rupees per lb.; it is used in dyeing silks, and also brought to Shikarpore from Bombay. 24.—Bhojgund (name not known) from Khorassan-price 14 to 15 rupees per md.; annually about 70 maunds; in great request, and used as a dye to silks. 25.-Gooljileel (name not known) from Khorassan-price 15 rupees per md.; annually about 80 mds.; used as a green dye to silks. The following, though appertaining to Cutchee, are inserted here, as they are products of that country, and imported into the Shikarpore market: 26.-Alum from the hilly country of Cutchee, annually about 200 mds.-price 8 rupees per md. 27.-Khunzul, Colocynth, bitter apple, grows as a perfect weed all over the plains of Cutchee, and to be purchased at Shikarpore 7 or 8 per one pice. 28.-Saltpetre can be manufactured in Cutchee and other parts of the country in any quantity required; value at Shikarpore 6 rupees per md. 29.-Sulphur produced in the Murree and Boogtie hills, where are mines which deserve attention; about 10 or 12 mds., are brought annually to Shikarpore, where it is valued at 4 rupees per md. 30.-Khar, a kind of potash, produced by the incineration of the Lye, or tamarisk, and other salt shrubs; it is in great use in scouring, dyeing, &c. and worth 1 rupee per 1 md. at Shikarpore, 10 or 12,000 mds. are brought in yearly. The prices of the above articles include all duties, and few of them are exported beyond Khyrpore, or the Sindh territories. About four Caravans arrive annually, and the profit on this branch of the trade is about 10 per cent. The trade from Shikarpore to Candahar in British manufactures consists principally of the articles hereafter enumerated, and the present profits, all expences paid, are at least 50 per cent. between the two places, notwithstanding the double rate of Camel hire, (52 rupees) consequent upon the demands of our troops. As the present state of the Candahar market, however, may not be considered a fair criterion, or average of the profits of the trade, I may mention, that these are never less than from 15 to 20 per cent., the rate of Camel hire being 20 rupees a Camel, carrying from 6 to 7 mds. I learn that complaints have been lately made of the great inferiority of the articles, particularly the want of stability in the colours of the chintzes (printed cottons of all kinds come under this denomination) always in great demand. In the following list of the fabrics above alluded to, I have also given the names by which they are known in these countries, with samples of such as are not recognized :— 1.—“ Ulwan Makhootie," red dyed Cotton Cloth. 4.—“ Chuhulwel," long cloth (of apparently very inferior descriptions). 5.-" Chintz pukhtet," (glazed Chintz.) 12.-" Jamadanee." 13. "Mulmul." 14.-"Juggernat Muslin." 15.-" Mukhmul," (black velvet.) 16.-" Patun," bleached, species of sheeting cloth. Memorandum on the city of Shikarpoor, in Upper Sindh. By Lieut. J. POSTANS, Assistant Political Agent, Upper Sindh. Shikarpore may be considered the most important town in the Shikarpore-its country of Sindh in point of trade, population, and position. influence. It is situated in Upper Sindh, or above Sindh proper, at a distance of twenty-four miles NW. from the Indus at Sukhur, about forty miles from the edge of the desert at Rojhan, which separates Upper Sindh from Cutchee. Shikarpore dates its origin to the year of the Hijira 1026, (A.D. 1617) Origin. is an ill built dirty town, its walls in a state of dilapidation and decay, the consequence of the total neglect and apathy of the chiefs of the country to the improvement of their possessions, further shewn in the neglect of the Sindh. A canal flows within a mile of the city towards Larkhana, providing means of irrigation to a large tract of country, and a temporary, but important water communication from the Indus, during a few months of the year. The houses in Shikarpore are built of unburnt brick, upper roomed, Description of and some of those belonging to the wealthiest the city. Sonears are of respectable size, and convenient. The streets are narrow, confined, and dirty in the extreme; the great Bazar, which is the centre of all trade and banking transactions, for which Shikarpore is celebrated, extends for a distance of 800 yards, running immediately through the centre of the city. It is, in common with the Bazars of all towns in Sindh, protected from the oppressive heat by mats stretched from the houses on either side; this although it imparts an appearance of coolness, occasions by the stagnation of air an insufferable, close, and evidently unwholesome atmosphere, evinced in the sickly appearance of those who pass nearly the whole of their time in the shops and counting houses. This Bazar is generally thronged with people, and though there is little display of merchandize, the place has the air of bustle and importance which it merits. The walls of Shikarpore also of unburnt brick-have been allowed to remain so totally without repairs that they no longer deserve the name of a protection to the city; they enclose a space of 3831 yards in circumference. C Suburbs. There are eight gates. The suburbs of Shikarpore are very extensive, and a great portion of the population calculated as belonging to the city reside outside, particularly the Mahomedans and labouring classes. With the exception of one tolerable Musjied on the southern side, Shikarpore possesses no building of importance. By a census taken with considerable case during the preceding month, the following is a return of the inhabitants of this city, including the suburbs : * The remainder of the Hindoos are composed of Brahmins, and those who are not shopkeepers. The Mahomedans divided according to trades, &c.— Mahomedans. Weavers of coarse cloths, ... ... ... 1248 ... ... ... 50 30 ... ... ... ... Affghans to ... ... 8,647 Independent of the above, there are altogether 1001 Affghans and Pattans in the city of Shikarpore, employed as cultivators, or for Police duties by the Government; they are of the following tribes.-Populzyge-2. Pishengee (Syuds); 3. Bamkzye; 4. Moorzye; 5. Easakzye; 6. Mogal; 7. Lukoozye; 8. Dooranee; 9. Baber; 10. Oosteranee; 11. Monim; 12. Kakut; 13. Ghilzee; 14. Bureeh; 15. Burdarame ; 16. ; 17. Babee; 18. Dureanee; 19. Owan: 20. Prumee. It will be seen from the above that the population of Shikarpore Population of Ma- may be calculated at 29,700, say 30,000 souls, of homedans and whom 9,647, say 10,000, or one-third, are MahomeHindoos. dans. In the above are also included many Hindoos, who are employed in distant countries as agents from the Soucars. |