SIND

[s. 699] : A part of the Northwest Frontier Province of India. It occupies the lower part of the Indus valley, including the delta of that river. West of it lies Balu chi stan, east Rajputana, and south the Arabian Sea and the Rann of Kachchh. It has an average density of population of only about 50 to the square mile. The country is largely destitute of trees, flat and uninteresting Its soil is, in many places, in appearance. strongly impregnated with salt. Mohammedans preponderate, over three-quarters of the populaHindus constitute only tion being of that faith. an eighth, Sikhs about 5 per cent., aboriginal tribes about 3 per cent., Christians over 7,000, The Jains and Parsees a you sand or more each. Sindis represent the original Hindu population, but are now Mohammedans, having been converted under the reign of early Mohammedan rulers. The history of the province is comFor many plicated, and not of special interest. centuries it was ruled alternately by Hindu and by Mohammedan dj’nasties. As English power on the coast became stronger, entanglements At with outlying native rulers were inevitable. times the use of armed force against them was nece ary for self-defense or for retaliation; and at other times treaties for trade and commerce would be made, and very likely broken, which again was supposed to render nece ary military measures. As a result of such relationships, Sind was conquered in 1843 by an army under Sir Charles Napier, and formally annexed to Karachi is the chief town; it British dominions. lies at the northern end of the Indus delta, and by the erection of elaborate harbor works it has been made one of the most important seaports in Western India. The Church Mi ionary Society occupied Kara The succhi in 1850 and Haidarabad in 1857. The American Methodists ce has been small. began work in Karachi, largely among une van Education gelized Europe ans, in 1872 or 1873. has made rapid progre since the advent of BritIn 1859-60 there were only 20 govish power. ernment schools; in 1883-84 there were 340, with There are also priv.ate scliools, 23,273 pupils. The not included in the government figures. last census shows a gratifying number of men and language women who can read and write. The in principal use is Sindhi, one of the Sanskrit family. 699