A Journey to Katmandu (the Capital of Napaul), with the Camp of Jung Bahadoor: Including a Sketch of the Nepaulese Ambassador at HomeOliphant, Laurence
History
A Journey to Katmandu (the Capital of Napaul), with the Camp of Jung Bahadoor: Including a Sketch of the Nepaulese Ambassador at Home
Oliphant, Laurence
Nepal -- Description and travel
Leaving Jaunpore about midnight, I reached the camp of Jung Bahadoor on
the following day. The scene as we approached was in the highest degree
picturesque; 5000 Nepaulese were here collected, followers, in various
capacities, of the Prime Minister, whose tents were pitched at a little
distance from the grove of mango-trees which sheltered his army and
retainers. On our arrival he was out shooting, so, mounting an elephant,
we proceeded to join him. We heard such frequent reports of fire-arms
that we fully expected to find excellent sport; great was my
disappointment, therefore, when I saw him surrounded by some 20 or 30
followers, who held umbrellas, loaded his guns, rushed to pick up the
_game_, or looked on applaudingly while he stealthily crept up to take a
deliberate pot shot at some unlucky parrot or small bird that might catch
his eye as it perched on a branch, or fluttered unconsciously amongst the
leaves. But the most interesting object in the group was the
lately-wedded bride, who was seated in a howdah. Jung introduced her to
me as "his beautiful Missis"--a description she fully deserved. She was
very handsome, and reflected much credit on the taste of the happy
bridegroom, who seemed pleased when we expressed our approval of his
choice.
Before quitting the subject of Jung's shooting-party, I must remark, in
justice to him as a sportsman, that he considers nothing less than a deer
to be game at all. Tiger or rhinoceros shooting is his favourite sport,
and he looks upon shooting a parrot, a snipe, a hawk, or a partridge as
being equally unworthy of the name of sport, nor does he understand why
some of those birds should be dignified with the name of "game," and the
others not.
At dawn on the following morning the stir and bustle in camp announced an
early start, and our elephant appeared at the tent door just as the
gallant rifle corps marched past, the band playing the "British
Grenadiers." Mounting the elephant, we picked our way through the debris
of the camp, now almost deserted; some few of the coolies were still
engaged packing the conical baskets which they carry on their backs, one
strap passing over the forehead, and two others over the shoulders. The
appearance of a hill coolie as he thus staggers along under his
tremendous burden is singular enough, and so totally unlike that of the
coolies of the plains, that it was a sort of promise of there being in
store for us more curiosities, both of Nepaulese men and manners, in
their native country, and we looked with no little interest upon the
first specimens we had seen of the Newar race--the aborigines of Nepaul.
Short and compact, the full development of their muscle bore evidence to
their almost Herculean strength. Their flat noses, high cheek-bones,
small eyes, and copper-coloured complexion are unequivocal signs of a
Mongolian origin, whilst the calves of their legs, which I never saw
equalled in size, indicate the mountainous character of their country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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