MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MEER. 213 



one or two Mahomedans, to whom Jaghecrs 

 have been granted, by reason of Meer AH 

 Moorad having married their sisters, who were 

 Kunchunnees, or dancing girls, previously. The 

 population of the place was formerly estimated 

 at fifteen thousand, but does not now amount to 

 one-third that number, and the inhabitants 

 generally have an unhealthy, aguish look, and 

 suffer much from that disease on the abatement 

 of the inundation, from the number of hollows 

 in and about the town, wherein the water re- 

 mains stagnant, until evaporated by heat. The 

 drinking water too is generally brackish, except 

 in one particular well. The Ameers, I was 

 told, always had water brought from the Indus 

 for their own drinking, and when the Meerwa 

 canal was full, its water was preferred to that 

 of the wells. 



After perambulating Khyrpoor in all direc- 

 tions we terminated our excursion at the parade, 

 where the Mcer's artillery were in readiness 

 to fire a salute on the arrival of His High- 

 ness, who was momentarily expected. Four 

 small guns, in indifferent condition, were \)a- 

 raded, and the Moor's standard was displayed, 

 its colours being green and orange. The guns 



