An Account of The Kingdom of Nepal: And of the Territories Annexed to this Dominion by the House of GorkhaHamilton, Francis
History
An Account of The Kingdom of Nepal: And of the Territories Annexed to this Dominion by the House of Gorkha
Hamilton, Francis
Nepal -- Description and travel; Nepal -- History
The Subah, being a merchant of Banaras, keeps the Catechu at his own
disposal, and, besides the duties, has probably much profit on this
article as a merchant.
The duties on timber are formed in three lots, to three Fouzdars, and the
nett proceeds only have been included.
The rents on pasture are farmed on the same plan to two Fouzdars.
His whole establishment, therefore, does not probably exceed 7000 rupees
a-year.
Two captains (Subahdars) have lands in the district for the maintenance
of 300 men.
The Subah, as judge, receives 25 _per cent_. on all sums recovered in his
court, but the greater part of this goes to the Raja. The Subah,
however, always receives presents from the defendant, when the suit is
given in his favour, and he has fees in the management of the police.
The avowed profits, in the management of justice and police in the year
1809–10, are said, in even numbers, to have been 15,000 rupees.
The inhabitants of Vijaypur, towards the east, are chiefly Koch or
Rajbangsis, who are considered as the same, live on the plain, and speak
the dialect of Bengal; on the lower hills are many Mech. Both these
tribes are original inhabitants of Kamrup. In the western parts, most of
the cultivators are of the Gangaye cast, who speak the dialect of
Mithila, and adhere to the doctrines of purity, as established in that
country. On the hills, the people are mostly Khas, or a mixed breed
between the mountain Hindus and natives, with some Rajputs, and some
Magars, who have been lately introduced.
The northern part of the eastern division of the principality, founded by
Lohangga, has been lately formed into a distinct district, and its Subah
resides at Chayenpur. The hilly parts of Sikim, so far as has been
subdued, and a portion of Thibet, bordering on the Arun river, have been
annexed to the jurisdiction, which is bounded by the Sengkhuya Arun, and
Kausiki on the west, and by the Tista on the east, extending between 80
and 90 miles in these directions, and perhaps about 60 or 70 from north
to south. It consists altogether of lofty mountains, rising, in many
parts, to the most tremendous Alps.
The land revenue, I am told, is very trifling, the whole almost being
held by military tenure; but I did not learn the particulars. The chief
revenues are the customs at Golas, mines, and capitation, (Rajangka,) but
the two last are not collected by the Subah. There is no Sayer.
The forts are Chayenpur, about two or three coses from the Arun,
Changiya, Hedang, a large place towards the frontier of Thibet,
Darjiling, and Sikim.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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