1 SHIKARPOOR. . 193
2 and Kandahar is considerable, but there is scarcely any with
3 Northern Afghanistan, that being conducted through the Punjab
4 and Bhawlpoor. The transit5 trade is principally that from ‘ Leech, Rep. on
5 Marwar and the adjacent parts of Hindostan to Khorasan and prio tas
6 Persia; but banking and other branches of monetary traffic pare nt ee
7 constitute the more important departments of the commercial poor, Jour. As.
8 operations of Shikarpoor. There are several Hindoos possessing Cason ues
9 large capitals, which appear to have been accumulated under the
10 supremacy of the Afghans.® The improvidence of the latter left the ¢ Masson, 1. 354.
11 management of money matters to these acute financiers, who, by
12 farming the revenue, and exacting exorbitant interest on loans,
13 public and private, have amassed immense wealth. These capi-
14 talists are represented as enterprising, vigilant, and ravenous for
15 gain ;” living impersonations of heartless avarice, but at the same 7 conolly, {i. 243.
16 time, specious, civil, and intelligent'to an extraordinary degree.
17 Their lingual acquirements are extensive, as they usually under-
18 stand Persian, Belooche, Pushtoo, Hindostanee, and Sindee.
19 Their credit stands so high that their bills can be negotiated in
20 every part.of India and Central and Western Asia, from Astracan 8 * Burnes, on the
21 to Calcutta. In every important town throughout this vast extent aio:
22 they have agents, whose families remaining at Shikarpoor are a
23 sort of hostages for their fidelity. The commerce and general
24 prosperity of the town have rapidly declined since it has fallen
25 under the power of Sindian rulers, but may be expected* to
26 revive under the lately established supremacy of the British. So
27 much disorganized had society become when Masson visited the
28 place a few years ago, that to pass the walls was almost to incur
29 the certainty of being robbed.
30 The annual revenue in Shikarpoor in 1840,° according to » Postans, 23.
31 Postans, amounted to 7,100/., divided between the Hyderabad and
32 the Khyrpore Ameers, the former receiving 4,0001., the latter the
33 residue. Masson! states that 2,500/. could only be obtained by 1 ;, ssa.
34 extortion, loudly complained of. The population is estimated at
35 30,000.2+ Of these 20,000 are Hindoos, characterized by great ? Postans, 19;
36 aos * : : + onthe -
37 laxity in respect to their peculiar tenets, flagrant licentiousness, and ce of
38 Shikarpoor, 24.
39 * Burnes (25) states that there is no mint at which gold or bullion can be
40 coined. Masson (i. 359) makes a statement apparently at variance with
41 this.
42 + Kennedy (ii. 168) states the amount at 50,000, It is probable that all
43 the estimates are very far removed from correctness. ¢
44 VOL, Il. fe)