the earthquake, and on the

east, the high ground from Kutch to Sind, which formerly led
through Sindri was necessarily sixteen miles to the east of it,
and was rendered more or less circuitous in proportion as the
lake was made more or less full by the winds raising the water
level. Raikes, in his account states that a portion of the Allah
Bund is passed en route from Raoma Bazar in Sind to Loona
in Kutch, though the greater portion of it remains on the right
of the road or tract. The crossing place is evidently the raised
ground, used as a halting place, of Burnes account, and at
that point of a sharp angle in the course of the track, as shown
on the survey of 1880-84, a deflection which was necessitated
by the flooded area making a direct course impracticable.
From these accounts little could have been made out of the
shape and limits of the flooded area, but for the work of the
Survey of India, which in 1880-84 mapped the region as part
of the Topographical Survey of Cutch. On this map the course
of the Allah Bund and the limits of the flooded area can be
traced with certainty and the whole of the important area is
very conveniently published in a single sheet on the scale of
2 miles on one inch. On this the northwestern end of the Allah
Bund lies about 5 miles from Gari, but the dislocation may
have extended beyond this in the direction of that place,
though not recognised. From this point just mentioned the
bund runs, with some irregularities of course in a general SE
by E direction for 16 miles, to where it is breached by the
bed of the Puran, thence it bends rounds to an ENE course
for 7 miles, when it again changes its direction to SE for
about 15 miles, and throughout this length of 38 miles it
marks the northern limit of the area which was flooded after
the sea level was raised by the southwest monsoon. The

greatest length of the original lake thus indicated is about 34
miles in a WNW-ESE direction, and the greatest width about
21 to 14 miles along the course of the Puran. The area covered
by the salt bed is about 150 square miles but the original
flooded area must have been somewhat greater than this, or
about 200 square miles, a very different figure from the 2000
suggested by Burnes
So far only the reports of observations along or near the old
course of the Puran river through the Runn have been dealt
with. They indicate something which would at one time been
generally and would still be widely considered as sufficient
to account for the earthquake but when the condition of the
northern part of the Runn is compared with what it was, at
the beginning of the last century it will be seen that the
changes were wide spread over a larger area than is indicated
by the old accounts, or has been recognised in descriptions
of this earthquake.
Some indication of these displacements other than that which
produced the Allah Bund, is to be found on Burnes map,
which shows, just south of Baliari, and on the track from that
place to Pachham, a small island in the Runn, bearing an
inscription, varied in wording on different copies to the effect
that the island was attached to the mainland before the
earthquake of 1819. Sir G. Le Grand Jacob, in his account of
this region, mentions the same island, but says that it was
reported to have been raised from the Runn by an earthquake.
These two versions differ, but they agree that a change in the
topography, indicating a change of surface level, took place.
the earthquake of 1819. About five miles short of the south
The detailed survey of Cutch, made in the eighties of the last
eastern end a narrow arm of the flooded area is crossed by
century, indicates much more extensive changes of level than
121
this, whether taken by itself or in comparison with Burnes
draining from the higher ground to the southwest of the scarp.
survey. Over the greater part of the Runn the two surveys
In this respect the feature resembles the Allah Bund proper
agree in representing a vast continuous stretch of runn; in the

south the tract of sandy ground, carrying a growth of grass,
known as the Banni, is somewhat Larger in the later, than in
the earlier, survey, but the main outlines are the same, and
some small islands are marked in the Runn, which may have
existed in Burnes time and escaped his exploratory survey,
or may have originated since; but there is in all this area no
difference between the two surveys greater than would be
expected from the difference in the mode of construction,
and the later survey confirms the general accuracy of the
earlier one, which it must be remembered was the first attempt
at mapping a wholly unexplored region. In the northwestern
corner of Runn, lying to the north of the Allah Bund as
described above, and of a line extending to Pachham island,
and thence northeastwards to the northern edge of Runn, the
agreement disappears and a great difference between the two
surveys to be found..
This dislocation has a traceable length of about twenty miles

and at its southeastern end borders a tract of more or less
permanently flooded land and there is some evidence
that along the rest of its length the ground level on the northeast
was lowered relatively to its original level just as in the Allah
Bund the country to the southwards was lowered concomitantly
with the elevation of the band. In 1852 Sir G. Le Grand Jacob
found the Dera Bet extending for a mile along the route
followed and separated from the mainland by about six miles
of firm level Runn; this Dera Bet can be recognized on the
Survey of India map as a promontory on the western margin
of the Dhari Banni, but the country to the northwards in 1886,
consisted for more than half the way of bhet or dhoi and only
rather less than three miles of rann, which is part of a bay in
the sandy tract of the Dhara Banni; moreover the map shows
a line, indicating a change of surface level, which lies on the
continuation of the western boundary of the sandy tract. The
From this it appears that beyond the extent of what can be
interpretation of this map.seems to be that before the
definitely recognized as the Allah Bund, the dislocation can
earthquake there was an expanse of bet or dhoi land,
be traced for twenty miles to the northern end of Pachham
approximately as represented by the Survey of India, that at
Island, and beyond that again for another thirty miles to the
the time of the earthquake this was depressed, either absolutely
northern limit of the Runn. In the first named stretch, that to
or relatively to the surrounding region, so that rann condition
the west of Pachham, the uplift may have been recognizable
extended over a great portion and continued between 1827
at the time of the earthquake, though not so abrupt as further
and 1852, but by 1880 aeolian deposits had again raised the
west; such at least, is suggested by the native reports, quoted
surface and caused a conversion of rann to bet. If this is the
by Burnes and Baker, which gives the bund a length of fifty
true explanation, then Burnes record that before the
to sixty miles, and speak of it as extending towards Pachham.
earthquake the island was joined to the mainland is the
Further east the boundary of the raised area, over which a
correct one and must be accepted in preference to Jacobs
change from rann to bhet has taken place, is well defined, but
version that the island was raised from the Runn. The map
the occurrence of some short stream valleys, along the eastern
also indicates another similar feature running about southwest
end of the Dhara Banni, points to uplift, and the establishment
from Gainda Bet to the line of the continuation of the Allah
of surface slopes steep enough to promote erosion.
Bund; in this case with the upthrown to the northwestwards.
Apart from the conclusions which may be drawn from a
Along the southern margin of this tract, which was elevated
comparison of Burnes map with that of Survey of India, the
the survey shows signs of depression having taken place. The
latter affords evidence of changes, of which there is no other
well known depression of the ground round Sindri has already
record. One of these is a dislocation of similar character to that
been referred to..it may be noted that there is some indication
of Allah Bund though on a somewhat smaller scale. The map
that the first depression immediately after the earthquake may
marks a scarp running about northwest to southeast and passing
have been both greater and extensive than what remained
about three miles to the northeast of Gainda Bet; no relative
when he [Burnes] made his survey. For the greater extent of
levels are given, so it was probably not many feet in height,
the flooded area we have some suggestion in the statement
but still enough to make the feature distinctly noticeable, and
by Captain MacMurdo, that navigation had been re-established
along the course of it there are at intervals small stream channels
across the Runn and that vessels loading near Ruhema Bazar
122
and Kanjee Kacote sailed across the Runn and landed cargoes
at Nurra on the north of Cutch..shortly after the earthquake
the guns of Sindri were removed by boat and landed within
two miles of Nara, a proceeding which could only have been
possible if the land then stood at a lower level than it did at
the time of his survey, nine years later. These statements and
the fact that the inhabitants of Sindri had to take refuge from
the flood in the tower of the fort, indicate that the initial
depression may have been greater than the permanent one
and that there was a partial recovery of this in the months
immediately following the earthquake.
However this may be the extended flooding appears to have
been of short duration and things settled down into the
condition found by Sir Alex Burnes in 1827 and 1828, buton
both his visits the water level on the flooded area stood higher
than it would normally do during the dry weather. His first
visit was before the monsoon had commenced but at that time
a large body of fresh water was pouring into the lake, which
was separated from the broad estuary at Lakhpat by a length
of about twelve miles of river channel.. the level of the
lake must have stood at three feet above the sea level. On the
second visit the inflow of fresh water ceased, but the monsoon
was at its height, and the sea level in the Kori creek raised
to its maximum. On both occasions the ground at Sindri was
under water, just as described by the accounts of what took
place when the earthquake occurred.
The next visit.is that of the surveyor sent by Captain Grant
to make a plan of Sindri and Allah Bund in March 1838. The
only account of this which has survived is contained in Sir
C. Lyells Principles of Geology, where a sketch of the Fort
of Sindri as stood in March 1838, said to have been drawn
by Captain Grant from surveyors plan, is reproduced [See
Figure 6]. In this sketch the ruined walls of the fort are shown
as rising from an expanse of water, but this is in contradiction
with the accounts, which distinctly states that the lagoon had
diminished in area and depth and part near the fort was dry
land. This statement is probably correct as it is confirmed by
Mr. A.B. Wynnes account of his visit; it does not necessarily
indicate a change in level of the land in the ten years which
had elapsed since Burnes visit but it does conflict with the
account of what took place at the time of the earthquake, and
if this is to be believed the ground must at first have been
depressed to a lower level than that at which it stood in 1838,
and have recovered some of the depression at some date after
the earthquake. The fort would naturally have been built on

the highest part of the nearly level plain, so the finding of
a small patch of dry land, surrounded by water in March
1838 does not establish any change of level of the fort
relative to that of the surrounding tract of country.
Oldham goes on describing the subsequent visits by W.E.

Baker in 1944 who actually did not visit Sindri. In 1856 Mr.
Da Costa of Great Trignometrical Survey could travel to
Sindri by boat from Lakhpat; the channel was navigable in
1863 when a surveyor of Rao of Cutch visited the area; but
in December 1868 Wynne from GSI could not approach
Sindri by boat from Lakhpat and had to travel overland from
Nara in January 1869; the account of Wynne how he reached
Sindri has already been given in this document. During the
period between 1838 and 1869 the ground level of the old
fort of Sindri thus lay just above the sea level during dry
weather. The SOI map prepared through surveys during 188084 indicate that Sindri was no longer surrounded by water
but by salt. Eastwards of this strip of salt a patch of rann
located in the midst of an extensive salt bed which during
Burnes time was the flooded area around Sindri. To the
southwest of Sindri a broad expanse of water is marked and
to the west of the fort a channel of three quarters of a mile
broad, leads up to the Allah Bund and travels some fifteen
miles along the foot of it. During the early twentieth century
(Sivewright, 1907) there was no sign of the Sindri lake except
some pools of brine. This has resulted from gradual blocking
up the channel leading to the sea. After discussing the limits
of the flooded areas as per SOI map, Oldham concludes:
There is consequently evidence of a belt of disturbance
running somewhat sinuously through the northern part of
Runn of Cutch for a distance of nearly ninety miles marked
by a general uplift of the country to the north and of
subsidence on the south. Near the western end the
demarcation between the two areas was sufficiently abrupt
to cause a visible inequality of the surface, forming the
Allah Bund, which can be traced for some thirty five miles;
further east the transition between the two areas is more
gradual and takes place by an imperceptible slope of the
surface, which not immediately recognizable as such, has
revealed itself by the changes which subsequently took place
in the character of the surface deposits. At the eastern end
the feature ceases to be traceable, before it finally leaves
the Runn, though the dislocation may have extended as far
as the eastern end of the Runn. On the west the feature is
still well marked where it leaves the Runn to enter on the
alluvial area of the Indus delta, in which any former indications
can no longer be traced. Eighty miles therefore is a minimum
estimate of the length of this dislocation, it may well have
extended to one hundred and even more, if that part is included
where the displacements underground were too small to
produce any appreciable effect at the surface.
123
The next part of Oldhams document discusses the

effects of the earthquake which has already been included
in the present compilation from the original descriptions
and hence not repeated. The map (Fig. 9) showing
places at which the earthquake was recorded is however
included. Before concluding this document on the Cutch
earthquake of 1819, it may be mentioned that after 1926
Fig. 9. 1819 Kutch earthquake intensity map (after Oldham, 1926).
124
the next major contribution on this earthquake is by Bilham

(1998) published after 72 years since Oldhams publication
of 1926.
Discussion
In compiling this commentary on the earthquake of 1819, we
have consulted quite a large number of publications in English
language that were published during the first half of the
nineteenth century. However, we are not aware of any published
or unpublished documents in local language that may have
been written from localities that suffered massive damages.
After the Garhwal earthquake of 1803, the Cutch earthquake
of 1819 was the next earthquake that has been sufficiently
documented during the early nineteenth century. In this
comprehensive volume our primary objective is to collect and
reproduce all available published accounts from rare and outof-print sources at one place as a historical document and at
the same time to facilitate future research.
Historical records of great earthquakes in Runn of Kutch
prior to the 1819 Kutch earthquake e.g. the events of AD
893 and AD 1668 were reported to be severe, with epicentre
to the north and northwest of the Great Runn in Sind area,
Pakistan (see Frere, 1870; Oldham, 1883; Rajendran and
Rajendran, 2001; Thakkar et al., 2012). The 1819 Kutch
earthquake attracted the geologist world over because it
produced direct evidence of surface deformation. After
some confusion on the nature of the Allah Bund during
the later half of the nineteenth century it was R. D. Oldham
whose publications in 1898 and then in 1926 established
that Allah Bund and the Sindri Lake were undoubtedly
morphotectonic features that were co-seismic in nature.
Oldham (1926; see his Fig. 1) presented a diagrammatic
section through Allah Bund - Sindri Lake that clearly
depicts a surface fold with a steep southern limb and
gentler northern limb. This surface deformation pattern
depicts the geometry of a fault-propagation fold with a
south-facing steep scarp that obviously resulted from
reverse slip along a north-dipping blind fault; land area
south of Allah Bund sank by a few metres to accommodate
the co-seismic surface deformation causing towards
northern side of it, allowing sea water to inundate through
Kori creek resulting in the formation of Sindree Lake,
which still persists.
After a gap of more than 70 years since the publication

of Oldham, Bilham (1998) published another comprehensive
document on the 1819 Cutch earthquake based on re-evaluation
of all original published accounts. He suggested a near-surface
reverse fault that slipped locally more than 11m and rupture
extended at least 80 km along strike. The dislocation model
however infers steep north-dipping fault, unfavourably oriented
for reverse slip; however some form of listric fault geometry
can be invoked with increased fault width to satisfy the observed
surface deformation fields, suggested by Bilham (1998). The
region being unique with its super-saline soil and devoid of
population, the damage reports due to this earthquake were
mostly from south and east of the Allah Bund and thus earlier
catalogue locates epicentre to the south of the fault. The
epicentre for the 1819 earthquake must be located to the north
of the Allah Bund fault; with an assigned focal depth of ~ 15
km along a ~ 45 north-dipping causative thrust plane at surface
(see Bilham, 1998 for the fault model) with listric geometry
at depth (see inset of Fig. 10). Tentative location of the epicentre
will be around Wagajakot / Vigakot (Fig. 10). The location is
uncertain because of lack of documentation regarding detailed
co-seismic surface deformation pattern and damage scenario
(in terms of life and property) in the northern part of Allah
Bund, the area was also registered for very sparse population
during those days.
Acknowledgements
We have extensively used the website of Google Books for
consulting almost all archive materials. Constructive comments
and interest shown by the Editor and his team, learned reviewer
and Shri Subhas Chandra Chakraborty, Director (Geology),
Mission III have considerably improved the scientific content
of the paper.
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The disposition of Allah Bund (after Oldham, 1926) and the envisaged causative north-dipping hidden thrust vis-a-vis the tentative
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Historiography and Commentary On The 16 June 1819 Kutch Earthquake, Gujarat, India

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Historiography and Commentary On The 16 June 1819 Kutch Earthquake, Gujarat, India

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Indian Journal of Geosciences, Volume 68, No.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: sujitdasgupta@yahoo.com

as successor on 9th April 1819, under the title Shree Daisuljee

Kutch should be brought to a speedy settlement (engagement

about 2 months time Kutch was devastated by the severe

of Company with Kutch commenced in 1809). In the beginning

earthquake of 16th June 1819. Let us browse the picture

of 1819 arrangements were made to coerce Rao. On 25th

portrayed by Lieut. Raikes, Assistant Political Agent, from his

March, 1819 British force escaladed Bhooj Fort, no lives lost

document Memoir and Brief Notes Relative to the Kutch

period of its history, but one can hardly fancy so recent an

In the present document our primary objective is to compile and

that resulted further documentation and updating of the account

Before we enter into the documentation of archival

and Rajendran, 2002), epicenter is plotted as 24.25N: 69.00E.

localities (in Ambraseys and Douglas, 2004) however excludes

four different locations for the epicentre [(23.67N: 70.58E;

would better constrain the epicentral location of the 1819

Kutch, which has severely suffered. In describing this

Damage Due to the Earthquake

letters which have been received on this subject, the most

The frequently quoted document in contemporary research

alarming occurrence, we shall select, from a variety of

Monthly Register, Volume10, pages 479 - 480. Subsequently

for apprehension. The wind, which had been blowing

the entire document of Capt. MacMurdo was published in The

pleasantly towards evening, at the commencement of the

Transactions of the Literary Society of Bombay, Volume III,

concussion fell into a dead calm, and in a moment all

Magazine and Journal, 1824, Volume LXIII, No 310, pages

every countenance, produced a sensation horrible beyond

105-119 and No. 311, pages 170-177. Prior to these publications

description. The shock lasted from two to three minutes,

in 1823 and 1824, another shorter version of MacMurdos

published in 1823. But before the work of MacMurdo being

breached as to be rendered useless as a place of defence. It

reproduced, we would present another comprehensive

is calculated that nearly 2000 persons have perished in Bhooj

account that was published in the year 1820 in The

1820 - Part a - Account of the Earthquake of Kutch on

The western coast of India has been visited by an

alone. Among the sufferers is the mother of the deposed

will be seen and felt for many years to come. This

The devastation was general throughout Kutch. From

tremendous convulsion of nature was experienced from

Luckput Bunder to Butchao, in every town and village,

Bombay to beyond the tropic of Cancer; but the centre

more or less lives were lost by the falling in of the houses;

of the concussion seems to have been in the province of

and in the towns of Mandavie, Moondria, and Anjar, very

extensive damage has been sustained. Accounts from Anjar

giddiness of the head and sickness of stomach, from the

state, that the fort wall was almost completely destroyed,

not 100 yards of it remaining in one spot, and guns and

some sat down instinctively, and others threw themselves

towers hurled in one common mass of ruin. Scarcely a

on the ground. Those who were on horseback were obliged

fourth part of the town is standing, and the houses that do

to dismount, the earth shook so violently that the horses

remain are considerably injured. In one word, says the

writer of the account, a flourishing population has been

upon the ground, were scarcely able to stand. At