in the Lower Valley of the Indus and Cutchi. 21 
least important even of our Indian districts. Their fields, in 
many parts of Sindh and Cutchi, have a small mud tower in 
their centre, whence the possessor with his retainers guards 
his produce from the predatory attacks of his neighbours ; and 
a striking proof is thus afforded of a rude and unsettled state 
of society. In their houses (if they can be so termed) and 
persons, the Bilichis are filthy in the extreme, and appear to 
be totally regardless of all beyond the mere every-day wants 
of an animal existence. It is no uncommon thing to see whole 
families sharing the shed, or, as it is called, Marri, which, 
composed simply of the reeds growing on the banks of the 
river, or the dried stalks of the Juwari, gives an inadequate 
shelter from the intolerably scorching sun of Sindh to them- 
selves, their cattle, and horses, a charpdi, or rude cot made of 
the Minj grass of the country, being the only furniture. Yet 
there is no cause for this apparent misery, since many of them 
inhabited a fertile country, and possessed some of its richest 
portions, but the lazy and indolent habits with which they 
were embued, forbode their turning any attention to the im- 
provement of their condition. Their food is principally com- 
posed of Juwari flour cakes, curds, and sour milk (the country 
being particularly rich in kine), and animal food, when they 
ean obtain it. They prefer goats flesh to mutton for its 
strong flavour, and use spiritous liquors when attainable. 
The costume of the Bilichis in Sindh had undergone consider- 
able alterations during the last dynasty, and differed greatly 
from that still adopted by the mountaineers and wild tribes 
of the desert. The turban gave way to a curiously-shaped 
cap, which appears to have been a bad imitation of a Persian 
head-dress, which looked much like an inverted hat, offering 
no protection whatever to the face, though the crown extended 
somewhat beyond the summit. This is composed of the most 
gaudily-coloured cotton stuffs (or silks with the chiefs), and 
looked upon as an indispensable ornament. They affect ex- 
eeedingly wide Turkish drawers, which are closely buttoned 
at, and fall over the ancle. The surcoat is of white thin cot- 
ton, or mixed woollen and cotton in winter, and the waist is 
ornamented with an enormous roll of silk or cotton cloth of 
bright colours, the chiefs adopting the langhi, a beautiful de- 
