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)

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CHAP. III.

voyage to bukkur.

On the morning of the 23d of April, we em-
barked in the state barge of the Ameer, which is
called a " jumtee" by the natives of the country.
They are very commodious vessels, of the same
build as the other flat-bottomed boats of the
Indus, and sadly gainsayed the beggarly account
which his Highness, in his correspondence, had
so often given of the craft in the river. It was
about sixty feet long, and had three masts, on which
we hoisted as many sails, made of alternate stripes
of red and white cloth. There were two cabins,
connected with each other by a deck ; but, contrary
to the custom of other countries, the one at the
bows is the post of honour. It was of a pavilion
shape, coloured with scarlet cloth, and the eyes of
intruders were excluded on all sides by silken screens.
The jumtee was further decorated by variegated flags
and pendants, some of which were forty feet long.
We hoisted the British ensign at the- stern of our
pinnace, the first time, I suppose, it had ever
been unfurled on the Indus; and the little vessel
which bore it out-sailed all the fleet. I hope the
omen was auspicious, and that the commerce of