NEPAUL, an extensive independent sovereignty in India, comprehends nearly the whole of Northern Hin dostan. Its territories, including the tributary pro vinces, arc situated principally between the 27th and 32d degrees of north latitude, stretching in length from north-east to south-west, about 700 miles, and 100 at the average breadth. On the cast they arc bounded by the possessions of the Deb Rajah of Bhootan, front which they are separated by thc river Teesta; on the south east by the AIorung hills, which divide them from the Bengal districts of Betwee, Hazary, &c.; and, on the north-east by the alpine idge of Kuchar, which forms the frontier of Thibet. On the south, they are bounded by the British districts in Bengal, Bahar, Oude, and Delhi. On the west, since the conquest of Serinagur in 1803, by the Nepaulese, the river Sutelege separates these territories from those of Lahore. Along the whole of the northern frontier, the great chain or the Hima laya mountains divides them front the table-lancl of Ti bet. But it is only a small part of this extent which is properly denominated Nepaul. This appellation is li mited to a valley of an oval figure, above 50 miles in circumference, bounded by stupendous mountains on the north and south, and on the east and west by less elevated ridges. The bottom of the valley is calculated to be at least 4000 feel above the level of the sca, and the highest of its nearest mountains on the north at 4000 more. The most elevated of these, named Sheo puri, gives rise to the rivers Bhagmatty and Vishnu matty, which, with many other strcams, traverse the valley, and fertilize its fields. The surface of this in closed spot is very uneven, intersected with deep ravines and studded with little hills. In the ancient Ilindoo books it is called Deceani Tapoo, or the southern isle, in reference to its situation with respect to the Hima laya! mountains, and is described as originally an im mense lake, which, within the progress of ages, had re tired within the banks of the Bhagniatty, or, according to other accounts, VeaS evacuated by the present channel of that river, which one of its former sovereigns caused to be opened through thc southern ridgc or mountains.
'lite ancient history of Nepaul is involved in mytho logical fables, and represents this secluded valley as one of the favourite haunts of the IIindoo deities. The lirst of its princes of whom a chronological list is preserved, was Nymuni, who communicated his name to the val ley, and whose dynasty continued to reign about 500 ycars. Various succeeding dynasties are detailed in the
national traditions, but the periods assigned to the re spective reigns are obviously extended far beyond the ordinary conrse of human life, and utterly unworthy of credit. Amidst these revolutions and changes of mas ters, however, it does not appear to have ever fallen under any of the great Asiatic powers, but to have been sub jected by internal usurpers, or adjacent invaders. In A. D. 1323, Kurr Sing Deo, Rajah of Semroun Ghur, being driven from his own possessions in Oude by the Patans, completely subdued Nepatil, and retained the crown in his family till the year 1768, when Purthi Na I a) on, Rajah of Ghoorka, who had been invited into the country as an ally, made himself master of the kingdom. In 1769 an attempt was made by the British government to re-instate Runjeet Mull, the dethroned sovereign, who had taken refuge in Benara, and a military force was sent, under Captain Kinloch, into Ncpaul, which penetrated as far as Sedowly ; but the sickliness of the troops occasioned the enterprise to be abandoned, and the usurper in the end made new additions to his domi nions. He was succeeded in 1771 by his son Singh Per taut), who extended the empire considerably towards the south-west, and died in 1775. His brother, Bahadur Shah, acting as regent, subdued, in like manner, all the state towards the west, as far as Serinagur. About the year 1790, the Nepaulese, having repeatedly invaded and plundered the Lamas of Tibet, Were attacked by a numerous Chinese army, and compelled to become tri butaries to the Emperor of China. The court of Ne paul, in the first alarm occasioned by this invasion, had requested the aid of the British government in India, and Captain Kirkpatrick was dispatched by Lord Corn wallis, in 1793, to mediate between the two powers; but the Nepaulese having submitted before his arrival, his endeavours were directed to the establishment of a com mercial treaty between the Ghoorkali and the East India Company, which had already been commenced by Mr. Duncan, when resident at Benara. The extreme jea lousy of the Nepaulesc, however, frustrated all his en deavours, and it was not till the year 1801 that a friendly alliance was formed between the two governments. In order to carry into effect the provisions of this trcaty, and to promote other negociations between the Gover nor-General and thc Nepaul Rajah, each agreed to de pute a confidential person to reside as envoy with the other.