SLEEPING APAETMENTS. 133 



walls of the better houses even are but roughly 

 plastered, with a coat of whitewash ; but they 

 are chary of their whitewash in Sindh, and 

 rarely employ it for outside decoration. The 

 floors are of burnt brick, but more generally 

 of clay, and some are merely covered with 

 river sand, which during the hot weather, when 

 watered tatties are in request, is kept constantly 

 wet by the labours of a Bheesty, or water- 

 carrier. The clay of Sindh makes excellent 

 plaster, when mixed with a large quantity of 

 finely-chopped grass, wdiich prevents its cracking 

 when dry. 



The upper rooms of houses are employed en- 

 tirely as sleeping apartments, or for the Zimana, 

 and have generally a terrace in front, on which 

 both sexes sleep in the open air during the 

 hot season. As my chum, Mr I- , and my- 

 self slept on a lofty terrace, Avhich commanded 

 all those around, — and I always rise at the 

 first break of day, — I occasionally saw strange 

 sights, but discretion says '•^ KhamooshP The 

 houses of the Meers are painted outside in 

 a variety of figures, the effect of which is 

 pleasing, and the ancient buildings in Sindh 

 are many of them cased in encaustic bricks 



