Burnes, Alexander: Travels into Bokhara: containing the narrative of a voyage on the Indus from the sea to Lahore, ... and an account of a journey from India to Cabool, Tartary and Persia ; performed by order of the supreme government of India, in the years 1831, 32, and 33 (Band 1) (London, 1835)

chap. I. DEPARTURE PROM CUTCH.

5

confidence now reposed in me ; and was informed
that my knowledge of the neighbouring countries
and the character of their inhabitants, with the local
impressions by which I was certain to be aided,
gave me advantages which no other individual
enjoyed, and had led to my selection ; nor could I
but be stimulated by the manner in which Sir John
Malcolm addressed the Governor General of India:
— "I shall be very confident of any plan Lieut.
" Burnes undertakes in this quarter of India : pro-
" vided a latitude is given him to act as circum-
" stances may dictate, I dare pledge myself that the
" public interests will be promoted. Having had
" my attention much directed, and not without suc-
" cess, during more than thirty years, to the ex-
" ploring and surveying countries in Asia, I have
" gained some experience, not only in the qualities
" and habits of the individuals by whom such enter-
" prises can be undertaken, but of the pretexts and
" appearances necessary to give them success." A
young, active, and intelligent officer, Ensign J. D.
Leckie, of the 22d Regiment N. I., was directed to
accompany me ; a surveyor, a native doctor, and
suitable establishments of servants were likewise
entertained.

We sailed from Mandivee in Cutch with a fleet
of five native boats, on the morning of the 21st
of January, 1831. On the day succeeding our
departure, we had cleared the Gulf of Cutch.
The danger in navigating it has been exaggerated.
The eddies and dirty appearance of the sea, which

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