303 Route from Seersa to Bahawulpore. [[No. 148. 



the last year, 1843, the number of boats is stated at 1125, and the 

 quantity of merchandize at 2,14,416 maunds. All the 1125 boats, 

 save the three alluded to in a former part of this letter as bringing 

 cargoes from Bombay up the Indus, are downward-going boats, en- 

 gaged in carrying groceries and drugs from near Ferozepore and 

 Lodiana, and grain from near Sutpore and Mithankote to Scindh. It 

 must be admitted, that the greater portion of the 2,14,416 maunds of 

 merchandize so-called is grain, the demand for which in Scindh arises 

 from the presence there of a large body of our troops ; that the trade 

 up the rivers from Bombay is at present trifling ; that the population 

 on the rivers is too scanty and too poor to be able for many years to 

 come to purchase any quantity of our Europe manufactures ; but I would 

 still draw your attention to the general progress of traffic on the rivers. 

 In 1833, on the course of the Sutlej and Ghara from Loodiana to 

 near Bahawulpore, there were no boats but one or two at each of the 

 ferries, ten or twelve miles apart, used for crossing the river. The use 

 of oars and masts and sails was unknown, and a voyage down or up the 

 river to any distance unheard of. We now see the boatmen of the upper 

 course of the Gharra and Sutlej become expert sailors, and making 

 a voyage to Sukkur and back is a common occurrence, while the actual 

 number of boats between Loodiana and Sukkur has increased from 250 

 to upwards of 750. These are results which appear to me to justify 

 our entertaining sanguine hopes of one day seeing the neglected rivers 

 to the N. W. of the Indian Continent vie with those to the East, as 

 channels of commerce and civilization. 



I have, &c. 

 (Signed) F. Mackeson, 

 Pol. Dept. Supt. Office, Off. Supt. Bhutteeana. 



Bhuttee Territory, Seersa, \5th April, 1844. 



