136 Account of a Journey from Kurrachee to Hinglaj. [No. 98. 



with a low jungle of tamarisk, and wild caper bushes. On 

 my return grass had sprung up over the greater part of this 

 tracts and afforded excellent pasture to a few ponies belonging to 

 the pilgrims with us, but I saw very few cattle or goats feeding 

 there. Three miles from the pass is a nulla, in which brackish 

 water is procured by digging, where travellers usually halt, 

 and one mile beyond it a decayed tree marks the " Kharee 

 well," where sufficient is found to supply small parties. This 

 was the second day's journey. On the third, we continued 

 our course along the flat, which is never at present overflowed 

 by the sea, and passed the " Seeta Koowas," (a number of 

 kucha wells so called,) which have been sunk at different 

 times, many now filled up by the earth falling in, and but 

 little water in the rest. The sand hills here lose their pre- 

 cipitous appearance, and gradually decrease in size until they 

 sink to the level of the plain. The ruins of a small building 

 named " Peer Putta" by Mahomedans, and " Gopeechund 

 Raja" by Hindoos, lie to the left of the road before it reaches 

 the Vindoor river, which is dry except after heavy rain, when it 

 runs for a few hours only. The bottom is sandy, and its 

 width trifling. A barren plain brought us to a range of sand 

 banks, ascending which we found ourselves in sight of the 

 town of Soumeanee, situated at the head of a bay in an 

 amphitheatre of sand hills, and remarkable only from the 

 absence of all verdure around it. The party halted at a 

 ruined Dhurumsalla, a short distance from the wells which 

 supply the inhabitants with not very sweet water. They are 

 but two in number, only a few feet in diameter, and are 

 lined with logs of wood to prevent the sand choking them. I 

 had previously informed the Dewan of the Yam of Beila of my 

 intention of passing through his country; he came out to 

 meet me, stated that he was directed to obey all my orders, 

 and would, if I wished, accompany me on my journey. His 

 attention was most marked, and it was with difficulty that 

 I declined his request to be allowed to supply food to my 

 party at the Yam's expense, although I particularly explained 

 to him that I was merely a traveller, and not authorized to 

 receive presents from his master; but only desired the protection 





