BY W. P.

ANDREW,

Reproduced by
Sani H. Panhwar
 PORT OF KURRACHEE,
DEPTH OF WATER,
AND COMMERCE,
FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR
1856-57,
BY
W. P. ANDREW,

CHAIRMAN OF THE SCINDE AND PUNJAUB RAILWAYS, &c., &c., &c.

Of the harbor of Kurrachee I have always had the highest opinion,"—Sir Henry
Pottinger.

It can hardly be doubted that Kurraahee is destined to be the great arsenal of the
Punjaub and North-Western India—perhaps the emporium, and even the real capital of
British India.—Sir Justin Skeil.

Reproduced by
Sani H. Panhwar
 CONTENTS.

List of Vessels which Sailed for Kurrachee 15th July - 15th October 1857 .. 1

From the "Lahore Chronicle," August, 1857 .. .. .. .. .. 2

From the "Sindh Kossid," of September 8th, 1857 .. .. .. .. 3

Letter from J. Neville Warren, Esq., to W. P. Andrew, Esq. (Extract) .. .. 4

CHAPTER. I.
Harbour and Port of Kurrachee—Depth of Water on Bar, and Tonnage of Ships—Value
of Sea-borne Trade of Scinde—Kurrachee, the European Port of India— The Gate of
Central Asia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5

CHAPTER II.
Kurrachee in connection with improved means of internal communication. — Opinion
of Sir Henry Pottinger.—Of Deputy-Collector of Port.—Of Mr. Frere. — Traffic between
Port and Town. — Trade of Kurrachee for 1856-57 .. .. .. .. 12

Abstract Statement of the Trade of Kurrachee for the Official Year 1856-57 .. 17
 KURRACHEE.

LIST OF VESSELS WHICH HAVE SAILED FOR KURRACHEE WITH TROOPS, FROM THE 15TH
JULY TO THE 15TH OCTOBER, 1857.
The following List shows the probable date of the Arrival of each Ship.
Probable
No. of date of
Sailed. Ship. From To Corps.
Troops. arrival in
India.
14-Jul Sir George Seymour Portsmouth Kurrachee 227 7th regiment Nov. 1
19-Jul Ramilies Gravesend Kurrachee 212 7th regiment Nov. 1
19-Jul Castle Eden Gravesend Kurrachee 234 27th, 52d & 61st regts. Nov. 19
21-Jul Roman Emperor Gravesend Kurrachee 193 27th, 61st & 87th regts. Nov. 1
21-Jul Seringapatam Portsmouth Kurrachee 218 7th regiment Nov.10
21-Jul Bombay Gravesend Kurrachee 348 94th & 70th regts Nov.10
21-Jul Albuera Gravesend Kurrachee 227 27th & 81st regts. Nov.10
21-Jul Owen Glendower Portsmouth„ Kurrachee 263 7th regiment Nov.10
2-Sep Alipore Gravesend Kurrachee 208 Art. and Ind. dep. Dec. 20
24-Sep Ireland, S.S. Portsmouth„ Kurrachee 301 98th regiment Dec. 15
3-Oct Bahiana, S.S. Portsmouth„ Kurrachee 433 98th regiment Dec.10
3-Oct Austria, S.S. Cork Kurrachee 718 53d.56th&94th regts. Dec. 10
15-Oct Southampton, S.S. Gravesend Kurrachee 624 7th Drs. and drafts. Dec. 25

TROOPS DESPATCHED BY THE OVERLAND ROUTE.

Sailed. Ship. From Destination Men Corps.

2-Oct Sultan, S.S. Southampton 1 Com. to Kurrachee* 117 Royal Engineers

14-Oct Dutchman, S.S Chatham 1 Com. to Kurrachee 122 Royal Engineers
* Via Bombay.

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 From the "LAHORE CHRONICLE," August, 1857.

RAILWAYS FOR INDIA.--NOW is the time to impress upon the Government the vital
importance of establishing a net work of Railways in this country (India.)

The absolute necessity of establishing rapid communications, has been amply proved
by the present crisis. Even with forced marches, troops take 24 days to get over the
distance they would be carried by rail in 12 or 18 hours ! !

On economical grounds alone, the Railway ought to be extended and ramified without
delay and regardless of the immediate outlay. This may seem a paradox, but we will
explain. Ten thousand men with a rail to travel by, are fully equal in this country to
thirty thousand with the existing means of conveyance, and the cost of the difference,
viz., 20,000 European troops is a matter of pounds, shillings, and pence, that we leave
for financiers to calculate.

What a glorious thing it would have been, had the Euphrates Valley Railway and the
Scinde and Punjaub Railway been accomplished facts at the time of the present
insurrection. How it would have "astonished the Natives" to have seen a gallant British
Army landed at Lahore, within a month of the outbreak taking place! and yet such a
thing would have been possible, supposing the Electric Telegraph to have, been also
completed so as to establish an electric messenger between the Indus and the Thames.

But we are a people of slow perception in spite of all that may be said of our
superiority. It is only when we are severely punished, that we awaken from our
lethargy.

The British Lion, terrible when once aroused, requires a good shaking before he can be
awakened, but once up, his vigor is as great as ever. At present, however, months must
elapse ere the punishment can be dealt out.

Prompt chastisement carries terror and fear with it and un-hinges the plans of the
conspirators, whereas, delay in punishing the guilty, gives them confidence and adds to
their strength.

Let us hope that one of the good things to result out of this great evil, may be
RAILWAY AND STEAM COMMUNICATION ON A LIBERAL SCALE.

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 From the "SINDH KOSSID," of September 8th, 1857.

On Saturday last, several nautical gentlemen bad an opportunity of witnessing a

complete and satisfactory corroboration of Mr. Warren's opinions, and we feel it our
duty to lay the matter before the public.

The sea on that day had little or no swell on, and the wind was moderate. About 10 sat.
the Hugh Lindsay steamed out of harbor with the ship London in tow. The lead was
kept going on board the steamer during the whole of the trip out, and there never was
less than 26 feet of water found on the bar, whilst the signal at Munora only gave at first
21 feet! and subsequently 22 feet. The Hugh Lindsay took the eastern channel going out
and the western one coming in, and in both the depth of water was nearly the same.
There were on board the steamer several commanders of merchant vessels, who
declared that they had noticed the same discrepancy between the Munora signals and
the lead as was apparent on this occasion.

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 From J. NEVILLE WARREN, Esq., Agent to the Scinde Railway
Company, to W. P. ANDREW, Esq., Chairman Scinde Railway Company.
(EXTRACT.)

KURRACHEE,
28th September, 1857.

I think it is right to state that your publication of an extract from one of my letters,
respecting the depth of water on the bar, has excited attention again to that subject. A
few days after that extract was seen, several merchant captains went on board the
"Hugh Lindsay," while towing a ship out, and they never had soundings less than 26
feet. And Captain Darke, of the "Hugh Lindsay," holds and expresses a very strong
opinion, that it is impossible to find any high tide throughout the year when soundings
would be less than 26 feet in the main channel. It has certainly been very gratifying
within the last fortnight to see the "Ajdaha," H. E. I. C. steam frigate come in and moor
at Keamaree (the lauding place in Kurrachee harbor). The " England," also one of the
Lindsay line of Calcutta steam ships, came in on Friday last with part of the 4th
regiment on board, and steamed direct up to Keamaree.

(Signed)
J. NEVILLE WARREN,
Agent in India.
W. P. ANDREW, Esq.,
&C. &C. &c.

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 CHAPTER I.
KURRACHEE.

HARBOUR AND PORT OF KURRACHEE. - DEPTH OF WATER ON

BAR, AND TONNAGE OF SHIPS. - VALUE OF SEA-BORNE TRADE
OF SCINDE. - KURRACHEE, THE EUROPEAN PORT OP INDIA. - THE
GATE OF CENTRAL ASIA.

A good port, capable of admitting ships of large burden, and at all hours and seasons, is
indispensable to the success of the combined system of rail and river for the valley of
the Indus, intended to be carried out by the Scinde and Punjaub Railways, in
conjunction with the Indus Flotilla. Such an harbor is to be found in Kurrachee, the
most western port of India, and the only land-locked harbor between Bombay and the
Persian Gulf. This port is perfectly safe, and easy of access to large ships by day and
night, and even during the monsoons. According to Commodore Young, of the Indian
navy, who in 1854 took the steam frigate Queen twice into Kurrachee in the night time,
during the south-west monsoon, though a bar-harbor, Kurrachee has depth of water,
even in its existing state, for ships of from 17 to 18 feet draught at the high water of
ordinary tides. At high spring tides the depth is from 20 to 21 feet, and at times even to
22½ feet. In this view, Commodore Young is confirmed by Commodore Rennie, of the
Indian navy, who, during the preparations for the late expedition to the Persian Gulf,
was constantly in and out of the harbor with troops, and became convinced that there
was frequently more water on the bar than the port-register showed. As a proof of this,
it may be stated that the Bussorah Merchant, a large vessel drawing 20 ft. 6 in., passed the
bar in May last, when the register showed only 21 ft. water. All that such a port requires
to make it perfect, is a good pilot establishment and a steam-dredge, both of which
measures have already been provided by the East India Company. The list of large
ships that passed into the harbor, in 1855 alone, will be found below.1

1
Duringtheyear1855 thefollow ingships,am ongothers,enteredtheharborofKurrachee:-
From London. Tons. Draught.
1-Dec Marion, 684, 18 ft. 6 in.
23-Nov Norwood, 850, 15 ft. 0 in.
19-Oct El Dorado, 841, 21 ft. 0 in.
24-Sep James Gibb, 813, 21 ft. 6 in.
12-Aug Marmion, 388, 16 ft. 3 in.
6-Aug Kenilworth, 682, 16 ft. 6 in.
Monsoon months.

30-Jul Granger, 878, 19 ft. 6 in.

30-Jul Sir James, 646,
26-Jul Alex. Wise, 295, 15 ft. 0 in.
2-Jul Saxon, 526, 15 ft. 2 in.
2-Jul Tamar, 556, 17 ft. 10 in.
30-Jun Semiramis, large steamer.
14-Jun Agamemnon, 756, 16 ft. 3 in.
Iam indebtedto CaptainBalfour,I.N .,forthefollow ingvaluableinform ationrespectingthecapabilitiesof
Kurracheeharbor:-

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Lieut.-Colonel, (now Brigadier-General.) Jacob, C.B., Officiating Commissioner, reports,
under date the 30th April, 1856, that, during the year 1854-5, 1,086 vessels of the burden
of 56,695 tons entered the ports of Scinde inwards; 39 of which, including steamers,
were square-rigged, of a burden of 13,841 tons. The number that cleared outwards was
1,103 vessels, burden 38,194 tons, including square-rigged ships and steamers.

The increase of the import and export trade is still continuing, especially in the exports
of the staple products of the valley. The steadiness of the rate of increase is not less
remarkable than its large amount, as the following tables show:-

14,S T .JAM ES 'S Q U AR E,

1stAugust,1857.

M Y DEAR S IR ,

S ince Ihad the pleasure ofspeaking w ith you on the subject ofKurrachee harbor,Ihave m et agentlem an
thoroughly acquainted w ith the subject,and one w hose opinion isentitled to the fullest w eight,
— Irefer to
Com m odore Young,I.N .,w hose nam e m ay be know n to you as having com m anded at the capture of
M ohum m erah.

Captain Young,w hen in com m and ofthe Q ueen steam frigate,took that vesseltw ice (in 1854)into Kurrachee
harborinthem iddleofthenight,duringtheheightofthes outh-w estm onsoon, — afeatw hichspeaksforitself.

He isdecidedly ofopinion thatitm ay be entered atnight throughoutthe year,provided that lightsare displayed
on thebuoysindicatingthechannel.And hew ould haveno hesitation in takingin vesselsofam uch largerdraught
than theQ ueen.

In the existing state ofthe bar,he considersthatvesselsoffrom 17 to 18 feet draughtm ay crossit athigh w ater
ordinary tides,and of20 to 21 feet at high w atersprings: 22½ feet draught ishisextrem e point.And aship
requiring m ore than thatdepth w ould rarely be taken in by an amateur pilot,excepton agreatem ergency,oron
an extraordinary hightideduringthefinew eatherseason.

W ith reference,how ever,to thispoint,it occursto m e to m ention that according to the latest officialreportsI
havem etw ith on thestateoftheHooghly,thegreatestdraughtatw hich even asteamer could w ith safety,and at
allseasons,proceed to Calcutta,taking advantage ofthe s prings,is22½ to 23 feet,and that 24 feet isthere the
extrem edraught,requiringaconcurrenceofvery favorablecircum stances.

Captain Youngconcursw ithm einthinkingthatthefirst,and by farthem ostim portantrequirem entforKurrachee

harbor,isan efficient pilot establishm ent. T hisquestion cam e under hiscognizance w hen recently m aster-
attendant at Bom bay;and he tellsm e that aproposal,sim ilarto that Im entioned the otherday,viz., — to select
one ofthe best ofthe Bom bay pilotsand send him up w ith aboat ofthe m ost approved form — had,orshortly
w ouldreceivethesanction oftheBom bay Governm ent,andbecarriedout.T hepilotso selectedisM r.Brow n,and
the salary allotted to him isabout the sam e asthatofthe seniorsofthe Bom bay pilots,250 rupeesperm ensem .
W ith reference to this,itisto be noted,thatthe Bom bay pilotsderive very trifling em olum entsfrom gratuities,
—
thepracticeisin factprohibited;butIdoubtthew isdom ofextendingthisruleto anew harbor,and abovealltoa
bar-harbor,w hen apilot,w ithoutinducem entto exerthim self,can often plead "scantw ater"orhigh sw ell,asan
obstacletorunningin.

Captain Younginform sm e,thatw henheleftBom bay inM ay last,thesteam dredgesforthebarw erenearly ready
forlaunching.

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 Year Imports. Exports. Total.
£ £ £
1843-4 121,150 1,010 122,160
1844-5 217,700 9,300 227,000
1845-6 312,900 40,500 353,400
1846-7 293,400 49,300 342,700
1847-8 287,872 154,730 442,600
1848-9 344,715 107,133 451,849
1849-50 419,352 114,378 533,731
1850-51 425,831 196,461 622,293
1851-52 489,220 244,122 733,343
1852-53 535,690 376,337 800,000
1853-54 - - 900,000*
1854-55 604,440 629,000 1,233,000
1855-56 628,913 604,440 1,233,353**
1856-57 685,665 734,522 1,420,187
* I have not exact returns of the total value of the
Sea Trade for 1853-54.
** This return is for eleven months only.

He anticipates the most favorable results when they are set to work, and has no doubt,
that with their aid and with an efficient pilotage, the harbor will be practicable
throughout the year for the largest class of merchant ships.
Believe me, &c., &c.,

W. P. Andrew, Esq., &c., &c.

(Signed) W. BALFOUR.

P.S. The above statements are made on the supposition, that efficient steam-tug power
is available to tow-in sailing ships.

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 Increase
1847-48. 1851-52. 1852 58. percent-in 5
years.
£ £ £
Wool 18,159 75,716 160,000 800
Indigo 2,825 21,595 24,000 750
Saltpetre 8 4,323 9,600 12,000
Ghee 726 9,616 18,300 2,400
Piece Goods (Silk
1,288 3,921 4,750 260
& Cotton)

Every increase in facility and safety of transport will give fresh impulse to all native
products. The export of cotton, silk, wool, corn, oil-seeds, saltpetre,* and indigo,
madder, and other dye stuffs, is capable of almost indefinite extension.

Col. Jacob, Acting Commissioner in Scinde, in April 1856, reported to Government that
the total export trade of the province, during the year 1855-6, was 50 percent. in excess
of the previous year; that the increase was most remarkable in oil-seeds and wool : in
the former it was 900 per cent. and in the latter 60 per cent. increase. Col. Jacob further
observes "The quantity and value of articles suitable for British consumption exported
via Bombay to the English market, are estimated at 18,000 tons of produce, worth in
round numbers £ 38,000; and if to this be added some 15,000 tons of flax and oil-seeds,
which will probably be received from the northward, there will be a total of not less
than 35,000 tons of produce, being a value of £ 500,000, available for export from this
province during the next year adapted to British consumption."2

* The following shows the growth of the saltpetre export trade from Scinde:-

1847.48 Maunds 33
48-49 Maunds 0
49-50 Maunds 426
50-51 Maunds 6,052
51-52 Cwt 6,822
52.53 Cwt 13,949
53.54 Cwt 25,066

Besides the European and native troops, European travelers and native traders will, it is
believed, largely avail themselves of the Indus Valley line of transit, when relieved of
the obstructions of the Delta.

2
Vide Appendix to theR eportsofCol.Jacob,and ofM r.Dalzell,CollectorofCustom s,regarding the trade ofthe
provinceduringtheyear1855-6.

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From the large number of passengers proceeding from the Punjaub and Upper India to
Europe, and vice versa, there can be little doubt but that a direct steam communication
will soon be established between Kurrachee, and Aden and Suez—this route being
actually the shortest, at present, and until the opening of that by the Valley of the
Euphrates, while it is the safest from the prevailing direction of the periodical winds.

The pilgrims from the countries on our North-west Border en route to Mecca, and other
holy cities, would supply traffic to the railway and steam flotilla, and increase the
intercourse already established between Kurrachee and the ports of the Persian Gulf.

"From the Sutlej to the Oxus, whoever wishes to communicate with any place beyond
the sea, must pass through Kurrachee. It occupies a position scarcely less favorable to
commerce than that of Alexandria."

The port is protected from the sea and bad weather by Munorah, a bluff rocky
headland, projecting south-east-ward from the mainland, and leaving a space of about
two miles between the extreme point and the coast to the east.

The harbor is spacious, extending about five miles northward from Munorah Point, and
about the same distance from the town, on the eastern shore, to the extreme western
point.

"Kurrachee," says Thornton, "is a position of very great importance, whether regarded
in a commercial, a political, or a military point of view. In a commercial point of view, it
may be defined the gate of central Asia, and is likely to become to India what Liverpool
is to England." "It has been officially reported that accommodation exists for the
reception within the harbor, at the same time, of twenty ships of 800 tons (and any
number of smaller craft). The climate of Kurrachee is cool in proportion to its latitude;
and under British auspices, the town must speedily become a most important place."
Lat. 24° 51", long. 67° 211.3

Its value was manifested and tested during the recent campaigns on the Sutlej, during
which it became the grand depot whence our field forces were supplied with all the
munitions of war. Thousands upon thousands of tons of military stores were imported
into its harbor. The population of Kurrachee is about 30,000, and is rapidly increasing;
and boats, as well as labor, in the harbor are abundant and cheap.

Kurrachee, then, is not only the natural port of Scinde, but also of the Punjaub and
central Asia; and the Scinde Railway, which connects it with permanently deep water in
the Indus at Hyderabad, is only the first link in that chain of improved communication

3
T hornton'sGazetteer.

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which must at no distant period connect Peshawar, on the borders of Afghanistan, with
the sea.

The whole subject of improving the port of Kurrachee was referred by the Court of
Directors to Mr. J. Walker, F.R.S., the eminent harbor-engineer, to whom detailed
surveys, taken by Lieut. Grieve of the Indian navy for this express purpose, were
submitted. Mr. Walker has officially reported to the Court his opinion in these words:—
"It is satisfactory to me to be able to state, at the outset, that I think the objects which the
Court of Directors have in view — namely, the deepening or even entire removal of the
bar, and the general improvement of the harbor of Kurrachee—are not of doubtful
execution; but that, on the contrary, there is good reason to expect, through the
application of proper means, the accomplishment of both—and this at a moderate
expense, when compared with what I understand to be the almost national importance
of a safe harbor at Kurrachee, capable of receiving and accommodating sea-going
vessels of large tonnage;" and "that Kurrachee is capable of being made an excellent
harbor, and that there are no very great engineering or other physical difficulties to
contend with in making it such."4 The Court of Directors have sent out an experienced
harbor engineer to assist in carrying out the plans of Mr. Walker.

To that able and excellent officer, Captain C. D. Campbell, I.N., belongs the credit of
having been the first to take in on his own responsibility a large armed steamer into the
harbor of Kurrachee.

"Colonel Turner," said Mr. Frere at a public meeting at Kurrachee, "instituted a series of
very careful experiments by boring, and showed most conclusively that there was not a
particle of rock anywhere on the bar; that the whole was composed, to considerable
depth, of soft sand. The establishment of this fact of course removed one principal
ground of the fear which mariners before had—of approaching or touching on the bar.

"But the principal share of the credit of practically proving the absence of any danger in
entering the port, was due to Lieut. Leeds, the port officer, who with great skill and
judgment, and on his own responsibility, piloted in ships of considerable burthen, and
had practically shown that this might be safely done, even without any aid from
steamers. The result was, that during the monsoon just closed, four large steamers from
Bombay and Aden, and eight sailing vessels of from 300 to 878 tons, had come in and
gone out, and with one exception, it had never been found necessary to wait even a
single day for any particular tide. And it must be further remembered, that each of
these eight sailing vessels was towed in and towed out of the harbor by a steamer (the
Victoria), which, no later than last year, was employed in conveying passengers at the
most crowded season between Bombay and Suez.

4
R eportonKurracheeHarborby Jam esW alker,L L .D ,F.R .S ,L .andE.1857.

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"Facts like these prove beyond a possibility of doubt, that there was no difficulty whatever in
getting vessels, even of a considerable size, into and out of Kurrachee harbor during the south-
west monsoon, the most unfavorable period of the year."

Brigadier Parr, commanding at Kurrachee, stated, on the occasion before referred to,
that, "by the facilities for rapid communication with Suez and Mooltan, which were
glanced at in the Report, and which the statements they had heard showed to be strictly
within the limits of what was possible, and he hoped practical at no distant date, it
would positively take less time to move a brigade from Southampton to the Punjaub,
than it would at present take to move the Kurrachee brigade from this camp to
Mooltan; in other words, you might have Southampton, instead of Kurrachee, the base of your
operations for any campaigns in the Punjaub, or any countries beyond it. This facility
appeared to him, as a military man, to afford advantages so enormous, that he was sure
the meeting would excuse his dilating on the other aspects of the scheme."

To be the nearest point to Europe of all our Indian possessions, is important in many
points of view, but more especially with reference to "the Euphrates Valley route," and
every remark relative to the direct communication of Kurrachee with Suez is equally, if
not more applicable to that with Bussorah, as materially reducing the sea voyage from
India. The electric wire will soon connect Kurrachee with the Punjaub; and when the
proposed telegraph communication is established with Europe, whether it be by the
Persian Gulf or the Red Sea, or as it ought to be, by both routes, the advantage will be
great, of being the medium of disseminating the political and commercial intelligence of
Europe to the most distant parts of our Indian possessions, and giving in exchange the
most recent events in India and Central Asia. Hitherto beyond the pale of the electric
chain that spans the empire, Kurrachee is destined, ere long, to become the chief scat of
the telegraph in India.

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 CHAPTER II.

KURRACHEE IN CONNECTION WITH IMPROVED MEANS OF

INTERNAL COMMUNICATION. - OPINION OF SIR HENRY
POTTINGER. OF DEPUTY COLLECTOR OF PORT. - OF MR. FREER. -
TRAFFIC BETWEEN PORT AND TOWN. - TRADE OF KURRACHEE
FOR 1856-57.

On the formation of the Scinde Railway Company early in 1855, Sir Henry Pottinger
addressed the Chairman a letter, from which the following is an extract:—"From my
long and intimate acquaintance with the province of Scinde, I most entirely and
cordially concur in all that has been advanced in support of the proposed scheme, and I
trust that early sanction will be obtained from the East India Company, to its being
carried out, on the same terms that have been accorded to other railways in India.

"To the intended line of railway, over which I have travelled frequently, I am not aware
of a single objection that can be urged, and of the Harbor of Kurrachee I have always
had the highest opinion. I went there with a mission in 1809, in the cruiser "Prince of
Wales," and the "Maria," country ship. These vessels entered the Harbor with perfect
facility, and lay inside for above a month, when they were sent back to Bombay, owing
to its being determined that the mission should return to India, through Kutch. This
was in the height of the south-west monsoon, and demonstrated at that early period,
the capabilities of the Port. I mention this fact, as I see it is not alluded to in the papers
you have been so good as to send to me. I had a very complete journal of all the events
and circumstances attending the first mission to Scinde in 1809, in which the dangers
and difficulties of the navigation of the lower Delta of the Indus, were fully described,
and exactly tallied with what have now been brought forward. My journal and all my
notes and papers were destroyed, on the breaking out of the war in 1818, when the
residency at Poonah was burned by the Mahratta army.

"What I now state may be so far satisfactory, perhaps, to the Directors, as showing the
views which were early forced on me, with regard to the important question now under
discussion."5

Mr. Macleod, the late Deputy Collector of Customs at Kurrachee, in October, 1853,
when writing to Lieutenant Chapman, the able engineer who surveyed the country
from Kurrachee to Kotree, remarks:—"The Indus, though nominally open to commerce

5
From L ieut.-Gen.the R ightlion.S irHenry P ottinger,Bart.,G.C.B.,to W .P .Andrew .Esq.,Chairm an oftheS cinde
R ailw ay Com pany.

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since Lord Ellenborough's proclamation after the conquest of the country in 1843, yet
was virtually sealed up to the beginning of last year, when river dues were finally
abolished: we may therefore expect that the raw produce of the Punjaub and the North-
west Provinces will now find its way continuously and uninterruptedly by the line of
the Indus, in exchange for the manufactures of Europe — a trade which has already
received considerable impetus from the establishment of the regular monthly steamer
between Mooltan and Kurrachee. And here I must not forget to mention the important
fact, that the Indus is now the highway for troops and military stores to the Punjaub
and Upper India."

He further states:—"The commerce of the port has been progressing during the past few years
at the rate of 20 percent per annum, and there is every reason to expect a continuance of the
progressive ratio. The residents in the Punjaub have shown a desire to procure their supplies by
the Indus, in preference to the line of the Ganges, and in a few years their desire will in all
probability be gratified to the fullest extent. An extensive Affghan trader, who has had dealings
with Calcutta for years, having tried the Bombay market during the two past seasons, has given
the latter the preference. Others will follow his example. These prospects of the Scinde trade lead
me to believe, that by the time a railway shall be laid down, and be prepared for action, OUR
COMMERCE WILL HAVE DOUBLED ITS PRESENT VALUE, AND THE PASSENGER
TRAFFIC BE TEN TIMES AS MUCH AS IT IS AT PRESENT."

The opinions of Sir Henry Pottinger and the late meritorious Deputy Collector of the
Port, as to the value and importance of Kurrachee as a harbor in connection with the
Scinde Railway, are entirely confirmed by Mr. Frere, Commissioner in Scinde, who
expressed himself as follows when addressing a meeting of the Proprietors of the
Scinde Railway Company, on the 18th February, 1857. " It was impossible to be in error
in the adoption of the two great terminal lines of the great chain between Lahore and
Kurrachee, on portions of country where the river was not navigable, but upon the
intervening section of navigable water, the development of the traffic by river steamers,
would enable them to arrive at a more just conclusion in determining the course which
they should best take to fall in with the railway system of the country (hear, hear). Mr.
Andrew had adverted to the military and political importance of the line. For his own
part he (Mr. Frere) did not think it was possible to overrate that importance. They had
just escaped the "war ninepence," and no doubt if the war with Persia had been
destined to continue, the immense value of this undertaking, and those with which it
was in connection, would have been singularly demonstrated. The practical value of the
railway was to increase the available power of every ship, and of every man employed
in military and naval operations. In reference to the Punjaub, the capacity of moving
troops to a given point was of immense importance. If they looked at the map they
would see that they had a mountainous range, between which and our possessions, the
Indus formed a natural boundary; and the Company proposed to make a line along its
level plains. In a military point of view the advantage would be this, that if the Khyber
Pass should be closed to our forces, they could be moved with rapidity to the Bolan

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Pass, and in either case the enemy would be taken in flank or in the rear. In the
meantime, the Euphrates Valley Railway would give them the command of the sea-
board of the Persian Gulf, and not only this, but the completion of that railway would
practically make Chatham nearer to any point of action in the Persian territory, than
any military force which could be brought to bear upon it from Central Asia. He was
quite alive to the great military and political importance of the line of the Punjaub; but if
the permanent tranquility of Central Asia was to be secured; if the triumphs of Great
Britain were to be permanent, they must be rendered so by a mutuality of interests, by
the material and civilizing influences of expanding commerce. The great battle of the
country for the tranquility of Central Asia must be fought at Manchester and Liverpool
(hear, hear). If we would command Central Asia, that dominion must be established by
opening up a ready market for their raw produce, and subjecting them by the force of
their own material interests. A curious illustration of the correctness of this view of the
case came under his own observation. It was that of a ruler in Candahar, an old
Affghan, who had of late years shown an increasing indisposition to hostilities against
us. The British authorities were induced to inquire into the reason, and it was
ascertained that the principal part of the wool came from his part of the country (hear,
hear). It might be that he realized from this source a yearly revenue of 70,000 rs., or,
about £7000 a year, a sum which might not appear large to a manufacturer in this
country, but which was to him equal to the revenues of a State, and which he wisely
valued more than the irregular profits of predatory warfare. If they extended the
application of this principle they would come to the conclusion that every extension of
commerce added to our military strength (hear, hear). Without underrating, therefore,
the military and political importance of the railway, he looked on its commercial
advantages as calculated in an equal degree to strengthen and give permanence to our
dominion in the East. Allusion had been made by Mr. Andrew to the extraordinary
increase which had taken place in the exports and imports of the province of Scinde,
and if the meeting would not think hint tedious, he would read to them a few figures
which would demonstrate this in a very striking manner (hear, hear). In 1843, the
imports amounted in value to £121,000, and the exports to 1,010. Total, £122,000. In
1847, the imports were of the value of £287,000, and the exports £154,000; total £441,000.
In 1851, the imports were £489,000, and the exports £244,000; total, £733,000. In 1854, the
imports attained the value of £629,000, the exports L604,000; total, £1,233,000 (applause).
Now, in these figures there was evidence of a very substantial increase in the unaided
resources of the country, although it was a great reflection upon us that we had been
talking a good deal about developing the resources of the province, but as yet in truth
very little had been done. But with such figures before them, it must be obvious to
everyone, that if fostered and developed, the increase would have been much larger.
Let them imagine, for instance, such a system of transit in operation as that in which
they were now engaged in maturing, and the results must have been perfectly
astonishing. Within the few last days he had received the Kurrachee financial returns
for the past official year, from which he would, with permission of the meeting, read a
few items. The value of cotton goods, plain and colored, twist and thread, the produce

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of Manchester and Glasgow, was £294,000. The import of grain amounted to the value
of £32,000. This was principally wheat and other grain consumed by the army at
Kurrachee. Now, this would in due time be supplied from the upper country. There
was also an import of raw silk from Persia and Bokhara—Bokhara standing for the
value of £28,000. Sugar also £28,000, which ought to be brought from the upper country;
and, as soon as the line was open, instead of importing sugar, it would become an
article of export. Horses and drugs were exported to the value of £14,000. Indigo, which
in the first year of our possession, figured in the exports to the value of £2,000 only, last
year attained the value of £42,400. And this, it was to be observed, was without the aid
of British capital as in Bengal, nor had the war anything to do with it. It was entirely a
natural increase. The export of grain was put down at £66,000, but the whole course of
the Indus from Scinde to Cashmere was a wheat producing district, and the remark of
Mr. Andrew was not exaggerated, for the day would come, when with facilities of
conveyance opened, Scinde would be found competing with Dantzic for the supply of
grain to Mark Lane! Saltpetre was exported to the value of £21,000 which a few years
ago was not exported at all. In oil seeds, the value exported was £137,000. The trade to
which no limit could be assigned, was still in its infancy, but was destined to obtain a
very considerable magnitude. Again, sheep's wool, which recently was not exported at
all, last year was exported to the value of £221,000. The total imports and exports of the
past year amounted to £1,095,000, the amount of the imports exceeding the exports only
by about £20,000. He would here beg to draw attention to the fact that the principal
business was now carried on through Bombay. But, by the last mail, he has learned that
two firms in connection with Manchester, had settled at Kurrachce, and when the
aggregate of cost in transacting such business at Bombay, was compared with the
corresponding expenses of Kurrachee in carriage and transhipment, and if the trade
was now profitable through Bombay, it was obvious that it must be more profitable if
direct with Kurrachee !

In reference to the Punjaub, he was not personally acquainted with the district, but he
was well acquainted with several gentlemen of local experience, who assured him there
was a total absence of what are called engineering difficulties, and that this was the case
might be judged of from the fact, that a canal of irrigation was in operation between
Mooltan and Lahore without a single artificial means of elevating the water along the
whole distance (hear, hear), a convincing proof of the level character of the country. The
importance attached to the improvement of the harbor of Kurrachee by Mr. Andrew
was exceedingly just. That gentleman had told them that the home authorities had sent
out a properly qualified engineer to carry into effect Mr. Walker's suggestions, and he,
(Mr. Frere), might add that he had since received letters from Colonel Turner and
Captain Greene, entirely coinciding with the recommendations of Mr. Walker."6

6
VideR eportofproceedingsofM eetingofS cindeR ailw ay Com pany of18th February,1857.

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I have elsewhere remarked that " Kurrachee is not only the port of the Indus and
Central Asia, but, from its geographical position and other advantages, appears
destined to become, if not the future metropolis of India, most certainly the second city
and the European port of that empire."7

Return of Traffic passing the Kurachee Bunder during the Year 1856.

Passengers Europeans.
Porters with Loads
Donkeys or Mules

Palkee or Litters

Artillery Gun or
Gares Carriages
Unleaden Food
Sheep or Goats
Horned Cattle

Ditto, Native

Carriage
Camels

Horses
Carts

January, 1856 2,977 482 3,836 463 3.135 165 4.154 1,512 77,843 98 1,352
February 1856 12,402 2,242 3,810 466 4,047 179 4,848 1,830 70,209 104 1.4401
March 1856 13,610 324 3,872 280 3,902 155 5.259 811 78,121 68 1,412
April 1856 4,122 418 4,222 433 4,596 227 7,074 899 94.001 90 1,4.58
May 1856 14,365 360 4,258 336 4,935 153 5.586 788 70,758 86 1,480
June 1856 6,206 266 3,240 202 2,715 61 3,064 599 35,975 56 1,256
July 1856 3,124 400 3,006 590 2,206 57 730 666 26,001 38 1,206
August 1856 6,754 512 3,574 1,295 2,635 99 3.327 879 67.333 70 1,362 8
September 1856 4,244 609 4,138 588 4,270 131 5,780 936 108,105 78 442
October 1856 7,136 670 3,952 456 4,514 94 5,647 1.856 71,519 230 1,330
November 1856 16,874 498 4,621 520 4,274 611 5,411 1,967 68,375 118 1,688 18
December 1856 15,252 354 3,722 246 4,206 105 4,446 1,074 65.309 32 488
Total 107,066 7,135 46,251 5,876 45,435 2,037 55,326 13,817 833,549 1,068 14,914 26

Commissioner's Office, Kurrachee, (Signed) H. B. E. FREEE,

22nd May, 1857. Commissioner in Scinde

7
Vide L etterto Viscount P alm erston.E.G.,on the P oliticalIm portance ofthe EuphratesValley R ailw ay,by W .P .
Andrew .— W .H.AL L EN & Co.,L eadenballS treet.

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ABSTRACT STATEMENT OF THE TRADE Of KURRACHEE FOR THE
OFFICIAL YEAR 1856-57.

From the "Sindian" of September 5th, 1857.

We have been favored with an abstract statement of the external trade of the province
by its sea face during the past official year (1856-57), from which we gather that it
amounted in value to Rs.142,01,879 against Rs. l23,42,537 in the previous year. The
increase amounts to Rs.18,59,342 —ofwhichRs.5,58,523 are due to imports, and
Rs.13,00,819 to exports.

The details of the imports, compared with those of the previous year, are as follows:-*

IMPORTS 1855-56 1856-57

RUPEES RUPEES
Apparel 152,814 101,763
Cotton Piece Goods :—Colored 451,554 447,360
Plain 2,217,957 2,172,070
Other kinds 75,545 59,109
Twist and Thread 203,227 191,481
Grain 232,947 337,569
Metals, raw 216,952 317,247
Metals, manufactured . 106,453 95,881
Silk, raw 147,794 56,575
Silk and Woolen Piece Goods 136,704 85,697
Spices 157,155 249,945
Sugar 215,959 164,776
Wines and Spirits 194,590 263,247
Treasure 300378 209,488
Fruit 131,060 256,283
Railway Stores 0 563,462
Other articles 1,348,678 1,284,702
TOTAL £ 628,913 8 685,665 14

* Value of details in Rupees, and totals in Pounds Sterling, the

Rupee being taken at the par value of Two Shillings.

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The principal articles of exports during the same period are as follows:—

1855.56 1856-57
Horses R.3,39,060 R.4,31,850
Dyes
Indigo 4,23,881 3,54,655
Munject 68,944 4,40,552
Other Dyes and Drugs 1,60,675 1,30,949
Grain
Wheat 3,08,299 10,672
Other kinds of Grain 2,56,193 1,57,337
Ghee 2,33,672 1,56,107
Saltpetre 2,12,004 9,75,472
Seeds
Jingly 5,91,215 8,37,621
Sursee 4,76,335 3,18,600
Other kinds of Seeds 3,32,013 94,606
Silk, raw 3,761 3,20,174
Wool, Sheeps 22,13,107 31,15,903
Other Articles 4,25,244 6,03,873
TOTAL £ 604,440 6 734,522 4

The following is a list of the countries holding commercial intercourse with Scinde, and
the value of the trade with each during the past two years.

IMPORTS. EXPORTS.
1855-56 1856-57 1855-56 1856-57
Bombay R 55,81,212 R 52,27,429 R 53,74,320 R 66,97,549
Calcutta .. .. .. 13,074
Kutch and Kattiawar- 2,04,308 2,74,379 2,33,886 2,02,907
England 1,57,800 7,73,8351 35,139 1,446
France .. .. .. 93,390
Goa and Demaun 4,532 10,064 .. 231
Guzerat and Concan. 60,072 1,46,297 11,747 15,647
Malabar 97,632 90,388 1,69,154 1,45,933
Mauritius 1,894 8,930 17,568 28,538
Meckran and Persian Gulf 1,90,684 3,25,335 2,02,589 1,56,507
Total £ 629,813 8 685,665 14 14 604,440 6 734,522 4

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These returns exhibit a very satisfactory progress in the trade of Scinde. The principal
points of interest in them are the attempt to open a direct traffic with Europe and the
Mauritius in country produce; the importation of railway material, and the large
increase in the exports, particularly in wool, munjeet, saltpetre, jingly seed and silk,
articles which are transmitted to Europe for consumption.

To the large augmentation of sheep's wool we would draw the particular attention of
the manufacturers in England. From holding a subordinate position in our trade returns
in 1847, when the export of the article amounted to only £18,000—it has in the space of
nine years risen to the chief place in our exports, and in the returns before us, the article
is valued at upwards of £311,000 sterling.

We need scarcely allude to the vast importance of this article, and however gratifying it
may be to observe the gradual increase in the export of it, we have good reason for
believing that it is susceptible of still further extension.

At present this article is exported hence to Bombay; but after the hydraulic presses
lately arrived from England, and for which a suitable building is now under
construction, have been brought in use, we doubt not that it will be shipped direct to
England at a saving of considerable expense, both to the shippers and consumers.

Madder (Munjeet) and saltpetre have also made large progress since 1847. The export of
the former article was in that year valued at £376; the present trade returns exhibit its
value at £44,000. Saltpetre from being an article almost unknown in the Kurrachee
market in 1847, the exports for that year being valued at only £8, has now risen to the
value of £37,500. In fact, the history of almost every one of our articles of export, for
which there has been a steady and permanent demand, is similar to the instances we
have cited.

Not only has the quantity of our staple productions been increased, but almost every
year some new article has been added to our list of exports. Within the last few years
we have brought forward as articles of export the following commodities, viz.:—
Ooplate, sal ammonia, borax, linseed, silk, sugar and tallow, the demand for which we
are glad to find is gradually progressing in foreign markets. It will be perceived by a
reference to our returns that silk has at once taken a prominent position in the list of
exports; the quantity exported last year being valued at £32,000 against £376 in the
previous year. This article is said to have been brought down from Bokhara, via the
Punjaub, and would appear to have been diverted to Kurrachee, instead of proceeding
to Calcutta as heretofore. We have reason to believe that supplies of this article will
continue to be brought to Kurrachee.

It will be seen that in indigo the export has somewhat fallen off, but this decrease we
think may be attributed to our recent dispute with Persia, to which country the article is

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chiefly shipped; the quality of that at present produced in the Province not being such
as to suit it for the European markets. In Upper Scinde, about Mooltan, and in
Bhawulpore, the soil and climate are in every respect favorable to the production of this
valuable article, and with due encouragement on the part of the Government, European
capital and skill might be brought to bear on its cultivation; and an article produced,
capable of competing in the English market with the general run of the Bengal dye, and
at very much less cost.

The absence from our list of the valuable article "Cotton" will probably be remarked;
limited though the local consumption be, the province does not produce sufficient to
meet the demand, and there is therefore necessarily a small amount imported, though
the quantity is too trifling to admit of separate detail. The enquiry naturally forces itself
upon us, why the province does not grow enough of the article to meet the local
demand, and we wish some of our better informed readers would come forward to
answer it. It can scarcely be that the country is unfavorable to its production, for we
have always understood that the Delta of the Indus was particularly suited for the
growth of cotton; and we must therefore suppose that the cause has been either the
poverty of the land cultivators, or the indifference of the Zemindars, or of the district
officers.8

In order that the progress which the trade of Scinde has made since 1847 may be seen at
one view, we subjoin a statement of the chief articles of export in 1856, contrasted with
their value in 1847. The improvement made since that period will afford our mercantile
friends and others interested in the trade of the port, an idea of the future prospects of
our trade, which Mr. Temple, the Secretary to the Punjaub Government, estimates as
next in importance to the trade of Calcutta.

8
"A recentcorrespondentofan Indian papersays:--‘In Aprillast(1855),Ibroughtto England as m allquantity of
cotton (the raw m aterial)grow n from acclim ated Am erican cotton seed in adistrict on the banksofthe river
Jhelum ;thisspecim en Ihad show n to severalcotton spinnersin M anchester.T hey pronounced itto be the finest
specim en ofcotton they had seen grow n in India,even from directly Am erican seed,and to bew orth from 61d.to
61d.perlb.Along the banksofourP unjaub riverslie tractsofland adm irably situated forthe grow th ofcotton.It
only requiressteady encouragem enton thepartofthelocalgovernm ent,troubleand perseveranceon thepartof
the district officer,to coverthose landsw ith cotton ofthe finest quality.T he cotton that could thusbe grow n
m ight,w ith ease and at trifling cost,be conveyed in country boats(untilw e have,asw e ought to have,steam ers
on those rivers) dow n the Industo Kurrachee and there shipped for England. Kurrachee isaport of great
im portance;but,likem any thingsofgreatim portance,notheeded ortaken advantage of.The one article, cotton,
if properly cultivated in the Punjaub and in Scinde, would afford export freight for a vast number of ships visiting
Kurrachee, while Government stores for the Punjaub, private property and merchandize would afford endless
import freight, to say nothing of the great number of passengers who would avail themselves of that route.
According to aS cinde paper— 'Any one located on the banksofthe riverIndusm ight observe fleetsofboats
com ing dow n the riverin the w interm onths,allladen w ith cotton.T he cotton brought to S cinde and shipped at
S ukkurcom esacrosstheJaysulm ereDesert.

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 EXPORTS. 1847-48 1856-57
Horses R.2,05,800 R.4,31,800
Indigo 28,252 3,54,655
Munjeet 3,765 4,40,552
Other Dyes and Drugs 1,03,234 1,30,949
Wheat 19,439 10,672
Other Grain 43,071 1,57,337
Ghee 7,268 1,56,107
Saltpetre 79 3,75,472
Jingly Seed (Sesamum) .. 8,37,621
Sursee Seed (Rape) .. 3,16,000
Other Seeds 22,383 91,606
Silk, raw 537 3,20,174
Wool 1,81,598 31,15,903
Treasure . 7,73,719 98,816
Other Articles 98,163 5,05,057
Total £ 154,730 16 734,522 4

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