DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0114
CHAP. IV.
TOWN OF OOCH.
79
Bhawul Khan were encamped on the banks of the
river, and in a dusky day our numerous fleet was
mistaken for the Seik army, which had been threat-
ening to invade his territories. A discharge of a
cannon and some musketry arrested the progress
of our advanced boat. The mistake was readily
discovered, and the chagrin and vexation that fol-
lowed afforded us some amusement. I thought that
apologies and regrets would never have ceased.
The town of Ooch stands on a fertile plain at a
distance of four miles from the Acesines, beauti-
fully shaded by trees. It is formed of three dis-
tinct towns, a few hundred yards apart from each
other, aod each has been encompassed by a wall
of brick, now in ruins. The population amounts
to 20,000. The streets are narrow, and covered
with mats as a protection from the sun; but it
is a mean place. We were accommodated in a
garden well stocked with fruit trees and flowers,
which was an agreeable change from our confined
boats. When preparing for a journey to visit the
Khan, — who was absent at Dirawul, in the desert,
— we were surprised by the arrival of a messenger,
with the information that he had reached Ooch
from a distance of sixty miles, that he might save
us the trouble of coming to him, and evince his
respect for the British Government. The mes-
senger brought us a deer, which the Khan had
shot, and of which he begged our acceptance, with
forty vessels of sherbet, and as many of sweet-
meats and preserves; also a bag containing 200
TOWN OF OOCH.
79
Bhawul Khan were encamped on the banks of the
river, and in a dusky day our numerous fleet was
mistaken for the Seik army, which had been threat-
ening to invade his territories. A discharge of a
cannon and some musketry arrested the progress
of our advanced boat. The mistake was readily
discovered, and the chagrin and vexation that fol-
lowed afforded us some amusement. I thought that
apologies and regrets would never have ceased.
The town of Ooch stands on a fertile plain at a
distance of four miles from the Acesines, beauti-
fully shaded by trees. It is formed of three dis-
tinct towns, a few hundred yards apart from each
other, aod each has been encompassed by a wall
of brick, now in ruins. The population amounts
to 20,000. The streets are narrow, and covered
with mats as a protection from the sun; but it
is a mean place. We were accommodated in a
garden well stocked with fruit trees and flowers,
which was an agreeable change from our confined
boats. When preparing for a journey to visit the
Khan, — who was absent at Dirawul, in the desert,
— we were surprised by the arrival of a messenger,
with the information that he had reached Ooch
from a distance of sixty miles, that he might save
us the trouble of coming to him, and evince his
respect for the British Government. The mes-
senger brought us a deer, which the Khan had
shot, and of which he begged our acceptance, with
forty vessels of sherbet, and as many of sweet-
meats and preserves; also a bag containing 200