16th Stage to Pákharibús, South-East, 2 kós.

Proceeding half a kós you come to the ferry of the Arún, which is a large river rising in Bhót, passing the Himachal above Hathia, and forming the main branch of the great Cósi. It is also the conterminal limit of Kiránt and Limbúán. It is passed at Liguaghát by boat, and is there very rapid and deep, and some thirty to forty yards wide. Thence down the left bank of the Arún for one kós to Mángmá, a village inhabited by Kirántis and Limbús, being on the common frontier of both tribes. Thence quitting the Arún, you reach the Mángmá Khóla in a quarter kós, and crossing it proceed half a kós along the mountain-side (manjh) to Ghórli Kharak, which is the name of a small village, and also of a celebrated iron mine, the workers of which dwell above the line of road. A vast quantity of fine iron is procured. This mine, like all others in Népál, is the property of the Government. Iron and copper abound in Népál. Most of the iron is consumed in the magazines for the army, or otherwise within the country; but a deal of the copper is exported, and forms a good part of the pice currency of the plains on this side the Ganges. The Népálese are very military. Khas, Magar, Gúrung, and even Bráhmans, except those of the priesthood, constantly wear side-arms of home manufacture; and the large army of the State is furnished with muskets, swords, and khúkris from native ore. Thus much iron is consumed, so that none is exported, at least none in the unwrought state, possibly because from defective smelting the ore becomes hardened by the accession of fumes of charcoal, and is thus rendered unfit for those uses to which soft iron is applied. From Ghórli Kharak, an ascent of a quarter kós to Pakharibús, the haltingplace, which is a Gúrung village, large but scattered, according to the wont of that tribe.

17th Stage to Dhankuta, South-East, 2} kós.

After a severe ascent of one and a half kós, a wide flat-toppel mountain is gained, whence there is a fine view of the plains, and on the top of which is a small lake, very deep, and about half a kós in circumference. Its name is Hilial, and the water

is clear and sweet. Thence a steep descent of one kós brings you to Dhankúta, distant from Káthmándú seventy-eight standard kós by the great military road, as recorded on the milestone at Dhankúta. Dhankúta is the largest and most important place in Eastern Népál, and the head-quarters of the civil and military administrator of all the country east of the Dúd Cósi† to the Sikim frontier, excepting only what is under the inferior and subordinate officer stationed at Ilám, who has a separate district bounded towards Dhankúta by the Tamór River. Bijaypúr, Cháyanpúr, Mánjh-Kiránt, and a great part of the Limbúán, are subject to Dhankúta, where usually resides a Káji or minister of the first rank, who likewise commands the troops stationed there. After defraying the local expenses, he remits annually nine lakhs of revenue to Káthmándú. Towards the plains the jurisdiction of Dhankúta extends over the old Bijaypúr principality, and towards the hills, over the country of the Kiránts and Limbús. But both the latter tribes are poor at once and impatient of control, so that the Népál Government is content with a lax general submission and a light revenue, levied and paid through the Rais or native heads of those tribes. And this is the reason why only nine lakhs are remitted from Dhankuta to Káthmándú. The present Governor of Dhankuta is a colonel, and brother to the Premier Jang Bahadur Konwar. There is a cantonment, a powder manufactory, a parade-ground at Dhankuta, where the Sri Jang regiment, five hundred strong, is now stationed. The place owes its origin to the Górkháli dynasty, and is therefore recent; but it is growing fast into a town, the pakka houses being already numerous, and the tradesmen and craftsmen abundant, active, and skilful. Provisions are plentiful and cheap, and the workers in Kánsa (mixed metal) are celebrated for the excellence of their commodities, many of which find sale so far off as Káthmándú. The Kirántis and Limbús, who constitute the soldiery or militia of the former Bijaypur state, pay to the Górkháli Government annually, in

• The Itinerary gives seventy-one and a half kós. The difference has been explained in a prior note. The standard kós of Népál is equal to two and onethird English miles.

The central administration extends to the Dúd Cósi. See Essay on the LawI and Legal Administration of Népál in the Transactions of the Society, Vol. XVII, and Section XII. of this volume.

lieu of all other taxes and claims, seven and a half rupees per house or family. The houses or families are large, so that each can cultivate a great extent of ground. But how much (or little) soever they may raise, each family is free on payment of the annual fixed assessment, which the Rais above noticed collect and deliver. The Rais also administer police and justice among their own people in all ordinary cases. Capital crimes are referred to the Governor of Dhankúta, who must have the Durbar's sanction for every sentence of death or confiscation. Dhankuta overlooks Bijaypúr, the old capital of the Eastern Makwáni or Bijaypúr principality, which stands on the skirts of the Tarai of Morang, but within the hills; and no part of the lowlands (Madhés) is subject to the Governor of Dhankúta. The Madhés is administered by Súbahs, of whom there are seven for the whole.*

18th Stage to Bháinsiátár, South-East, 6 kós.

A sharp descent of one kós brings you to the banks of the Tamór, which is a large river, though less than the Arún. It is never fordable, and is crossed in boats. It is very deep, rapid, but not clear, and about thirty cubits wide between the hotweather banks. This is the seventh and last of the great feeders of the Cósi, which it joins at Tirbéni, a holy place of pilgrimage, so called from its being the point of union of the three rivers, Tamór, Arún, and Sún Cósi.t The Tamór rises from the western aspect of Káng-chán-júnga. We crossed the Tamór in a boat, and then proceeded half a kós down its left bank. Thence quitting the river, you skirt the base of the Mádi hill for one kós to the Tankhudá-nadi, a small hill stream. Cross it to Mámagá Tár, and then travel through this fine extensive flat for two kós. The whole is cultivable, and the most part cultivated by Denwárs and Manjhis, and it is situated on the

The seven zillahs of the Népalese lowlands, which extend from the Méchi to the Arrah, are Morang, Saptari, Mahotari, Rotahat, Bárá, Parsa, and Chitwan. These seven constitute the Eastern Tarai. The Western Tarai extends from the Arrah to the Ghagra It has lately been restored to Népál, which lost it in the war of 1416.

Of the seven Cósis, the Támba and Likhú are lost in the Sún Cósi, and the Barún in the Arún, the latter four above the route. Tirbéni is immediately above Váráha Kshetra before noticed, as the point where, or close to which, the united Cosis issue into the plains.

See Essays (1874), Part II., p. 60.

banks of the Tamór, to which the winding of the road again brings you. Quitting the Tár you advance a quarter of a kós to the Rasua Khóla, which forded, you proceed along the base of the Télia ridge for one and a quarter kós to another Tirbéni and place of pilgrimage, where the Cherwa and Telia rivers join the Tamór at Cherwa Ghát. A great fair is annually held at Cherwa, to which traders go even from Káthmándú. Thence proceeding a quarter kós, you reach the halting-place or, Bhainsia Tár. The Tár may be half a kós wide and one kós long; it is very hot and malarious, and is inhabited by the Manjhi tribe.

19th Stage to Lakshmipúr, E.N.E., 5 kós.

A quarter kós of slight ascent brings you to the Nawa Khóla, a moderate-sized stream, which is ascended for three kós by a very bad road that crosses the bouldery bed of the river many times. Thence quitting the Khóla, you commence the severe ascent of Lakshmi-chúria, which is climbed incessantly till you reach the halting-place near the hill top. Lakshmipúr is a large and flourishing village of Limbús, where men and goods abound, and the climate is fine and the water cold-a great relief after the burning Társ recently traversed.

20th Stage to Ilhang, East, 3 kós.

After a slight descent of one and a half kós, you come to Pokharia Khóla, a small stream, which is at once crossed. Thence a slight ascent of one kós up the ridge of Nángi, along the top of which another half kós brings you to the haltingplace, which is a Khas village of large size.

21st Stage to Khándráng, East, 4 kós.

A slight ascent of a quarter kós to the village of Múléi, inhabited by Khas. Thence a great descent of one kós to Kokalia Biási, or the Magpie's Glen, which is watered by the Dóé-mai, a small stream. Cross it, and ascend the ridge of Timkyá a short way, and then skirting along its waist (mánjh) for one and a quarter kós come to the Léwá Khóla, another of the innumerable streamlets of the hills. Cross it, and proceed for one and a half

kós along the base of the ridge of Khándráng to the village of the same name, which is the halting-place and a small village of Brahmans.

22d Stage to Ilám, East, 5 kós.

Descend the Khándráng ridge for half a kós, and come to a small stream called the Ratia Khóla. Cross it, and then make a severe ascent of one kós up to the ridge of Gólákharak, whence Karphók, the great ridge dividing Népál from Sikim, is visible. Thence an equally difficult descent of one kós to the Ilám Khóla, a small stream. Thence, crossing the stream, make the severe ascent of Tilkiáni ridge for one and a quarter kós. Thence skirt along the side of the hill (mánjh) for one kós to the halting-place of Ilám, which is a small fort designed to guard the eastern frontier of Népál. The Chatelain is a captain, and has a hundred soldiers under him, with eight artillerymen and one cannon of small calibre. This officer is also the civil authority of the arrondissement, and raises the extraordinary revenues thereof to meet the local expenses, sending the balance, if any, to Kathmándú. The land revenue is wholly assigned to his troops in pay.

23d Stage to Godhak, East, 2 kós.

After a steep descent of one kós you come to the Jógmai or Mai River, a small stream, which passed, you commence the steep ascent of Gódhak, and continue ascending to the haltingplace, which is a small village of Brahmans, half-way up the hill

24th Stage to Siddhi, N.E., 3 kós.

Detained much by rain to-day and yesterday, and therefore made short marches. Leaving Gódhak, ascended by a very bad road, loaded with dense vegetation, for one and a quarter kós to Karphók-chouki, a frontier Górkháli post, where eight soldiers always reside. Thence one kós along the ridge or Lekh to Súddúng, which is but another name for the ridge. Thence a slight descent of one kós to the Siddhi Khóla, a small stream, on the banks of which we halted on account of the rain.