324 



SHIK A RPORE. 



hotter, and the night although cool, had the peculiar thrilling coolness 

 of tropical nights. 



On the 12th, the barometer commenced falling, and has since con- 

 tinued to do so. The visible signs of rain have been confined to cloudy 

 mornings ; the fall of the mercury is perhaps connected with the 

 occasional strong northerly winds, which at times, as last night, 

 blow nearly half gales. The range of thermometer is now from 55° 

 to 85°. The change was sudden on the 9th or 10th; the nights 

 were cold, thermometer at 5 a. m. 34° 36' ; and the days were only 

 moderately warm. The weather now is pleasant. Shikarpore is 

 disagreeable inter alia from its dust, every thing becoming covered 

 with it. 



The suburbs of the city are well wooded, and all such portions are 

 well provided with gardens. The Khujoor is the most common tree, 

 the Moringa, mango, Jamun, Bheir, Neem, Cassia fistula, Sissoo, 

 Peepul, Furas, Phulahi, another Mimosa and Agati, occur ; oranges in 

 gardens, and a Pomaceous tree from Cashmere, which appears to 

 thrive very well. The cultivation consists chiefly of wheat, Mahta, 

 mustard, radishes, Soonf, coriander, beet, Bagree. 



In these fields Phascum, Plantago, Ispaghula, Singee, Chenopodiaceae 

 1-2, Salsola lanata, and Bcehmeria, may be found ; Composita 

 salinaria, stocks and wall-flowers in the gardens. 



The vegetation elsewhere is very scanty ; consisting of Jhow, Bheir, 

 Furas, Ukko, Joussa, Andropogon Seerkee, Rairoo, Kureel, a low bush 

 called , and a Lycium ? Boehmeria albida. 



The town is miserably defended : the streets are very irregular and 

 very narrow : the houses all of mud, of the usual Scindian form, and 

 completely irregular. The bazaars or arcades, are mere ordinary streets, 

 covered in with timbers, over which tattered mats are placed : in these 

 are situated the Hindoo shops, and in some places darkness is com- 

 pletely visible. These Hindoos have a peculiar elongated Jewish 

 aspect, and are reported to be very wealthy. Grain and cloth 

 are the principal articles in which they deal, and they say the streets 

 are covered in order that the purchaser may buy with his eyes half 

 shut. The city is a large rambling place, and each house deposits its 

 own filth before it. The inhabitants, especially the Hindoo portion, 

 have a peculiar complexion, and by no means a healthy one. No one 

 seems to have deserted the town on account of our approach, neither 

 has fear hitherto prevented them from bringing their merchandise 

 into camp. 



