The religion of Ncpaul in general resembles the Ilin doo tenets established in other parts of India ; ancl, from the secluded naturc of the country, has been preserved in a state of superior purity. The valley of Nepaul par ticularly abounds with temples of great sanctity ; and almost every fountain, river, or hill, is consecrated to somc one or other of the Hindoo divinities. of whom nearly 3000 arc worshipped within its limits.
The commerce of Ncpaul is neither so extensive nor beneficial as it might be rendered by proper regulations. The ignorance and jealousy of the government, together with certain monopolies, prevent a frce prosecution of trade betweenThibet and the East India Company through the channel of Nepaul, which might prove highly bene ficial to all parties. At the same time considerable pro tection is afforded to foreign merchants resident in the country. The principal exports to British India are, elephants, elephants' teeth, rice, timber, hides, ginger, terra japonica, turmeric, wax, honey, resin, walnuts, oranges, long-pepper, ghee, bark of the root of bastard cinnamon, dried leaves of ditto, large cardamums, dam ma, lamp-oil, and cotton of the simul tree. Besides these articles, which arc the produce of the country, various commodities from Thibct are transferred in the trade with India, particularly small horses, sheep, goats, and other domestic animals, gold dust and grains, salt, sulphur, antimony, arsenic, musk, and several medicinal drugs. The imports from the Company's dominions into Ne paul, either for the consumption of that country, or for the Thibet market, are Bengal cloths, tnuslins, silks of various sorts, raw silk, gold and silver laces, carpets, British cutlery, saffron, spices, sandal-wood, quicksil ver, cotton, tin, lead, zinc, soap, camphor, tobacco, and coral, The inhabitants of the valley fabricate a coarse cotton cloth, for home consumption; and make paper from the bark of certain trees. They work well in copper, iron, brass, Sze.; and export to the south somc of their brazen utensils. Their cutlery, such as swords, daggers, Ecc. is good ; but they have not succeeded in an attempt to manufacture fire-arms. They gild exceedingly well ; and construct bells of so large a size as five feet in di ameter. They are very ingenious in carpentry, though they never use a saw, but divide their wood, of what ever size, by the chissei and mallet. They make a little
salt and salt-petre, but not equal to that of Thibet. They also distil spirits from rue and other grains, and prepare a strong fermented liquor from wheat, &cc. The cur rency consists chiefly of silver pieces of eight annas, called a mohr, or of sixteen annas, called a sirca. They have a coin of so low a value as the 288th part of a sicca. There are rupees, and some very small coins of gold struck at the mint ; but these are employed rather as medals and presents than as current coin. There are likewise copper coins, 36 of which are equal to one mohr.
The principal towns of Nepaul are, Catamandoo, or Khatmandli, Patn, Bhatgoug, Kirthipoor, within the val ley ; and Gorcah, Jemlah, Almora, and Serinagur, in the other districts. The first of these, though surpass ed by some of the others in size and appearance, is count ed the capital, as being the residence of the Rajah. It stretches along the east bank of the Bishnmutty river about a mile in length, arid seldom extending above half a mile in breadth ; and is chiefly remarkable for the mul titude of its wooden temples. The houses are built of brick and tiles, (which are of excellent quality,) and are three or four stories in height, but generally of a mean appearance. The streets are narrow and filthy ; and the number of inhabitants, including those of the dependent villages, is estimated at 50,000. The town of Kirthipoor made so obstinate a resistance to the Goorkhali in his reduction of the country, that Ile commanded all the men's noses to be cut off ; and, in derision of the unhap py sufferers, ordered the name of the place to be chang ed into Nascatapoor, "the town of men without noses." The population of the valley alone is reckoned at no less than half a million, but the rest of the country is by no means so closely peopled.
The inhabitants of this country consist chiefly of the superior classes of Hindoos, (Brahmins, and Khetrees, with their various subdivisions,) and of Newars, Dhen wars, Ailianjees, Bhootias, and Bhanras. The former of these, (who compose the army of the state, and en gross all situations of trust,whether civil or rnilitary,) are found dispersed promiscuously throughout the country.