"أسفار في بلوشستان والسند؛ مع تقرير جغرافي وتاريخي لهذين البلدين، وخريطة." [‎٩] (٤٧٦/٥١)

SONMEANY. g
cause, alarming appearance which the sea presented, owing to the
great body of water that is disembogued by the River Indus,''causing
a very confused rippling, which, added to the discoloured sea"
impresses an idea of a bank with a few inches of water upon it;
though, on sounding, we found there were several fathoms. At
8 p.m. of the same day, we passed between Cape Mowaree (Monze)
and Churna (Chilney) Island, keeping in the mid channel, which is
not more than a quarter of a mile across, but deep, and free from
danger : the island, by moon-light, and likewise the opposite shore,
appeared quite barren, and the former has neither fresh water, or
verdure on it.
The Bay of Sonmeany, which we now entered, is formed by Cape
Monze and Chilney Island, on the one side, and Cape Urboo (Ara-
bah) on the other; it is a very noble sheet of water, said to be free
from rocks or shoals, and is capable of affording anchorage to the
largest fleet: it is celebrated as the rendezvous of that of Nearchus
which lay under shelter of the island and mainland, for a consider
able period. The description given by Dr. Vincent, from Arrian,
of the Port of Alexander *, so exactly corresponds with its actual
state, that it is a high testimony of the correctness of the Greek
historian.
On the 16^ of January, at 1 p.m. we came to anchor on the bar
of the Poorally River; the village of Sonmeany bearing north-east,
distant about two miles ; here we waited until three o'clock, at which
hour, the tide flowing, we again got under weigh; and at five,
anchored close to the village. We sent our Hindoo Goomashtuh
on shore, who shortly returned with a canoe, for our baggage, accom
panied by another agent of Soondurjee; whom we were rejoiced to
meet at this place, as he had been in Beloochistan, the preceding sea
son, to purchase horses, and was therefore well qualified to afford us
information. We landed, by his advice, late in the evening, and were
conducted to the house of a man called Rana Sett, the Ijarudar, or
* It was so named by Nearchus.
c