government; and these were called the Ameers of Hyderabad, the name of their capital. This mode of government was imitated after the death of Futteh Ali at Khyrpoor, where also a plurality of Ameers claimed and exercised authority, though one was recognised as chief.
The East India Company had for a long series of years made repeated efforts to establish commercial relations with the Ameers of Sinde: but these chiefs, independent of the rooted jealousy they entertained towards all strangers, led a very pococurante sort of life, caring very little for anything connected with trade and commerce but the collection of the duties thereon, which was effected for them by their Beloochee troops, while they amused themselves in their shikargahs, or hunting-grounds, which spread over very extensive portions of the country along the banks of the Indus.
In process of time, however, the perseverance of the Company's agents effected certain treaties with the Ameers, and a certain footing in the country, which enabled the British in 1838 to interpose their good offices between the Ameers and Runjeet Singh, the Lion of the Punjaub, who was going to pounce upon them; in consideration of which act of kindness, the Ameers agreed to our unmolested right of navigating the Indus, and to the permanent residence of a British minister at the Court of Hyderabad, with the power of changing his ordinary place of abode, and the right of being attended by a suitable escort.
This was the narrow end of the wedge, and our Indian diplomatists were too experienced in such matters not to drive it home effectually. When we formed the tripartite treaty with Runjeet Singh and Shah Sujah, for the purpose of reseating the latter on the throne of Cabul, we opportunely discovered that the Ameers were deeply indebted for tribute to our protégé, Sinde having been formerly a dependency of Cabul, and we accordingly enforced payment of the same. Subsequently, when we could not get permission to march our troops into Affghanistan through the Punjaub, we took the liberty of doing so
