Memoir on Thar and

Khosa Police an uniform dress, and gradually introduce a little more discipline into that
body; but the uncertainty regarding the future administration of the districts, has
prevented much being effected in this way as yet.
141. The forts of Nowakote, Mittee and Islamkote have, since the conquest, been
garrisoned by Soda Killadars, and twelve footmen each, the Killadars being selected from
the Soda Chiefs of the Mittee and Islamkote districts before mentioned. They were
entertained * to take care of the forts, more to give them employment, and confer on them
a mark of confidence, than with the view of their being of any material use for Police
purposes. Now, however, that the forts are being allowed to full into ruin, and the
materials are being used for other buildings, &c., the keeping up of these establishments
is a needless expense. At the same time, it is of importance to secure the assistance of the
chiefs, as well as their influence, besides the consideration of their being the original
landed proprietors of the districts; and as their means of subsistence, other than the pay
now received from Government, are very slight, a monthly political stipend of fifteen
Rupees has been recommended for the Soda Chiefs of Mittee and Islamkote respectively,
in the event of the proposed modifications in the Thurr and Parkur Police being carried
out.
142. It is necessary now to allude to the district of Bakasir, situated in the eastern portion
of the Thurr, bordering on the Marwar district of the Neyur. Previous to the conquest of
Sind, this district was included in the Sind Ameer’s possessions, and the Chief made an
annual present to the Court of Hydrabad in acknowledgment of fealty. His Highness the
Maharaja of Joudpoor, however, claimed it as a part of his dominions; the adjudication of
the claim was left to the Boundary Commissioners appointed to demarcate the boundary
between Sind and Marwar in 1849 and 1850.
143. Bakasir was formerly a considerable place; of late years, however, it has comprised
some sixty bee-hive huts only, and between thirty and forty dependent hamlets or
watering places. The Chief is a Chowan Rajpoot, of the same family as the Chiefs of
Soorachund under Marwar, and now under Pahlunpoor. On the Thurr and Parkur districts
being placed under Kutch in 1844, a Deputy Kardar and Police outpost were stationed at
Bakasir, on the grounds of its having formed a part of the Meer’s possessions, from
whence customs duties had been collected, and an annual present received on account of
the Court of Hydrabad.
144. Previous to the conquest of Sind, however, neither Joudpoor nor Sind had any public
outpost there; the situation is an isolated one, in an out-of-the-way corner of the Desert,
bordering on Sind, Joudpoor, and Pahlunpoor: the Chief was, moreover, connected by
family ties with the neighbouring chiefs of the two latter States. † At one time (in 1825)
the Chief declared his district to be subordinate to Wow, at another (in 1844) to
* Vide paragraphs 8 and 9 of letter No. 11 of 1845, of 4th April, from Political Agent, Kutch, to Secretary to
Government of Sind.
† Vide Boundary Commissioners’ Report, A.D. 1850.
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