32 WESTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 



There are feafons in which it does not rain during three years*. 

 The heats are fo violent, owing to the vicinity of the fandy 

 deferts, that the houfes are contrived to be ventilated occa- 

 fionallv, by means of apertures in the tops like chimnies ; and 

 when the hottelt winds prevale, the windows are clofely iliut, 

 and the hotter current excluded, and the cooler part, being more 

 elevated, defcends through the funnels to the gafping inmates t. 

 The objedt of the fettlement was the fale of our broad cloths, 

 which were fent up the Indus to the northern parts of htdia. 

 The broad cloths and all other goods were landed at Laribundert 

 a town on the Ritcbel, a branch of the Indus, about five miles 

 from the fea, and fent to 'Tatfa on the backs of camels. Ha- 

 milton, i. p. 122, fays, that in his days it was almoft depopulated 

 by the plague, which carried off eighty thoufand of the in- 

 habitants. The vaft extent of bufuiefs carried on in the Delta 

 was furprifing, for Abulfazel {{qq Ayeen Akberry, ii. 143.) affures 

 lis, that the inhabitants of the Circar Tattah had not lefs than 

 forty thoufand boats of different conftrudtions. In 1555 this 

 city was attacked by Francifco Bareto Rolen, viceroy of India. 

 Provoked by the treachery of the king of Sind, he Hiew'ed re- 

 lentlefs cruelty; he put above eight thoufand people to the 

 fword, nor did he fpare the very animals. He then burnt the 

 place, and with it immenfe riches ; notwithflanding this, the 

 plunder was very great, all wiiich was fwallow^ed up by a fu- 

 rious tempefl %. 



* Hamilton's Voy. i. 122, + Mr.Rennel, p. 182. 



t Conqueftes de Portugais, Iv. p. p. 183, 184. 



Beyond 



