'Travels in Beloochistan and Sinde; accompanied by a geographical and historical account of those countries, with a map.' [‎339] (381/476)

MISSION TO SINDE.
339
in one hand he held his sword, and he found employment for the
other, all the time he sat with us, in rubbing his beard and mus-
tachios. The people who came with him crowded into the tent
without ceremony, and would have taken possesion of the couches,
but were ordered to seat themselves on the carpet.
We had been so narrowly watched, since our arrival here, that it
was quite unpleasant to venture beyond our camp limits; and matters
began to assume so hostile an appearance, from the increasing ar
rogance of the Nuwwab, and the real, or affected, imbecility ot
Akhoond Bukka Khan, that it was judged adviseable to re-ship all
the valuable part of the public property. Boats were consequently
requested of the Governor, who avowed his positive determination
not to permit a single article to be sent on board, and effectually
prevented any such precaution, by denouncing the displeasure of the
Umeers, against whatever boatmen might dare to serve us. We were
in reality now nothing better than prisoners at large, for the only
communication we could have with the ships was by means of their
boats, and every time that one of them came to the landing place
- three or four armed men were placed near her, to prevent things
being put on board; we now also discovered that a guard was
stationed at each corner of our encampment every night, which was
so unequivocally meant to observe our proceedings, and consequently
so undisguised an insult, that one of the Chobdars* was sent with a
message, to direct that they might not again come there, under any
circumstances, which was attended with the proposed effect. Ihe
Hindoos and other inhabitants of the town, who had been, at
first, in the habit of occasionally visiting our encampment, had of
late ceased to do so; and the Sindians, who had been entertained in
different capacities, were threatened with harsh treatment, unless
they quitted our service, but as the envoy apprized them of his in
tention of making this unwarrantable threat a subject of discussion
* Chobdar, a native mace -bearer: from Chob, a mace, and Dar, a bearer.
x x 2