CUTCH

cutch, runn of, or rann of kach, a salt morass on the western coast of india in the native state of cutch. from may to october it is flooded with salt water and communicates, at its greatest extent, with the gulf of cutch on the west and the gulf of cambay on the east, these two gulfs being united during the monsoon. it varies in breadth from five to eighty miles across, and during the rains is nearly impassable for horsemen. the total area of this immense morass is estimated at about 8000 sq. m., without including any portion of the gulf of cutch, which is in parts so shallow as to resemble a marshy fen rather than an arm of the sea. the runn is said to be formed by the overflow of the rivers pharan, luni, banas and others, during the monsoon; but in december it is quite dry, and in most places hard, but in some moist and muddy. the soil is impregnated with salt, and the runn is an important source for the supply of salt. the present condition of the runn is probably the result of some natural convulsion, but the exact method of its formation is disputed. the wild ass is very common on the borders of this lake, being seen in herds of 60 or 70 together.