22

ARRIVAL AT TATTA.

CHAP. I.

known this arrangement by a courier, which I
despatched to the Court; and on the following
morning quitted the boats, along with Syud
Jeendul Shah, who had been appointed our Mih-
mandar.* We took the route by Darajee and
Meerpoor. The town of Lahory was in sight
from the former of these places, and is situated on
the same or left bank of the Pittee, which we crossed
by a ferry-boat on our way to Meerpoor. No
sooner had we reached Tatta, than the required
sanction for the boats to ascend by the Indus was
received, provided we ourselves took the land route;
but I immediately declined to advance another step
without my charge; and ultimately effected, by a
week's negotiation at Tatta, the desired end. At
the expense of being somewhat tedious, I will give
an abstract of these proceedings, as a specimen of
Sindian policy and reasoning.

A few hours after reaching Tatta, Syud Zoolfkar
Shah, a man of rank, and engaging manners,
waited on us upon the part of the Ameer. He
was accompanied by our Mihmandar, and met us
very politely. He said that he, had been sent by
his Highness to escort us to Hydrabad; to which
I laconically replied, that nothing would now
induce me to go, since the Ameer had conceded
the request which I had made of him. The Syud
here marshalled all his eloquence; asked if I
wished to ruin the Mihmandar, by making him out
a liar, after I had promised to accompany him to

* An officer who receives a guest.