24 Memorandum on Shikarpore, in Upper Sindh. [No. 109, 



being completely under water, would warrant a supposition that this 

 place was exceedingly unhealthy ; yet it is not so except for a short 

 period from the middle to the end of September, during which the in- 

 undations are drying up, and ague in a mild form is prevalent. Exposure 

 to the sun of Sindh, whether Upper or Lower, during the hot months is 

 invariably attended with dangerous effects, and for a certain period of 

 the year the natives themselves avoid it as much as possible. The hot 

 winds of Shikarpore lose much of their intensity, prevailing generally 

 from the southward, and passing over a considerable expanse of water ; 

 they continue however during the months of April, May, and June, 

 to blow till midnight. In the deserts N. and W. of Shikarpore, the 

 deadly simoom is often encountered. 



The winds vary generally between W. and S. the former the prevail- 

 ing. The Easterly winds obtain for a short period during the autumnal, 

 and the Westerly during the vernal equinox. The former often pre- 

 cedes rain. Shikarpore is exempted from a great source of annoyance 

 experienced at Sukkur, Hyderabad, and all other places on the banks 

 of the river, from the Delta upwards, viz. sand storms. The cold 

 months may be said to commence in September, and last until the 

 middle of March. Frost and ice are not unusual, and vegetation 

 assumes all the appearance of winter in a northern climate. After a 

 fair experience of a year's residence at Shikarpore, (the season of 1839 

 being considered an unhealthy one,) I conceive that with the precau- 

 tions considered necessary elsewhere, of good houses and due attention 

 to draining, troops might be cantoned at this place without any 

 greater disadvantages than are to be met with in most of our stations in 

 the interior of India. When it is considered that the officers and men 

 of a force stationed here during the most trying months of last year 

 were for nearly the whole period under canvas, or in mud huts, that 

 afforded even less shelter than a tent, and that the inundations were 

 allowed to reach in all directions within 200 yards of the camp, it is 

 only surprising that the disease and mortality where so inconsiderable. 

 I believe that out of a force of nearly 2000 men, the latter amounted 

 to under twelve cases. The mornings at Shikarpore are invariably 

 cold. 



Routes from Shikarpore to various places with which it carries on 

 Routes. trade, with the estimated distances. 



