'The views and opinions of Brigadier General John Jacob, CB. Aide-decamp to the Queen; Aide-de-camp to the Governor General of India, &c. &c. &c.; late commanding in chief the British forces in Persia; at present commanding the Sind Irregular Horse, and Political Superintendent of the North-West frontier of Sind.' [‎272] (302/481)

272
The place is remarkable for its dust-storms, which,
bad everywhere in Upper Sind and Kutchee, are here
of almost incredible violence and density. They occur
frequently, at all seasons of the year, sometimes changing
the light of mid-day to an intensity of darkness to which
no ordinary night ever approaches, and this darkness in
severe storms lasts occasionally for one, two, or more
hours. These dust-storms on both sides of the desert
are sometimes accompanied by blasts of the simoom, a
poisonous wind, which is equally destructive to vegetable
and animal life.
Such was the state of the people and of the country,
when, at the request of the political officers, a detachment
was ordered, in the month of June 1839, to proceed from
Sukkur and Shikarpoor against Beejar Khan. The season
was one of intense heat, which has never since been
equalled: the thermometer in the hospital shed at Shikar
poor stood commonly at 130°, and on several days reached
the astonishing height of 140°—one day it even stood at
143°. The wind appeared like a blast from a furnace, and
this even at midnight. Such was the weather in which
British soldiers were sent forth for the first time to proceed
against the wild tribes of Eastern Beloochistan.
There had been left behind, from the army of Lord
Keane, at Sukkur, about one hundred and fifty European
soldiers, men chosen from every regiment of the army,
Royal and Company's, and from every troop of horse and
company of foot artillery, of both the Bengal and Bombay
presidencies.
These men were of course the worst which could be
found : they were composed of those who could not march,
who were troublesome, disorderly, discontented, or feeble.
These men were placed under the command of Lieutenant