1892.] H. (t. Raverty —The Milirdn of Sind and its Tributaries. 319 
mentioned in the “ Vedic Hymns,” as the “ Saptah Sindhun, or Sindha- 
He should have added something more that Hamilton says, namely, that “ The 
river of Sindy would be hard to be found, were it not for the tomb of a. Mahometan 
Saint, who has a high Tower built over him, called Sindy Tower. It is always kept 
white to serve as a land mark. This writer, according to his map, places “ Dnill ” 
(Debal) in Mackraun (Mukran). 
There is plenty of proof, however, that neither of the above statements are 
oorrect as to its situation, nor the assertion that it was no longer in existence when 
Abii-l-Fazl wrote. 
As late as the time when the Khnlasat-ut-Tawarikli was written, the author of 
which was an official of the Dihli empire in the time of Aurang-zeb-i-’Alam-gir 
Badshah, and a native of Patialah, Debal is said, by him, to be the chief port of 
Sind ; and Karachi was unknown. I may add that the place on which Karachi stands 
is considered really to be part of Mukran rather than of Sind. 
The author above quoted says : “ Debal is a great place for pearls and other 
valuable commodities; and it has salt and iron mines, which pay a considerable 
revenue to the Government. Near it, at six kuroh distant, is a mine or quarry of 
yellow stone of great value for building purposes. About 4,000 vessels and boats 
belong to the port of Debal. 1 ’ 
Salt in vast quantities still exists in the Shah Bandar tcdalluTcah of the Karachi 
District or Collectorate. 
Wood, too, with all his acumen, fell into the same error, that Thathah and 
Dewal, and even Bahman-abad, were all one. 
The earliest notice, probably, that we have respecting the seaports of Sind 
and the river Indus, from the writings of an Englishman, is contained in a “ Tractate 
written by Nicholas Whithington, who was left in the Mogolls country by Captain 
Best, a factor, in 1612.” He says : “ Concerning Sinda, no city is by general report 
of greater trade in the Indies than Tatta, the chief port, Lowri bandar, three days 
journey from it; a fair road without the river’s mouth, clear of worms, which, about 
Surat, and other places of the Indies, after three or four months’ riding (if it were 
not for sheathing) would hinder return. In two months from hence by water they 
go to Labor, and return in one down. The ports and roads of Sinda are free. * * * 
Goods may be conveyed from Agra on camels to Buekor in twenty days, which is on 
Sinda river, thence in fifteen or sixteen days aboard the ships. One may go as 
soon from Agra to Sinda as Surat, but there is more thieving which the Mogoll seeks 
to prevent.” 
The distance, in a direct line, is rather greater to Bakhar than to Surat, but 
now, for half the way, the route lies through Jasal-mir and the waterless desert, and 
would certainly not be preferred to the other to Surat. It is evident from this, 
that, at the period in question, that part was not so waterless as it has become in 
recent times. 
Whithington continues: “ The inhabitants of Sinda are mostly Razbootches. 
Banians, and Boloches : in Cities and Towns the Governors are Mogolls. * * * 
The Boloches are of Mahmets religion. They deal much in camels ; most of them 
robbers by land, and on the river, mnrthering such as they rob. When I was in 
Sinda , they took a boat with seven Italians, one Portugal Friar, the rest slain in 
fight. The last named was ripped open by them for gold.” 
Next we come to Walter Paynton, who accompanied Captain Christopher 
