1 SINDE. 215
2 or excrescence on the tamarisk; others,’ as its blossom, dried and 7 Westmacott,
3 pulverized. Kirmiz, extensively used for giving a crimson colour, o
4 is the product of the coccus guerci, and is frequently confounded
5 with cochineal, though a different article.
6 The transit trade between the British possessions in India and
7 the countries west of the Indus has hitherto been principally
8 conducted through Bhawlpoor and the Punjab. Now that the
9 navigation of the Indus is kept open and protected by the British
10 Government, and that many improvements, by means of steam
11 and otherwise, will probably be introduced in the mode of
12 conducting it, the greater portion of the trade may be ex-
13 pected to take its course either through Kurrachee, Sehwan,
14 Larkhana, and Shikarpoor, by the Bolan Pass, or else up the
15 Indus, through the Derajat, by thé middle and northern passes.
16 The principal transit trade at present passes by three courses
17 —first, by Hyderabad to Larkhana, or Shikarpoor, and subse-
18 quently by the Gundava or Bolan passes; secondly, from Mar-
19 war® and Central India, across Khyerpoor and by Shikarpoor, euch Edie
20 to the Bolan Pass; thirdly, from Kurrachee, by Sehwan, Lar- pore and Marwar,
21 khana, and the Bolan Pass. The principal imports, either for ®7°
22 transit or home consumption, are silk,? cotton, and woollen goods, ° Pett. 344;
23 : : < Burnes, on the
24 raw silk, opium, and other drugs; madder and various other dyes ; commerce of Hy-
25 groceries, hardware, metals, turquoises, and other precious stones; Sra 72) |
26 glass, chinaware, shields of leather, timber, cordage, bamboos, areas
27 and dried fruits. Sinde at present has few exports; the more im- 141, p. 12-16.
28 portant are rice, and other grain; ghee, or clarified butter, and
29 hides (all sent principally by sea); from the Delta, fish, wool,
30 salt, saltpetre, oil, and oil-seeds ; pabbadee,} or nuts of the Nympheea ! Leech, on Com-
31 Nelumbo, bark for tanning, vegetable alkalis, firewood, and gum ; areata Hants
32 a few coarse drugs, and dye-stuffs, sulphur, camels, and horses.
33 To these, under proper management, might be added cotton, silk,
34 tobacco, and opium. The sugar of Sinde is considered of inferior
35 quality. In 1837, when Burnes? wrote, the custom-dues of ? Rep. on Com-
36 Kurrachee were farmed for 7,000/.; those of Darajee for 7001. ; aie
37 those of Vikkur for 4,000. ; those of Maghribee for 3,200/., and
38 those of Hyderabad for 12,500/.; a total of 27,400/.* for Lower
39 Sinde. The estimated amount of the duties of Khyerpoor, or
40 * Such would be the amount, taking the rupee at two shillings; but as
41 the standard of this coin is lower in Sinde, the actual amount is something
42 less.