110 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Coast of Schidy. 



to be bad, but not reasonably. The necessaries of life are, however, 

 plentiful, and the country abounds with wild geese, ducks, teal, part ridges, 

 snipes, hares, and deer. Poultry is abundant. Little or no regard is paid 

 to vegetables here; excepting a few spots in the neighbourhood of the town, 

 which produce a small quantity of carrots, radishes, and a few other roots, 

 there is nothing of the kind for 40 miles round. The water is very 

 indifferent; and in consequence of the distance from the harbour, the ex- 

 pence of shipping it is considerable. 



LARI BUNDER.— This is commonly called Scindy River, being the 

 principal branch of the Indus, having 15 feet water on the bar, and 6 or 7 

 fathoms inside ; it is situated in latitude about 24° 30* N., having a pagoda 

 on the W. side of its entrance. The town of Laribunder is about 5 leagues 

 from the sea, and vessels of 200 tons used to proceed up to it ; but of late 

 years the navigation has become obstructed by shoals. The town contains 

 about 10O houses, chiefly built of bamboos and mats. About 50 miles 

 farther up the river stands 



TATTA, the capital of the province, in latitude 24° 44 N., and 

 longitude 68'^ 17' E., which was formerly very large; it stands about 2 

 miles from the river side, from whence it has canals cut, to convey vessels 

 and merchandise to it. The river hereabouts is a mile broad, having 5 and 

 6 fathoms water in the channel, and is navigable by small vessels an immense 

 distance up the country. 



Tiiade. — A considerable trade is carried on with the Gulphs of Fcrsia 

 and Arabia, with Bombay and Surat, by both of the principal branches of 

 the river. 



AURUNGABUNDER, (Bunder signifies harbour), called also Darah, 

 is in latitude about S^F 5Cr"N., and has a wide entrance, abreast of which 

 ships anchor, but shoal water is found on the banks near its mouth. It 

 is navigable for boats of burthen, and a considerable trade is carried on 

 with Tatta, from whence it is distant about 50 miles, by the course of 

 the Indus. Vessels from Surat, Bombay, and other parts of India frequent 

 this place. 



Trade. — From Bombay, and other parts of the British dominions, are 

 imported the following commodities :— copper, cochineal, cardamums, cassia, 

 coarse cutlery, glass-ware, ironmongery, iron, nutmegs, piece-goods, pepper, 

 raw silk, sugar, steel, tutenague, treasure, and a few other articles, prin- 

 cipally the produce and manufacture of India and China. 



The principal article of export is cotton, which, with drugs, grain, 

 shawls, ghee, oil, sharks'* fins, and cattle for the Company's marine, forms 

 the returning cargoes to British India. 



