An Account of The Kingdom of Nepal Part 20

West from Kottahar is the lordship of Yasawal, to which belong part of the hills, and part of the valley or Dun. For its size, it is exceedingly rich, as it produces about 200,000 rupees a-year. It belongs to Amed Singha, a pure Rajput, who is squeezed sometimes by Sangsar and sometimes by Ranjit, and is compelled to follow them in war. He resides at Rajgar or Rajpur, which is by nature strong, and contains about 2000 houses. It is colder than Nadaun. The chief possesses on the plain a fort called Setabgar.

West from Yasawal is the chief of Datarpur, who has also some territory in the valley and some on the hills. These may annually produce 40,000 rupees.

West from Datarpur is such another lordship, called Siva, the revenue of which may be 25,000 rupees a-year. Like the chief of Datarpur, the lord of Siva is squeezed by both Sangsar and Ranjit.

On the hills between these two petty chiefs and Kangra is Gular, whose chief is of the same family with Sangsar, but he pays tribute to Ranjit.

His country is very productive, and pays about 250,000 rupees a-year.

Haripur, his capital, contains from 1000 to 1500 houses, which are reckoned very well built.

West from Gular and Siva is Nurpur, the Raja of which possesses part of the hills, part of the Dun or valley, and part of the great Indian plain.

What he has on the latter is called Pathankot, from the name of his tribe, for he is a Pathaniya Rajput, not a Pathan Muhammedan. Dalel Singha, the last chief, survived his son, and was succeeded by his grandson, Vir Singha, who married a daughter of Sangsar. His revenue may be 250,000 rupees a-year. Nurpur, the capital, contains about 2500 houses, among whom are some settlers from Kasmira, who have fifty looms employed in weaving shawls.

North from Nurpur is an extensive dominion, situated on both sides of the Rawi, and called Chamba. A long ridge of mountains, the summits of which are covered with perpetual snow, separates from the great ridge of Emodus, near the source of the Bepasa, or Bayas, and, running to the south-east, pa.s.ses near Kangra, then crosses the Rawi, and finally bends to the north-west, towards Kasmira. This ridge, called Pariyat, in general forms the south-east boundary of Chamba; but, on its south side, the chief possesses a territory called Rillu. This was invaded by Sangsar, and Ray Singha, the chief of Chamba, was killed in its defence.

The territory was restored to Iswari, the son of Ray, on condition of his paying annually 17,000 mans of rice. This tribute was transferred to Ranjit, along with the fortress of Kangra.

The parts of Chamba beyond the Pariyat mountains are very cold, and have several communications with Thibet, but Hariballabh knows that part by report alone.

Separated, in general, by the Pariyat mountains from Chamba, is the country of Kullu, watered in the centre by the Bayas, called Bepasa in the Sangskrita, but its territory extends to the Satadru of the sacred language, which, in the dialect of men, is called Satarudra. Kullu is extensive, but cold, mountainous, and barren, producing, however, many sheep. The grains which grow there are mostly phaphar, chuya, and uya.

The chuya, from the description given, would seem to be the Holcus sorghum, although the coldness of the situation renders this doubtful.

There is a very good communication between Kullu and Thibet; and the intercourse has been so free, that all alliances with the chief, although admitted to be a pure Rajput, are scouted by the purer inhabitants of the southern mountains. His name is Ratra Singha, the son of Pritama.

South from Kullu is Mundi, a smaller but better country, which possesses a mine of iron, and another of culinary salt, the latter of which is valuable. So far as I can understand the description, it is a rock salt, very full of impurities, so that one-half is lost in the processes of lixiviation and evaporation, which are requisite to fit it for use. The two mines produce annually a revenue of 150,000 rupees, and the lands produce as much. The present chief, named Iswari Sen, is a pure Rajput.

Mundi, his capital, contains about 1000 houses, all of stone. Kamalgar, towards the southern frontier, is reckoned a very strong place, situated on a great hill.

Sukhet is a narrow territory, hemmed in between Mundi and the Satadru, which separates both from the dominions of Gorkha. The Raja Prakas Sen is related to the chiefs of Mundi, and Sangsar has married his sister.

The country produces about 100,000 rupees a-year, but has no mines.

Sukhet, the capital, may contain 500 houses. The Raja possesses a fort called Dahar, which defends him from the attacks of Kahalur.

NOTES.

{7} Asiatick Researches, Vol. II. p. 307.

{10} Nepaul, p. 150.

{11} Kirkpatrick's Nepaul, pp. 159, 162, and 163.

{17} Nepaul, p. 193, 196.

{21a} Nepaul, p. 185.

{21b} Nepaul, p. 184, 185.

{25} Nepaul, pp. 184 and 281.

{26a} Nepaul, pp. 249252.

{26b} Nepaul, p. 123.

{29} Nepaul, pp. 149, 150.

{30} Nepaul, pp. 183, 184.

{41a} Nepaul p. 158.

{41b} Nepaul p. 159.

{43} Nepaul, p. 186.

{46} Nepaul, p. 265.

{49} Vol. 1. p. 311.

{50a} Nepaul, p. 265.

{50b} Ib. p. 22149.

{51} Nepaul, p. 186.

{52} Nepaul, p. 180.

{55} Nepaul, pp. 249252.

{59} Nepaul, p. 148.

{67a} Saul, Kirkpatrick's Nepaul, pp. 17 and 35, Shoraea robusta, Roxb.

{67b} Sissoo, Kirkpatrick's Nepaul, pp. 17 and 35.

{67c} Sulla, Surreen dhool, and Db.o.o.bke, Kirkpatrick's Nepaul, pp. 33 and 43.

{70} Nepaul, p. 171.

{74} Kohrya, Kirkpatrick, p. 94.

{78a} Nepaul, p. 177.

{78b} Nepaul, p. 177.

{83a} Phulaced, Kirkpatrick's Nepaul, p. 79, Bhang, id. p. 81.

{83b} Kirkpatrick's Nepaul, p. 81.

{83c} Chillownia, Kirkpatrick's Nepaul, p. 79.

{84a} Nepaul, p. 79.