DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0060
ANTIQUITY OF TATTA.
27
decay of that mighty city, so populous in the early
part of last century, in the days of Nadir Shah.
The country in its vicinity lies neglected, and but
a small portion of it is brought under tillage.
The antiquity of Tatta is unquestioned. The
Pattala of the Greeks has been sought for in its
position, and, I believe, with good reason ; for the
Indus here divides into two great branches; and
these are the words of the historian : — " Near
" Pattala, the river Indus divides itself into two vast
" branches." * Both Robertson and Vincent appear
to have entertained the opinion of its identity with
Tatta. The Hindoo Rajas named it Saminuggur,
before the Mahommedan invasion; which I believe
to be the Minagur of the Periplus. There is a
ruined city, called Kullancote, to be yet seen, four
miles S.W. of it. Tatta was also named Brahmin-
abad, and ruled by one brother, while another held
Hydrabad, then called Nerancote ; the Arabs called
it Dewul Sindy. Nuggur Tatta, by which it is now
familiarly known, is a more modern name. Till the
Talpoors secured their present footing in Sinde, it
was always the capital of the country. It is an
open town, built on a rising ground in a low valley.
In several wells I found bricks imbedded in earth,
at a depth of twenty feet from the surface; but
there are no remains of a prior date to the tombs,
on a remarkable ridge westward of the town, which
are about 200 years old. The houses are formed of
wood and wickerwork, plastered over with earth;
* Arrian, lib. vi.
27
decay of that mighty city, so populous in the early
part of last century, in the days of Nadir Shah.
The country in its vicinity lies neglected, and but
a small portion of it is brought under tillage.
The antiquity of Tatta is unquestioned. The
Pattala of the Greeks has been sought for in its
position, and, I believe, with good reason ; for the
Indus here divides into two great branches; and
these are the words of the historian : — " Near
" Pattala, the river Indus divides itself into two vast
" branches." * Both Robertson and Vincent appear
to have entertained the opinion of its identity with
Tatta. The Hindoo Rajas named it Saminuggur,
before the Mahommedan invasion; which I believe
to be the Minagur of the Periplus. There is a
ruined city, called Kullancote, to be yet seen, four
miles S.W. of it. Tatta was also named Brahmin-
abad, and ruled by one brother, while another held
Hydrabad, then called Nerancote ; the Arabs called
it Dewul Sindy. Nuggur Tatta, by which it is now
familiarly known, is a more modern name. Till the
Talpoors secured their present footing in Sinde, it
was always the capital of the country. It is an
open town, built on a rising ground in a low valley.
In several wells I found bricks imbedded in earth,
at a depth of twenty feet from the surface; but
there are no remains of a prior date to the tombs,
on a remarkable ridge westward of the town, which
are about 200 years old. The houses are formed of
wood and wickerwork, plastered over with earth;
* Arrian, lib. vi.