Bikanir. The extent of this traffic to the upper country will be understood when it is stated that in one year upwards of 5000 camels, laden with merchandise, pursued that route from Múltan. The return trade is of the same nature, and at the same period as that to Shikarpúr by the Bolan, consisting of drugs, dyes, dried fruit, horses, &c. If so extensive a commerce exists at this point, when the whole of its supplies are conveyed by land-carriage from the capitals of Bengal and Western India, with the enormous attendant delays and expenses, will it not proportionally increase or receive a great additional impetus if the river Indus be navigated to the merchant's purpose? Bhawulpúr, the whole of the Punjaub, including the great cities of Lahore and Amritsir, are supplied with British merchandize by the same means as Multan, at a cost of time of between two or three months, and the same arguments apply to all. (Independent of these, our position on the Sutlij, or, as it is termed, the North-western Frontier of India, demands a formidable force. There can hardly be less than 20,000 men between the sea and Firozpur: these must be supplied; but beyond Sindh all is by overland communication.) The northern countries in the plain of the Indus, or its tributaries, are at the same time highly productive in valuable and constantly-demanded articles, so that a present return trade is included in all measures for general improvement.

It will be unnecessary to pursue the subject further. The conviction is forced upon the observer, that steam navigation of the river Indus alone. will effect any radical change in the commercial prospects of the countries which are approachable by means of that stream; but that with it, the trade, which has hitherto languished, or been confined to certain limits, will expand to an extent likely to prove of value to both the natives and the British government. Thus the accompanying declaration by the highest authority in India has been put forth, and is in process of being acted upon:" It is intended to maintain on these rivers a sufficient number of steamers adapted to commercial as well as military purposes; but it is expected that in a very short period the merchants of Bombay will find it to their advantage to employ steam-boats of their own to convey British manufactures by the Indus to the south-west frontier, and by the saving of several months in the time now required for their transport, so reduce their price as very materially to extend the demand for them in the northwest provinces and the Punjaub.” A further statement shows that it is intended to increase the means of communication between the Sutlij and the Ganges, so that merchandise may be conveyed down that river from the Sutlij, and not up it as heretofore.

This appeal to the merchants of Bombay will doubtless be answered when the navigation of

the Indus shall have been placed on a footing of security, the result of a peaceable policy towards the tribes who command its banks, and without whose concurrence nothing can be done. If such a system be adopted in the first instance, and an efficient steam establishment be employed on the Indus and Sutlij, with the usual measures of protection to the trading community of Sindh, whose energies and perseverance alone require encouragement, commerce will have a fair beginning, and there can be no hesitation in concluding that no very great space of time will elapse ere it progresses rapidly to the advantage of all concerned. These are no hypothetical conclusions, but advanced on grounds of fair reasoning; and so far from seeking to colour the commercial prospects of Sindh and the Indus too highly, it will be seen that the whole are still held to be progressive, and that certain indispensable conditions remain yet to be fulfilled ere even a commencement can be made, much less a result attained; peace and its consequences, security, with an improved condition of the country and its inhabitants, being the principal of the conditions alluded to.

The weights and measures in use in Sindh are based on the Khirwah, which is equivalent to about 843 lbs. English dead weight, and for quantity, as for grain, is again divided into "kasahs" and "toyans," the relative value of these being difficult to ascertain, and varying much, according to the de

weight, and the Khirwah then decreases to about

600 lbs. only.

Land is measured by the cubit, gundha, and jurib.

and enclosing a square space of 22,500 feet. The currency in general circulation is the Company's legalised rupee, known as the kuldar. The sohrab and shujavulli in Upper Sindh: the former 1 per cent. and the latter 24 less in value than the Company's. In Lower Sindh are the korah and kassani rupees: the former 25 per cent. less in value, and the latter about half a rupee, than that of the Company's.

CHAP. XV.

First Connection of British with Sindh.. -Immunities granted by Ghúllam Shah Kalora.-Connection dissolved,«. -Commercial Mission, 1799.-Expulsion of British agent.- M. Smith's Mission of 1809.-Treaty of 1820. Fures of Ou servation assembled in 1825.-Mission to Hind unde Pottinger, 1832-Satisfactory ResultCommega Tit 1834.-Scale of Tolls on Boats.-Lieut. Sir, Burwas us age up the Indus to Lahore.-Permission grants to run by Delta and Sea-coast.-Steamer sent to Hyomaat. Matters with Sindh, politically and commeriahy, up 36, 19680

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THE Connection of the British Indian powe with Sindh had its origin in 4.1 1732 Ghúllam Shah Kalora on the 220 of prema that year granted a pervamat of giga Sumption of the Company's wenig, for but bey blishment of a factory in the sadams grow with a view to the encouragement of one per the Indian territories and Black

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this permission cert imot sa att sprey spa from customs which ves

of great value; andviken van GRENZ of the Sindhian ret

friendly relations via de Bella # 19

various officers and sleona Ý M