1841.] Memorandum on Shikarpore, in Upper Sindh. 21 



Juwarree form the great " Kurreef" or autumnal, and wheat the 

 Crops. " Rubbee" or spring crop ; the former are entirely 



dependent on the inundations, which commence to be available for pur- 

 poses of cultivation about the middle of April, and continue until the 

 middle of September. The " Rubbee" crops are raised by means of 

 wells and bunds formed from the inundation. 



The soil is so rich that no manure of any kind is used ; the inunda- 

 Soil. tions bringing with them a certain slimy matter, 



which appears highly conducive to fertility, the ground is allowed to 

 remain fallow from the reaping of one crop in October, to the sowing 

 of another in April or May, and the same with the Rubbee lands ; this 

 rule appears to obtain all over the country. 



Water is found at an average of about twenty feet from the surface, 

 and to a depth of sixty feet the finest description of sand is alone ob- 

 servable ; with the alluvial soil is a superstrata ; a stone or rocky founda- 

 tion of any description is not to be seen. 



All the approaches to Shikarpore are bad, from the country being so 

 Roads. constantly intersected with water courses, and no 



measures being taken to provide bridges, or repair the roads, which are 

 cut up by carts, and the constant traffic of camels, bullocks, &c. 

 A comparatively trifling outlay would obviate this, as also improve the 

 Sindh canal. Sindh canal, which, from having been allowed to 

 choak up at its mouth, and get generally into disrepair, is only navi- 

 gable from the end of April to the beginning of October, whereas it is 

 capable of affording an important means of water communication from 

 the Indus to Shikarpore, for at least nine months of the year. 



Shikarpore being in the immediate route for the transmission of 



Trade and influ- merchandize to Khorassan and countries to the NW. 

 ence of money tran- by the p ass of the Bolan> has with Dera Qhaze 



Khan obtained the title of one of the gates of 

 Khorassan. Its influence is more immediately felt however in the bank- 

 ing transactions which by means of agents it carries on in every in- 

 termediate place beyond the Bolan Pass, from Quettah and Kelat to 

 Bokhara and Herat ; as also in all places of mercantile importance in 

 Duties and im- India. Vexatious transit and other duties on goods 

 ports on trade. pursuing the Shikarpore route to Khorassan have 



tended to turn much of its former trade, especially in European goods 



