Coast of Sandy.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



100 



The COAST OF SCINDY extends from Cape Monze to the 

 Gulph of Cutch, a distance of about 60 leagues ; it receives its name 

 from the River Scindy or Indus, which disembogues itself into the sea, 

 by many branches extending along the coast. The principal place of trade 

 between Cape Monze and the Indus is 



CROTCHEY, or KORAUCHEE, which is known by several small 

 islands to the N., and by a white tomb, or pagoda, built on a promontory, 

 which hounds the W. side of the harbour, and at a distance appears like an 

 island; the entrance into the bay is between the promontory and the largest 

 island. To anchor in the road outside, the tomb should be brought to bear 

 N. W. by If., to avoid some foul ground. The town of Crotchey is ahout 

 b* miles from the anchorage, near a mile from the side of a small creek, 

 which can $dinit only small boats, and is in latitude about 24" 4-6' N. The 

 streets are Very narrow and dirty, abounding with filth of all kinds, which 

 makes the place very unhealthy ; the houses are of the simplest structure ; 

 the walls of mud and straw, mixed into a paste, and the roofs, which are 

 flat, covered with the same materials. Of timber, the country is entirely 

 destitute ; what is required for building houses and boats, is brought from 

 Malabar and Bombay. This town formerly belonged to the Blochees ; but 

 the Prince of Scindy, finding it more convenient than any part of his sea- 

 coast, for die caravans from the inland countries, made an exchange of 

 some other place for it It seems the caravans cannot come from the 

 interior to Tatta, as formerly, on account of the branches of the Indus 

 being so wide and deep as to render it impossible for camels to pass; 

 but having no such difficulty in the road to Crotchey, the trade has much 

 increased, and continues to flourish. The population of Crotchey is 

 estimated at 10,000 souls ; the men are chiefly merchants and mechanics, 

 who carry on a considerable trade to Muscat, Surat, Bombay, and the 

 Malabar Coast; there is also a very large inland traflie by camels to 

 Candahar and Cabul. 



Trade. — From Surat, Bombay, Muscat, and the Coast of Malabar are 

 imported the following articles : — Betel-nut, cardamums, cochineal, cloves, 

 cloths, China ware, cassia lignea, copper, iron in bars, ironmongery, lead, 

 looking-glasses, nutmegs, pepper, piece-goods, rice, sapan-wood, sugar, 

 sandal-woo^, saffron, tin, tutenague, timber, and vermilion. By the 

 caravans from Cabul and Candahar are brought almonds, cummin-sceds, 

 dates, ghee, grain, hides, oil, and piece-goods. 



The exports consist of the before-enumerated articles and cotton, which 

 are generally sent to Bombay. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — Black cattle, sheep, and goats are 



