908 Report on the Country between [No. 105. 



tivation in the whole of the country under description. Indeed, with 

 exception of the large towns above mentioned, and those permanent 

 villages along the right bank of the Indus from Tatta to Sehwan, with 

 Gharra and Gooja, there are no fixed villages within the limits ; the in- 

 habitants are consequently iew, and are chiefly employed in tending large 

 flocks of sheep and goats, camels, and buffaloes, in which their wealth 

 consists. Their habitations are as rude as their appearance, being com- 

 posed of a kind of matting or tattle, made from a reed called puk or 

 punkah ; these resemble the huts seen in many parts of India, in the 

 outskirts of villages, in which Wanggries and Kolatnees reside ; the reed 

 there is called soilkee ; when properly made their tatties keep out the 

 rain and dust in a wonderful manner. The puk or punkah used in 

 Scinde is of a much larger size, and of a dark brown colour ; it is 

 easily rolled up when the shepherds require to move, which they do 

 according as the grass and water become expended. These people, (it 

 will be remembered I speak of the wandering tribes,) are Belooches, 

 Jokias, and Soomries. 



The Belooches occupy a portion of the country which would be des- 

 cribed by a line being drawn from the end of the Jutteel Hills to Tatta. 

 The Jokias, the country between Tatta and Kurrachee. And the Soom- 

 ries the remaining part of the district. 



The former are insolent and thievishly inclined, being Scindim 

 Belooches, and patronised by the rulers of the country. 



The Jokias are well disposed ; and the Soomries a quiet, inoffensiv( 

 race, in this part of the country, whatever they may be elsewhere. 



From the inquiries I have instituted, I do not believe that the 

 amount of population in this part of Scinde (the large permanent 

 villages and towns not included) exceeds 5 or 6000. Their fooc 

 is chiefly meat ; grain is little used, a substitute is found for it by dry- 

 ing and pounding a berry called beir, which is mixed with water, an( 

 packed away in pots ; this with sour milk as a beverage, is what the} 

 exist on. They derive some profit from the coarse nummuds made 

 from the wool of their goats and sheep ; as also, since our arrival, fror 

 the quantity of the puk tattas* and mats that have been disposed 

 of by them. 



* These Tattas are not made by the Soomries, but by the Seks and Lubannas.- 

 E.P.D. 



