Travels into Bokhara (Volume 3 of 3): Being the Account of A Journey from India to Cabool, Tartary, and Persia; Also, Narrative of a Voyage on the Indus, From the Sea to Lahore, With Presents From the King of Great Britain; Performed Under the Orders of the Supreme Government of India, in the Years 1831, 1832, and 1833 — John Shaqi
Travels into Bokhara (Volume 3 of 3): Being the Account of A Journey from India to Cabool, Tartary, and Persia; Also, Narrative of a Voyage on the Indus, From the Sea to Lahore, With Presents From the King of Great Britain; Performed Under the Orders of the Supreme Government of India, in the Years 1831, 1832, and 1833Burnes, Alexander, Sir
History
Travels into Bokhara (Volume 3 of 3): Being the Account of A Journey from India to Cabool, Tartary, and Persia; Also, Narrative of a Voyage on the Indus, From the Sea to Lahore, With Presents From the King of Great Britain; Performed Under the Orders of the Supreme Government of India, in the Years 1831, 1832, and 1833
Burnes, Alexander, Sir
Afghanistan -- Description and travel; Asia, Central -- Description and travel; Bukhoro (Uzbekistan) -- Description and travel; Burnes, Alexander, Sir, 1805-1841 -- Travel; Indus River Valley -- Description and travel
As we ascended the river, the inhabitants came for miles around to see
us. A Syud stood on the water’s edge, and gazed with astonishment. He
turned to his companion as we passed, and, in the hearing of one of our
party, said, “Alas! Sinde is now gone, since the English have seen the
river, which is the road to its conquest.” If such an event do happen,
I am certain that the body of the people will hail the happy day; but
it will be an evil one for the Syuds, the descendants of Mahommed, who
are the only people, besides the rulers, that derive precedence and
profit from the existing order of things.
~Strictness of religious observances.~
Nothing more arrests the notice of a stranger, on entering Sinde,
than the severe attention of the people to the forms of religion, as
enjoined by the Prophet of Arabia. In all places, the meanest and
poorest of mankind may be seen, at the appointed hours, turned towards
Mecca, offering up their prayers. I have observed a boatman quit the
laborious duty of dragging the vessel against the stream, and retire to
the shore, wet and covered with mud, to perform his genuflexions. In
the smallest villages, the sound of the “mowuzzun,” or crier, summoning
true believers to prayers, may be heard, and the Mahommedans within
reach of the sonorous sound suspend, for the moment, their employment,
that they may add their “Amen” to the solemn sentence when concluded.
The effect is pleasing and impressive; but, as has often happened in
other countries at a like stage of civilisation, the moral qualities of
the people do not keep pace with this fervency of devotion.
~Navigation of the Indus.~
On the evening of the 15th, we anchored at Tatta, after a prosperous
voyage, that afforded a good insight into the navigation of the Indus;
which, in the Delta, is both dangerous and difficult. The water runs
with impetuosity from one bank to another, and undermines them so, that
they often fall in masses which would crush a vessel. During night
they may be heard tumbling with a terrific crash and a noise as loud
as artillery. In one place, the sweep of the river was so sudden that
it had formed a kind of whirlpool, and all our vessels heeled round,
on passing it, from the rapidity of the current. We had every where
six fathoms of water, and in these eddies the depth was sometimes
threefold; but our vessels avoided the strength of the current, and
shifted from side to side, to choose the shallows.
~Pulla fish.~
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account