'Travels in Beloochistan and Sinde; accompanied by a geographical and historical account of those countries, with a map.' [‎336] (378/476)

336
MISSION TO SINDE.
the neighbourhood of the city of Tattah, and the probability of its
moving towards us, in order, as we presumed, to enforce the
Akhoond's terms, which officer arrived at Kurachee on the 23rf of
May, and. the following morning came to the British encampment,
where he had a very long conference with the envoy. He dwelt
much on the fears that had been engendered in the minds of the
Umeers by the presence of two armed ships in the harbour of
Kurachee ; and concluded by avowing that their being dispatched to
Bombay, or at least out of the Sindian dominions, was a sine qua non
previous to the mission being allowed to move towards Hyderabad.
Other subjects were also discussed of a political nature, and the
consultation ended by a positive declaration of the envoy, that in pre
ference to proceeding to the capital, under the most trifling stipula
tion, he would go on board of ship; and, however great the risk might
be of venturing to sea at that advanced season of the year *, sail for
Calcutta to lay the business before the Governor-general. That with
regard to ^that part of the communication, made by the Akhoond,
which related to his powers to treat with the envoy, it was entirely
out of the question, as the latter could only do so with the rulers of
Sinde, to whom he was accredited. On the 26th of May, the Gover
nor sent a verbal message to the envoy, desiring he would issue
orders for the ships to quit the harbour immediately ; but he, as well
as the Akhoond, evaded, in the most artful manner, giving any
written document to this effect. At length the former proposed to
shew any of the gentlemen of the mission the official instructions he
had received from the Umeers, to enforce this demand ; however,
when Mr. Ellis and Captain Christie proceeded to the usual place of
meeting, he declined to fulfil his proposal, on the grounds of not
being authorized to do so by his masters. Under these perplexing
circumstances, Mr. Smith came to the determination not to have any
* The south-west Monsoon had set in with great violence, and it was then blowing a
tremendous gale.
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