These being over, they draw the casting nets separately; some of which, as well as those round their waists, are often quite full. In the river Tadi, which, augmented by the waters of the Sindoora and Bailhote rivulets, winds round the south point of the Chardi-baisi hill, there are eels of a very large size, and of excellent flavour. The usla, a fish not unlike the British salmon in taste, is also found in the Tadi, and the phaketa abounds in the stream. The phaketa is a species of small fish, remarkable both for the swiftness with which it glides through the water, and the singular construction of its superior fins, which resemble a fan both in form and in the manner in which they open and close.

Of the entomological tribe of Nepaul, nothing need be said. The insects and reptiles correspond with all those of Hindostan; the only exception being the bee, which is numerous in the valley, providing excellent honey, and supplying the wax which forms so important an article of

commerce.

CHAPTER V.

THE INHABITANTS OF NEPAUL, ESPECIALLY THE MILITARY TRIBES.

THE inhabitants of Nepaul consist chiefly of Brahmins and Ketries, with their various subdivisions of Newars, Dherwars, Mhargies, Bhootias, and Bhamas. The former of these compose the army, engross all situations of trust, whether civil or military, and are dispersed promiscuously throughout the country. The Newars are confined almost to the valley of Nepaul. The Dherwars and Mhargies are the husbandmen and fishers of the western districts; and the Bhootias, though some families of them.

are planted in the lower lands, occupy, generally speaking, such parts of the Kachâr as are inincluded in the Nepaul territories. The Bhamas are a sort of separatists from the Newars, supposed to amount to five thousand; they shave their heads like the Bhootias, observe many of the religious rites, as well as civil costume of their idolaters, in a dialect of whose language they are said to preserve their sacred writings. To the eastward of Nepaul some districts are inhabited by Limboos, Naggunkotes, and others.

The Newars are divided into several casts or orders, most of which derive their origin, like those among the more ancient Hindoos, from a primitive classification, according to trades and occupations.

The peasantry of the Parbattiahs, or hillpeople, are divided into four classes, denominated Onwals, Doems, Scoons, and Chaurems. These are Persian terms, and denote first, second, third, and fourth. The Onwals are those peasants who possess five ploughs and upwards; the Doems, such as have from one

to five; the Scooms are those whom, without being proprietors of ploughs, are considered to be at the head of a few or more labourers; and the lands of Nepaul proper are cultivated, almost without exception, by Newars; those to the westward, as Noorkale, &c., by the Parbatty tribe, called Dherwara.

The Ryots or peasantry are distinguished also into Koohrya and Perjà. The former are those settled in Bertha proprietory, or other rent-free lands, and are not liable to be called on by government for any services, except the repair of roads, and attendance in the army upon particular occasions. The Perjàs, who occupy lands actually belonging to the Prince, though perhaps in the immediate possession of Jagheerdars, are, on the contrary, obliged to perform various services, both at the call of the Jagheerdar and of the Prince.

The great aboriginal stock of the inhabitants of the mountains, east of the river Kâli, as in Nepaul, is Mongol. The fact is inscribed, in characters so plain, upon their faces, forms, and

languages, that we may well dispense with the superfluous and vain attempt to trace it historically in the meagre chronicles of barbarians.

But, from the twelfth century downwards, the tide of Mussulman conquest and bigotry continued to sweep multitudes of the Brahmins of the plains from Hindostan into the proximate hills, which now compose the western territories of the kingdom of Nepaul. There the Brahmins soon located themselves; they found the natives illiterate, and without faith, but fierce and proud.

Their object was to make them converts to Hindooism, and so to confirm the fleeting influence derived from their learning and politeness. They saw that the barbarians had vacant minds, ready to receive their doctrines, but spirits not apt to stoop to degradation; and they acted accordingly. To the earliest and most distinguished of their converts they communicated, in defiance of the creed they taught, the lofty rank and honours of the Kshatriya order. But the Brahmins had sensual passions