It was only in the immediate neighbourhood of Gwarjak that the native huts were constructed of dried palm-leaves, the fertile soil of that district rendering this feasible.
Attended by Chengiz Khan in a gorgeous costume of blue and yellow silk, and followed by a rabble of two or three hundred men and boys, I visited the bazaar next morning.

Chengiz had preceded his visit with the present of a fine goat, and evidently meant to be friendly, informing me, before we had gone many yards, that the Queen of England had just invested the Djam of Beila (a neighbouring chief) with the Star of India, and did I think that that honour was very likely to accrue to him?
The trade of Sonmiani is, as may be imagined, insignificant.

Most of the low dark stalls were kept for the sale of grain, rice, salt, and tobacco, by Hindus; but I was told that a brisk trade is done in fish and sharks' fins; and dried fruits, madder, and saffron, sent down from the northern districts, are exported in small quantities to India and Persia.

In the vicinity are some ancient pearl-fisheries of considerable value, which were once worked with great profit.

These have been allowed to lie for many years undisturbed, owing to lack of vigour and enterprise on the part of those in power in the state.