TATTA. 87 



within its influence, either naturally, or by the 

 canals which intersect the country in all direc- 

 tions. There are many points of resemblance 

 between Sindh and Egypt, and amongst them 

 that particular feature in those districts of both 

 which border on the Nile and Indus, the sur- 

 face of the country being highest on the river 

 banks and sloping gradually away, as though 

 expressly formed by nature for the purpose of 

 artificial irrigation. 



At Tatta, sixty miles from the mouth of the 

 river, we stopped a short time for the purj)ose 

 of wooding. The town of Tatta, which was 

 once a considerable place of trade, is about 

 three miles distant from the Bunder or port. 

 Three of the Meer's servants here thought fit to 

 disobey my orders by going on shore at this 

 place, and were consequently left behind ; we 

 saw them running along the bank for some dis- 

 tance, but the steamer soon left them in the 

 rear, as commanders are prohibited from delay- 

 ing their vessels by stopping to pick up stray 

 passengers. Tatta was formerly celebrated for 

 its manufactures and trade, but those palmy 

 days have departed. Sixty years ago it con- 

 tained 80,000 inhabitants and kept 3000 looms 



