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



received from its port of Karachee, into the channel of communication 

 to the NW. by the way of Soomeanee, Beila, and Kelat, the more 

 direct, and at present by far the less expensive route. A revisal of 

 imposts,* together with a settlement of Cutchee, and the suppression of 

 the marauding system in that province and in the Bolan Pass, would 

 revive the trade of Shikarpore, and induce its merchants, who do not 

 want for energy, to purchase largely of such investments as might 

 be cheaply transmitted by means of the river Indus ; with the ab- 

 sence of tolls on merchandize in transit, whether by water or land, 

 they would be sure of making a favourable market, coupled also with 

 the protection afforded them through the deserts of Cutchee, which they 

 could only formerly procure at an exorbitant amount of black mail to 

 every leader of a predatory band. 



Shikarpore received from Karachee Bunder, Mar war, Mooltan, 

 Bhawulpore, Khyrpore, and Loodhiana, European 

 piece goods, raw silk, ivory, cochineal, spices of all 

 kinds, coarse cotton cloths, raw silk (China), kinkaubs, silks manufac- 

 tured, sugar-candy, cocoanut, metals, kiramee (or groceries), drugs of 

 sorts, indigo, opium, saffron, and dyes of sorts. From Cutchee, 

 Khorassan, and the NW. raw silk (Toorkestan,) fruits of sorts, madder, 

 turquoises, antimony, medicinal herbs, sulphur, alum, saffron, assafce- 

 tida, medicinal herbs and gums, cochineal, and horses. 



The exports from Shikarpore are confined to the transmission of goods 



„ to Khorassan through the Bolan, and a tolerable trade 



Exports. ° ' 



with Cutchee, Bagh, Gundava, Katria, and Dadur. 

 They consist of indigo (the most important,) henna, metals of all 

 kinds, country, coarse, and fine cloths, European piece goods (chintzes 

 &c.) Mooltanee coarse cloths, silks manufactured, groceries, and spices, 

 raw cotton, coarse sugar, opium, hemp seed, shields, embroidered horse 

 cloths, and dry grains. The various productions of these countries 

 and their prices in the Shikarpore marketf have attracted the atten- 

 tion of that energetic body, the Chamber of Commerce of Bombay, and 

 in the article of indigo alone there can be little doubt but that the 



* See a list of export, import, and transit duties, based on articles of trade at Shikar- 

 pore (by the author) published in the Bombay Government Gazettee of the 28th July. 



f A monthly price current of articles in the Shikarpore market is now published by 

 authority. 



