The-Indian desert claim very materially from that portion of the great African desert in the same Latitudes. Water at 20 feet, was found at 3fourzuk by Captain Lyon ; this, in the Indian desert, is anheard of. At Daismok'h, near the capital, the wells aremore tha.n 200 cubits,or 300 feet, in depth ; rind it is rare that water fit for man is found at a less distance from the surface than GO feet, in the tracts decidedly termed t'hul or desert ; though some of the flats or oases, such as that of 3Iohilla, are exceptions, and abundance of brackish water fit for cattle is found throughout at a.bout 30 feet. All the wells aro lined with basketwork made of p'hok twigs, and the water is generally drawn up by hand-lines. Water is sold in all the large towns by the 3falli race, or gardeners, who have the monopoly of this article. Most families have largo cisterns or reservoirs called' tzulka, which aro filled in the rainy season. They are of masonry, with a small trap-door at the top, made to exclude the external air, aud having a lock and key affixed. Some largo tanka are established for the community, and this water keeps sweet for eight and twelve months' consumption.
It was through this tract that Humayun sought refuge to the Dhat country ; and at Omerkot, its capital, Akbar was born. Omerkot was wrested from the Soda race" by the Rahtor tribe of Marwar, and since then the chiefs of the expelled clan have dwelt in Chore, 15 miles N.E. of Omerkot. At one time, every third year brought famine. The Soda women of this desert tract of Dhatta are proverbially handsome. In this desert and in the valley of the Indus are the Soda, Cat'hi, and Mallani, descendants of the Sogdi, Cat'hi, and Ma of Getes and Ynti, many of whom call themselves Baluch, or keep the ancient name of Numri, whilst the Zj'hut or Jut retain their primitive appellation •, also remains of the Johya and Dahya, who, with the Gete, Jut, or Hun, hold places amongst the 36 royal races of ancient India. The Baraha and Lohana tribes are there, the 'Sahrai, the great robber of the desert, the Matti, Rahtor, Joda, Chauban, Kaorwa, Johya, Sultan°, Arora, Khoomra, Sindil, Maisuri, Bishnavi, Jakhur, 'Shiag, Ashiag, and Pooniah.
The origin of the Mahoinedan Kullora and Sahrai is doubtful, but the Nyad or proselytes from Rajput or other IIindu tribes are Jut, Rajur, Oomra, Soomra, Mair or Mer, Mor or Mohor, Baluch, Loomri or Looka, Sumaicha, Mangulia, Baggreah, Dahya, Johya, Khairowi, Jangurea, Ooudur, Bairowi, Bawuri, Tawuri, Chrendea, Khossa, Sudani, Lohana. These con verts were ferocious and intolerant.
Arora, a thrifty race, tradesmen and farmers.
Bhattiah, formerly martial, now traders like the Aiwa, and both these have commercial agencies all over India.
Brahman, Bishnavi, cultivators and graziers, numerous in Dhat, some in Chore and in Omer kot, Dharnas, and Mitti.
Daodputra, founded by Daoud Khan from Shikarpur.
Dhote or Dhati, like the Kaorwa, a pastoral race of Dhat ; their cows give 8 or 10 seers of inilk daily.
Kaorwa a peaceable nomade race, chiefly in the t'hul Dhat, rear cattle.
Kullora and Talpur, Sind tribes, which fur nished the last two ruling dynasties. The Kullora, claim descent from the Abbasside khalifs, and the Talpuri from Mahomed, but both seem to be Baluchi which are essentially of Jit or Gete origin. The Talpuri (Tal or Tar, Borassus fiabelliformis or palmyra, and Pura, a town) amount to one-fourth of the population of Hyder abad, which they call Lohri or Little Sind. There are none in the T'hul.
Lohana, numerous in Dhat and Talpura ; they are scribes and shopkeepers.
.Takhur, 'Shiay, and Pooniah, harmless, indus trious, in the desert and the valley, are denomi nations of the Jit race, but most of these sections have became Mahomedans, and call themselves Zj'hut.
Johya, Dahya, and Mangulia, once Rajputs, are now Mahomedans ; are few either in the valley or desert, as also are the Baluch, Bairowi, Khai rowi, Jangurea, Oondur, and Baggreah, descended from the Pramar and Sankla Rajputs.
Zj'hut, Jut, or Jit, dwell in Sind from the sea to Daodputra, but not on the 'Phu]. They are the oldest of the proselytes to Mahomedanism.
Mair or Mer, of Bhatti origin.
Mor or Mohor, of Bhatti Noomri, Loomri, or Looka, all of which mean fox, a subdivision of the Baluch race.
Oomra and Soomra are converts from the Puar or Pramara race ; have mixed largely with Alahomedans.
Rajur, a convert from the Bhatti, cultivators, shepherds, and thieves, and evil-livers.
Rebarri, a race who iu Hindustan profess Mahomedanism, and rear camels, here were a tribe who rear camels, or, with the Bhatti, stole them.
Sahrai is the tuost numerous of the Mahornedan tribes of the desert, of which he was the terror. The Khossa is a branch of the Sahrai, whom in habits he resembles, plundering on camels, but they are cowardly and faithless.
The Soda is scattered over the desert, some are Mahomedans ; the Sumaicha is a Mahomedan proselyte from the Soda.
Sumaicha, converts to Mahomedanism from the Soda race ; some are pastoral, some are plunderers. They are dirty, and never shave.
Tawuri, T'hori, or Tori, dwell in the t'huls of Daodputra, Beejnote,- Noke aud Noakote, and Oodur ; they own and hire out camels, but, like the Bawuri and Khengar, are great thieves, and are called bhoot,' or evil spirits, and sons of the devil.