Cosmography and Geography in Early Indian Literature c8.s1.4

c8.s1.4

40. Beyond the river Sinthus there is another gulf, not navigable, running in toward the north; it is called Eirinon (Rann of Kutch; Sanskrit Īriṇa, a desert, waste or swamp); its parts are called separately the small gulf and the great; in both parts the water is shallow, with shifting sandbanks occurring continually and a great way from shore; so that very often when the shore is not even in sight, ships run aground, and if they attempt to hold their course they are wrecked. A promontory stands out from this gulf curving around from Eirinon toward the east, then south, then west, and enclosing the gulf called Baraca (Dvārakā), which contains seven islands. Those who come to the entrance of this bay escape it by putting about a little and standing further out to sea; but those who are drawn inside into the gulf of Baraca are lost; for the waves are high and very violent, and the sea is tumultuous and foul, and has eddies and rushing whirlpools. The bottom is in some places abrupt, and in others rocky and sharp, so that the anchors lying there are parted, some being quickly cut off, and others chafing on the bottom. As a sign of these places to those approaching from the sea there are serpents, very large and black; for at the other places on this coast and around Barygaza (Bhṛgukaccha, Broach), they are smaller, and in colour bright green, running into gold.