1 LOWER SIKD. 4d7
2 I have here given the name of Sind in compliance with fonner
3 mage* to the tract which I have ebewhore distinguished by the term
4 of Tjower Sind. It is bounded on the north by Shekarpoor and Ba-
5 hawulpoor : on the east, by the Indian desart ; ou the west, by the
6 mountains and hills of Belochistaun ; on the south-east, by Cutch,
7 and on the soulIi bv the sea. The grand feature of the ronntry is
8 the Tndtifl, which ciivides it into two parts, of which thul on the east
9 of the river appears to be the largest
10 The resemblance of this country to Egypt, has often been ob-
11 served. One description might indeed serve for both. A smooth
12 and Grille phin b bounded on one side bj iiioiiiituiifl» and on the
13 odier by a desart. It ia divided by a large river whidi fimns a Dolta
14 aa it approacfaet the -aeay and annually inundatea and enrichea the
15 country near ita banks. Hie climate of both ia hot and dry, and
16 lain ia of tare occurrence in either countiy*
17 Even the poHtical circumstances of Sind and Egypt have at prOBaot
18 an accidental resemblance: in both a submissive people are tyran*"
19 nised over by a barbarous tribe, who, in both inatances, yield a re-
20 luctant subnus8i<m to a distant monarch. ; u
21 Egypt, however, divides tlie sea which washes the richest king-
22 doms of the east, from that which is bordered by the active and
23 vvealtiiy ports of Europe : its own produce is also an object of demand
24 in the latter country; and hence, in s])ite of all the vices of its govern-
25 ment, it still presents populous towns, numerous canals, and plentiful
26 harvests. Sind, which (besidei> the obvious inlLiiority of its com-
27 munications) is placed in the midst of couutrics destitute of the in-
28 dnstiy <^ JEurope* and difoing little firom each other in their produce
29 and wants, ia deprived of all the stimnlns whkh. conuneice can- fae>
30 Stow, Hence the rich lands en the xiver are allvwed to waate their
31 fiftility in the production of weeds and boshesb while those inland
32 ai)B neglected* and left to their original aterility. The evils of this
33 negleot of agriculture are heigktened by the bszhaions luxury of the
34 diteft, who appropriate vast tracts of the land best fitted for tllli^^
35 to maintain those wild betsts and birds which afibrd them the ple»*