196 Journal of a voyage from [March, 



hundred desperate freebooters acting under acknowledged Sir-kurde, 

 (leaders.) The river affords them an easy means of escape, and, owing 

 to the existing relations of one of the powers with our Government, 

 prevents their being pursued by the authorities of the opposite side. 

 This security from punisbment would of itself be sufficient encourage- 

 ment to their predatory habits, but they are moreover instigated and 

 abetted by the petty district officers of their own governments, 

 who share in the spoils without incurring any of the danger of their 

 enterprises. 



Female infanticide prevails generally among these tribes. Mothers 

 appear to have little affection for their offspring and little respect for 

 their marriage tie, if one may judge by the frequency with which it is 

 violated. A wife leaving the protection of her husband and abscond- 

 ing with another man, is frequently claimed and restored by the inter- 

 vention of the authorities after an absence of nine or ten years, and 

 any children she may have borne to her paramour in her absence, are 

 equally divided between him and her lawful husband. 



On the 2nd February at Tufiere, estimated distance 11^ kos. The 

 banks of the river low, and the river perceptibly diminished in breadth. 

 We passed a town on the right bank hidden in a deep and extensive 

 grove of palm trees ; the cupola of a mosque peeping through the 

 foliage, and a few solitary palms standing far apart, thrown out from 

 an horizon lighted by a brilliant sunset, reminded us forcibly of 

 Bengal scenery. 



The country on the left to-day was more open, the river excessively 

 winding. 



On the 3rd to Durpur near Khairpur, estimated distance f0\ kos. 

 The country on the right was well cultivated and apparently rich, 

 dotted with clumps of the beautiful palm tree, and the banks of the 

 river abounding in temporary wells and water courses ; — that on the 

 h- ft was low and barren and covered with a very thin jungle of the 

 tamarisk, the river extremely winding in its course. 



Early in the day we were met by Sarfara'z Khan, and at a later hour 

 by Mir Muhammed Qa'im and Muhammed Daim, native gentlemen of 

 the Khan's household and relations of the Khan's Vizier. One of these 

 gentlemen, although holding the responsible appointment of Mir 

 Bakbshi, is said to be quite uneducated and ignorant of his letters ; 

 but we found him more polished in his manners than the generality 

 of those we had met. 



About half way on our journey we passed the road to Mailsian, a 

 town on the right bank, the former capital of Baha'wal Khan's terri- 



