1837.] Lodiana to Mithankot by the Satlaj river. 20D 



On the 2nd March to opposite Nurivdld ; estimated distance 10 kos. 

 We came to on the right bank of the river about three miles below 

 Sitpur, and went in the afternoon to see that town. It is surrounded 

 by an extensive grove of palm trees, and is celebrated for its dates 

 and mangoes, which it produces in great abundance. The site is very 

 elevated, and its name indicates its having formerly been a Hindu 

 town. The old buildings are all of burnt brick and lofty, the streets 

 dreadfully narrow and filthy, the country round it is pretty, but must 

 be very unhealthy during the hot months, when it is entirely over- 

 flowed, leaving no means of communication saving by boats. It was 

 formerly thickly inhabited, but now the half of the houses are in 

 ruins, and it may have about 200 shops of all descriptions. The 

 inhabitants of the town are chiefly Hindus, — those of the country, 

 round, Jats and Beloches. Cattle are numerous, and the zemindars, 

 both Jats and Beloches, predatory in their habits. Sitpur is said to 

 have been formerly on the right bank of the main stream of the Indus 

 which fell into the Panjnad immediately above it : it is now about 10 

 miles on the left side of the main stream, but during the hot weather 

 the whole intervening space is one sheet of water. It is recorded that 

 qasids, messengers with letters, were formerly in the habit of leaving 

 Multdn or Derd Ghdzi Khan in the morning, mounted on an inflated 

 oxhide, and reaching Sitpur and Ouch by the rivers Chindb and Indus 

 at noon. This mode of conveying letters is still sometimes -adopted 

 between Derd Ghdzi Khan and Shikdrpur, and during the height of 

 the floods is very expeditious. 



On the 3rd to Chdvdn ; estimated distance 12 kos. The country on 

 both sides appeared very rich, but without any great variety of foliage. 



On the 4th we arrived at Mithankot on the right bank of the 

 Indus ; estimated distance 10 kos. The rapidity of the current increas- 

 ed very much as we approached the junction of the two rivers. The 

 Panjnad all the way from Ouch is a beautiful stream, and, with the 

 exception of one or two windings, runs straight to the south-west. 

 On the 7th of March the Mission left Mithankot to return by a new 

 route through the Punjab to Lodiana. The boats were left under my 

 charge to prepare for their return voyage up the river, with the 

 exception of those belonging to the Lodiana merchants, which con- 

 tinued their voyage to Shikdrpur. 



2 y. 



