1837.] Lodiand to Mithunkot by the Satlaj river. 183 



headed. The Hindu merchants, from the command which they have 

 of money, exercise a preponderating influence in the internal manage- 

 ment of the Firozpur domain. The ryuts, from their extreme poverty, 

 are forced to mortgage their crops to provide themselves with seed 

 and the necessary implements of husbandry. Money is advanced at 

 an enormous rate of interest, the lowest in the most favorable seasons 

 being half an anna per month for every rupee ; but the necessities 

 of the people are such, they are now frequently obliged to pay \\ 

 anna per month, and compound interest is charged after three months. 

 The cattle and even the ploughs (which resemble those used to the 

 eastward), are the property of merchants. It requires three pairs of bul- 

 locks to work a well during twelve hours of the day, and the quantity 

 of ground cultivated is fifty kacha bigahs. The poor from the neigh- 

 boring territories bordering on the desert resort to the banks of the 

 river to cultivate the autumnal crops and earn a bare subsistence, 

 but their attachment to the desert in preference to the climate near 

 the river prevents their settling. 



On the afternoon of the 11th we took leave of the Sirdarni and 

 started next morning for Mamdot. A mile beyond Firozpur the river 

 divides into two branches, the deep channel continuing under the left 

 bank running separate for more than a mile ; they again unite, and 

 soon after splitting again unite at a short distance above the ghat of 

 Bare-ke. Bare-ke is in the direct road from Firozpur through Kasur 

 to Lahdr, from which it is distant thirty kos. It is the nearest point 

 of approach of the Satlaj to that city. There are only four boats at 

 the ghat, which is not a very considerable thoroughfare. 



The boats here are quite different from those higher up on the 

 Satlaj. They are fiat-bottomed, but have high sides, and both ends 

 are pointed ; they measure about thirty feet in length by ten in breadth, 

 with a depth of two and a half to three feet, and are very strongly 

 built : the waste is partitioned by heavy beams running across, which 

 give strength to the sides. The poop and forecastle are planked. 

 Altogether there is an appearance of lightness and hardiness about 

 them which makes them as much surpass the Ravi boats as those do 

 the craft in use higher up the Satlaj. The mode of propelling them 

 is somewhat the same as sculling. An immense oar is lashed to the 

 stern, the arm of which usually consists of two, or three joined pieces 

 of wood, and is curved in such a manner that the end or handle 

 stretches horizontally over the poop, where one, two, or three persons 

 are placed to work it to and fro. It serves both to propel and direct 

 the boat in its progress. 



