'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎142] (311/524)

142
REMARKS OTs 1 a recent journey
spurs near Daulekee towards tlie sea, the plain looked mucli what that
from the westward of Kurrachee would look from the pass leading to
Sonmeeanee if that pass w r ere removed to foui times its present distance
' from Kurrachee.
7. From Bushire to Daulekee the forts or villages are as per
margin. The entire distance by the road
Chaghudduk. ma y h e fifty full miles, and it is remark-
Esnwenay. able ’ that tbis is the main line
Khooshab. of trade into Persia, and although the
Barazjan. j iea p p} a j n
is for some months of
Rahdan. . h , ^ .
Daulekee. the year so intense that people are known
to fall dead in traversing it, yet there is
not one caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). until you reach Daulekee : no stream of fresh-water
is to be found anywhere. The villages are supplied from brackish
wells. Drinkable water is, however, to be found at a short distance
below the surface of the ground, and the people are expert in digging
temporary wells. Corn and provisions, sufficient for the wants of the
peasantry and for that of passing muleteers, are found at all the forts;
but beyond this little reliance could be placed on provisions. The
surplus corn is exported ; that which remains in store is buried in pits
lined with straw. These are readily discoverable by probing ; and the
pit coverings are generally raised into mounds.
8. The grain is sown in late autumn and reaped in late spring and
early summer. Cotton thrives everywhere, but it is carelessly sown,
and the same bushes are left standing for an indefinite number of years.
The garden crops are dependent on wells, or on water drawn from the
subterranean water-ducts, which everyw r here pierce the tongue of land
on which Bushire itself stands. For the rest, crops are wholly depen
dent on rain, which falls at intervals, and sometimes heavily from De
cember to April. An adequate supply of rain is however very uncer
tain, especially towards the close of the rainy season, when it is most
required. Locusts are a curse to this plain. I have passed through
flights of them absolutely darkening the sky and destroying corn, dates,
and all else they came across : the peasantry fry and eat these locusts.
9. Between Bushire and Chaghudduk being the first stage out, lies
a salt m ash of some five miles in breadth. During the wet season it
si in large part impassable ; and even at this, the driest season of the
yeai, if you leave the beaten caravan track, your horse is up to his