The soil of Scind, which was at one time covered by the sea, seems to suffer still more generally from the same superabundance of the carbonates of soda, formed from the chlorides of sodium, and brought to the surface in the same manner.  But in Scind the evil is greater and more general from the smaller quantity of rain that falls.  Egypt would, no doubt, suffer still more from the same cause, inasmuch as it has still less rain than Scind, but for the annual overflowing of the Nile.  The greater part of the deserts which now disfigure the face of the globe in hot climates arise chiefly from the same causes, and they may become covered by tillage and population as man becomes wiser, more social, and more humane.

January 9, 1850.—­Halted at Nawabgunge.  A vast deal of grain of all sorts has for the last two years passed from Cawnpoor to Lucknow for sale.  The usual current of grain is from the northern and eastern districts of Oude towards Cawnpoor; but for these two years it has been from Cawnpoor to these districts.  This is owing to two bad seasons in Oude generally, and much oppression in the northern and eastern districts, in particular, and the advantage which the navigation of the Ganges affords to the towns on its banks on such occasions.  The metalled road from Cawnpoor to Lucknow is covered almost with carts and vehicles of all kinds.  Guards have been established upon it for the protection of travellers, and life and property are now secure upon it, which they had not been for many years up to the latter end of 1849.  This road has lately been completed under the superintendence of Lient.  G. Sim of the engineers, and cost above two lacs of rupees.

The minister came out with a very large cortege yesterday to see and talk with me, and is to stay here to-day.  I met him this morning on his way out to shoot in the lake; and it was amusing to see his enormous train contrasted with my small one.  I told him, to the amusement of all around, that an English gentleman would rather get no air or shooting at all than seek them in such a crowd.  The minister was last night to have received the Rajahs and other great landholders, who had come to my camp, but they told me this morning that they had some of them waited all night in vain for an audience; that the money demanded by his followers, of various sorts and grades, for such a privilege was much more than they could pay; that to see and talk with a prime minister of Oude was one of the most difficult and expensive of things.  Rajah Hunmunt Sing, of Dharoopoor, told me that he feared his only alternative now was a very hard one, either to be utterly ruined by the contractor of Salone, or to take to his jungles and strongholds and fight against his Sovereign.*

[* The Rajah was too formidable to be treated lightly, and the Amil was obliged to give in, and consent to take from him what he had paid to his predecessor; but to effect this, the Rajah was, afterwards obliged to go to Lucknow, and pay largely in gratuities.]