'Travels in Beloochistan and Sinde; accompanied by a geographical and historical account of those countries, with a map.' [‎162] (204/476)

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162
PUHRA.
ledge the truth, and declared I should be treated with all due respect.
Finding it impossible to satisfy him by asseverations, I produced my
pistols by way of giving a turn to the conversation, and as he admired
the workmanship, I desired his acceptance ot one of them ; ho was
very much gratified by this present, and had politeness enough not
to resume the topic which he saw I wished to avoid.
Having received a small supply of provisions and a letter from
Ciaem Khan to his brother, the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. of Puhra, I quitted Huftur at
two p.m., and reached the former town before six: the road very
good, and measuring between eleven and twelve miles over a gravelly
plain with clumps of palms interspersed on it: two very luxuriant
brooks cross the path at the seventh and ninth miles.
I found Shah Mihrab Khan, the chief, with the bulk of the inhabi
tants, just going into the mosque, and was invited to participate in
the prayers, which I declined. When they were over, the Khan
stepped upon a terrace or mound elevated five or six feet above the
other seats, at the door of the Mihman Khanu, on which mats had
been spread, and began by inquiring where I had come from and the
object of my journey. Khodadad stood spokesman and reiterated the
reply he had heard me make to Qaem Khan in the forenoon, adding,
that my wish was to be furnished with a guide and a small stock of
provisions, and forwarded on towards Nurmansheer * At this junc
ture I put the letter I had brought from Huftur into the Khan s
hand, who called a Meerza, or writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. , and directed him to read it
aloud. The people all listened attentively, and when the man had
got nearly through it, I was startled to find that Qaem Khan had
expressed his suspicions of my alledged rank ; though I must also do
him the justice to observe, that I am conscious he did so from the
most friendly motive, that of exciting his brother's interest regarding
me.
During the momentary pause, created by this untoward surmise,
all eyes were turned upon me, and a lad of ten or twelve years ol
• The south-eastern district of Persia ; subject to the government of Kirman.