1840.] Kurracheef Tatta^ and Sehwan, Scinde. 915 



The following remarks were drawn up by me in transmitting copies 

 of the routes to Bombay : — 



The routes forwarded by this day's post, December 15th, are of consi- 

 derable importance, since they shew the present state of the country on 

 the right bank of the Indus, from Sehwan to the sea; from which it will 

 be observed, that in a line of road extending in one instance 140 miles, 

 and in another 96, not one single permanent village has been met with, 

 although no scarcity of water exists ; various causes are assigned for 

 this desolation. The revenue of the country is reduced to that realized 

 at Kurrachee, which averages one lac of Rupees. 



The route from hence to Hyderabad via Kotree has been lately 

 travelled by Lieutenant and Mrs. Travers, and by Lieutenant Franklin, 

 2nd Grenadiers, and his detachment of 60 rank and file. No difficulty 

 has been experienced; supplies of grain and food were taken from hence ; 

 sheep, and goats are procurable on the line of route. The country is 

 quiet, and the few people met with civil and inoffensive ; water is found 

 in the beds of the rivers by digging a few feet. 



The above remarks are equally applicable to the route from hence 

 to Sehwan, which is however of greater importance than the former, 

 since it opens a direct communication with the interior of Scinde. 



To the merchants the discovery of this route is of the greatest value, 

 since, by pursuing it, they avoid the delay and danger of entering and 

 tracking up the Indus to Sehwan, a journey of at least one month; 

 which can be performed in ten days from Kurrachee. The water com- 

 munication from Sehwan to Larkana, and to the Indus by the Arul and 

 Narra, is highly advantageous, since the rapid current is avoided, which 

 is an obstacle in the Indus. 



The route from Kurrachee to Hoja Jamote, in the vicinity of Kanaraj 

 river, has proved the existence there of lead and antimony. The in- 

 formation I have obtained in consequence, of the existence of copper 

 near Beyla, is also of importance ; and may hereafter be turned to 

 account. 



It remains only for me to speak of the boats and boatmen, the 



Boats and Boatmen. harbour of Kurrachee having been described in 

 a former report. The boatmen are all Mahomedans, and called Moanas. 

 They are respectable and hardy fellows, and not of the same description 

 as the Mohannas of Upper Scinde, and on the river. The wives of the 



6 A 



