DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0079
CHAP. III.
SEHWUN-OUR CREW.
45
Britain may soon follow her flag. We moved merrily
through the water, generally with a fair wind, anchor-
ing always at night, and pitching our camp on the
shore, pleased to find ourselves beyond the portals
of Hydrabad.
We reached Sehwun on the 1st of May, a
distance of 100 miles, in eight days. There
was little to interest us on the banks of the river,
which are thinly peopled, and destitute of trees
or variety to diversify the scene. The Lukkee
mountains, a high range, came in sight on the third
day, running in upon the Indus at Sehwun. The
stream itself, though grand and magnificent, wTas
often divided by sand-banks, and moved sluggishly
along at the rate of two miles and a half an hour.
One of our boats had nearly sunk from coming in
contact with a protruding stump; an accident of
frequent occurrence on the Indus, as well as on the
American rivers, and sometimes attended with fatal
results, particularly to vessels descending the stream.
Our escape from calamity gave the Sindians a topic
for congratulation, and we daily heard the greatness
of our fortune proclaimed. Every trivial incident,
a slight breeze or any such occurrence, they did not
hesitate to ascribe to our destiny.
Oar crew consisted of sixteen men; and a
happy set of beings they wTere: they waded
through the water all day, and swam and sported
about, as they passed along, with joyous hearts,
returning occasionally to the boat to indulge in
the hooka, and the intoxicating " bang," or hemp,
to which they are much addicted. They prepare
SEHWUN-OUR CREW.
45
Britain may soon follow her flag. We moved merrily
through the water, generally with a fair wind, anchor-
ing always at night, and pitching our camp on the
shore, pleased to find ourselves beyond the portals
of Hydrabad.
We reached Sehwun on the 1st of May, a
distance of 100 miles, in eight days. There
was little to interest us on the banks of the river,
which are thinly peopled, and destitute of trees
or variety to diversify the scene. The Lukkee
mountains, a high range, came in sight on the third
day, running in upon the Indus at Sehwun. The
stream itself, though grand and magnificent, wTas
often divided by sand-banks, and moved sluggishly
along at the rate of two miles and a half an hour.
One of our boats had nearly sunk from coming in
contact with a protruding stump; an accident of
frequent occurrence on the Indus, as well as on the
American rivers, and sometimes attended with fatal
results, particularly to vessels descending the stream.
Our escape from calamity gave the Sindians a topic
for congratulation, and we daily heard the greatness
of our fortune proclaimed. Every trivial incident,
a slight breeze or any such occurrence, they did not
hesitate to ascribe to our destiny.
Oar crew consisted of sixteen men; and a
happy set of beings they wTere: they waded
through the water all day, and swam and sported
about, as they passed along, with joyous hearts,
returning occasionally to the boat to indulge in
the hooka, and the intoxicating " bang," or hemp,
to which they are much addicted. They prepare