349 
1892.] H. G. Raverty— The Mihrdn of Sind and its Tributaries. 
Shah Mukim, and Bahawal-pur, avoiding Multan, he says he “ left the 
Da’irah and proceeded fifteen kuroh from thence to Kot-i-Shuja’ Khan. 
Leaving it, and going another twelve kuroh , he reached the village of 
Muchaki, a small place inhabited by Musalmans, below which, the 
Chin-ab and its tributaries, the Jihlam or Wihat and Rawi, unite with 
the Biah (not the Gharah it will be noticed : the Sutlaj and Biah had not 
yet finally united); and the ferry across is called the Muchaki Patan 
or Ferry. Having crossed, he halted at Kothah near by, a small fort 
of burnt brick construction, twenty kuroh distant from Bahawal-pur, 
and then in Bahawal Khan’s possession.” 
This Kothah is the “ Kottee ” of the maps, now on the Multan 
side, six miles and a half north of Jalal-pur; and within about three 
Province of Sinde, and to the north the Province of Caboul; as it hath Persia 
to the West, and the Province of Labors to the east. It is watered from many 
Kivers that make it fertile. The Capital Town which is also called Multan, was 
heretofore a place of very great trade, becanse it is not far from the River Indus ; 
but seeing at present, vessels cannot go np so far, because the channel of that 
River is spoilt in some places, and the mouth of it full of shelves, the Traffick is 
much lessened, by reason that the charge of Land-carriage is too great. How¬ 
ever the Province yields plenty of Sugar , Opium, Brimstone, Galls, and store of 
Camels, which are transported into Persia, by Gazna, and Candahar, or into the 
Indies themselves by Labors ; but whereas the commodities went heretofore down 
the Indus at small charges, to Tatta, where the merchants of several countries 
came and bought them up, they must now be carried by land as far as Surrat, 
if they expect a considerable price for them. 
“The Town of Multan is by some Geographers attributed to Sinde, though it 
make a Province by itself. ### To conclude, the Town of Multan is but of small 
extent for a Capital, but is pretty well Fortifi’d ; and it is very considerable to the 
Mogul when the Persians are Masters of Candahar, as they are at present.” 
This was written in the tenth year of Aurang-zeb-i-’Alam-gir’s reign. 
Tavernier, who, at the same period, was travelling in India, says : “ Multan 
is a City where there is made a vast quantity of Linnen Calicuts, which was always 
transported to Tuta, before the sands had stopp’d up the mouth of the River; but 
since that, it is carry’d all to Agra, and from Agra to Surat, as is the greater part 
of the Merchandize which is made at Labor. But in regard carriage is so dear, 
very few merchants traffick either to Multan or at Labor ; and many of the work¬ 
men have also deserted those places, so that the King’s Revenues are very much 
diminished in those Provinces. ### Multan is the place where all the Banians come, 
that trade with Persia .” 
Here we have clear evidence of some vast changes in the course of the Indus, 
and the other rivers, its tributaries, to cause merchandize to be sent from Multan 
and Lahor to Agra in order to reach Surat, instead of sending by vessels on the 
Rawi and the CLin-ab from those two provincial capitals. Here is another proof, 
were any required, that the Blah still flowed in its own bed, and had not changed 
its course. See the map of these parts, constructed a few years previous to the 
period in question, taken from Purchas at page 321. 
