1 26
2 INTRODUCTION.
3 The Indus, besides itfl great nalne, and the interest it excites as the
4 boundary of India, was rendered a noble oJbgect by its own eactont, and
5 by the lofty hills wliich Unmied the back ghmnd of the view. We
6 were however a little disappointed in its appearance, owing to an is-
7 land, whiili divitled it, and impaivpil the effect of its stream. There
8 were other islandit and sand banka in the river • hut near the side
9 where we stood, it came up to the edge, and seemed deep and rapid.
10 Wliile on the banks of the river, we met a native, to whose conversa-
11 tion, and tliat of the guide, we listened witii great interest and curi-
12 osity. The plains on the opposite shore we found were inlmbited by
13 Beludies, and the mountains by the Sheeraunees, a fierce and turbu-
14 lent tribe. On the o^er side of the range were tribet and places, of
15 which we had never beard the nanea^'whUetlMMe we hid learned
16 fym our maps, were equally new to onr informants. AH we could
17 learn wbb» that beyond the bills was aoinfifhing wi3d» atrange, andnew»
18 wbidi- w^ m%bt hope one day to eqilore.
19 - EnxiB Oodoo da Kote^- near wbidi we fiiat aaw the IndMUh to tibe
20 hny of Kflheeree* where we created it» ia about aevenfy^^lire milei.
21 It is a narrow tract, conteated between the inver and the deaait» If
22 in hunting, we were led many miles to die west of the road, we got
23 into branches of the river, and troublesome quicksands, among thick-
24 eta of tatnurisk or of reeds; and, if we' went as &r to the right, the
25 appearance of sand, and even in some places of sand . hills, admonish-
26 ed us of the neighbourhood of the desart. Many parts, however, were
27 cultivated, with great pains and metho<l, and produced good crops of
28 wheat, hnrl{>v. turni})s, and cotton. Tlio fi(»lds were always enclosed,
29 either with huil-^cs of dry tliorn, witii lua dies of willow, or with fences,
30 made ol stiff mats ( f reeds, supported by stakes. The houses were
31 often built ol the same material. We were struck with thv neuiness
32 jof the farm-yards, so unlike those of Uindostan. They were regularly
33 endoaed; Irad gates of three or four hoxs ; and contained sheds Ibr '
34 the cattle, dung-hills, Bus, It was alao new to ut to obaenre band-
35 binsofwa, and to aee oxen ted witii tuisipa. Some of the hooaes'near
36 die river attracted our attention, being raiaed on platfonna, auppairted
37 Digitized by Google