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Art. XX.—An Account of the Country of Sindh; with Remarks on the State of Society, the Government, Manners, and Customs of the People

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2011

James M‘Murdo
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Extract

The author of the Tohfat-al-Giráni states, that “the country of Sindh takes its name from Sind, the brother of Hind, the son of Noah. It is reckoned the forty-third of the sixty-one countries of the universe. The line of the second climate passes, from the north, directly through its centre; and although Sindh is situated in the five first climates, it nevertheless chiefly appertains to the second, and, consequently, lies in the region of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.” It would be difficult to discover where the author quoted has found these grandsons of the patriarch; indeed, as is usual in such genealogies, they are probably altogether imaginary. The Hindú writings may, perhaps, afford some more satisfactory explanation of the name; but I have not been so fortunate as to meet with it. As far as I can learn from such sources, this country was called Sindhúdès, or “the country of the ocean,” alluding doubtless to the river Indus, which receives that dignified appellation in their sacred writings. The same authorities also state Sindh to have been governed by a Xhuthi, named Jayadrat'ha, who was slain in the civil wars of the Pandús; and it has, in consequence, sometimes received the name of Jayadrat'hadès, after that chieftain.

Type
Original Communications
Information
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , Volume 1 , Issue 2 , July 1834 , pp. 223 - 257
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1834

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References

* Mr. Pottingeh, in his definition of the name Lárkhána, says it is derived from a word signifying saliva. This meaning, if authentic, would apply better to the delta of the Indus; for its ooziness is greater than that of any other part of Sindh. Ládkána is spelt with a d, which makes it a different word from Lár, which, in Sindhi, signifies low.

† Dr. Vincent gives a Láribandar, and a Bandar-Lári, the one on the east, and the other on the west branch of the river. I have not been able to discover any foundation for such a distinction, nor, indeed, is the term Larihandar at all familiar to the natives. The name, however, might, with equal propriety, have Veen applied to any port in the delta.

* A khirwár of Sháhbandar is about equal to one and a half Surat candies.—The eandy is a weight which varies very much in the different provinces where it is used; the Bombay candy is 560 lbs.—Ed.

† This Sirkár takes its name from the Cháchak tribe who inhabited it at one period.

* Tamarix Indica.—Willd

† Camels fed on this forage emit an insufferable stench when in the act of ruminating.

* Kelaul of Mr. Elphinstone'a map.

* I shall enter into no particulars with respect to ancient cities here, as I propose to prosecute the subject elsewhere. (Vide Capt. M'Murdo's former paper in the present volume, p. 20.—Ed.)

* See the present volume of the Journal, p. 29.

* Yúman is generally supposed to be Greek; and, according to Dr. Robertson, this country was conquered by the Greek government of Bactria after the division of Alexander's conquests.

† In digging for the foundation of the walls, vast numbers of human bones and entire bodies were found in a wonderful state of preservation.

* Lóheri, or Róhri, as it is erroneously called, is an ancient city, at least it is believed to have been built at the same time as Bhakír.

† See p. 34.

* It is to be regretted, that the map referred to by Capt. M'Murdo in this and other places, has not yet reached the Society.

* This appendix, owing to some mistake, did not accompany the paper.—Ed.

* In the appendix, I hare endeavoured to class the different inhabitants of Sindh under their respective names, as being in that form more intelligible and explicit than if introduced into the body of the work.

† On the skirts of the desert alone.

* I am acquainted with a rdespectable Lówánna who farmed some of the districts, and was plundered by the Ámírs and compelled to become Muhammedan.

* Ranni is the name of the place alluded to.