Newars are confined almost entirely to the valley of Nepaul Proper. The Dhenwars and INThanjees arc the husbandmen and fishers of the western districts. The Bhootias, generally speaking, occupy such parts of the K.uchar ridge as are in the dominions of Nepaul. The Bhanras are a sort of separatists from the Newars, and have conformed to the Bhootias in the custom of shaving their heads, and many other idolatrous rites. To the eastw:rd, some districts are inhabited by various un civilized tribes of the lowest Hibdoo castes, but of whom little mole is known except the names. The principal are the Kerrauts, the Hawoos, the Limbooas, and Mig gerkootees.
As Nepaul has been ruled for many centuries by princes of the Rajepoot tribe ; and as the various classes of Hin doos appear to have, at all periods, composed a great part of its population, there is a very general resem blance in manners and customs between this part of the inhabitants and their kindred sects in the adjacent pro vinces of Hindostan. They are. probably, the only Hin doo people who have never heen disturbed by any Mus sulman power. They are distinguished by a striking and universal simplicity of character, which appears in all classes, and in all their modes of life. 'I' ey are free from all ostentation or parade in public or pt ivate life, and discover great suavity of deportment, ease, and frankness, and, apparently also, a superior integrity of conduct to the more polished and wealthy inhabitants of southern India. EVCD among themselves, the lower or ders are permitted to use considerable freedom in their carriage and conversation, in the presence of the supe rior orders ; and a private soldier, addressing the high est officer, or a poor fisherman, approaching a governor, delivers his sentiments without any backwardness or embarrassment ; but, at the same time, without any de gree of rudeness or disrespect. The Newars differ con siderably from the other Hindoo natives in character, customs, language, and religious rites, particularly in feeding on the flesh of buffaloes ; and appear to be an in sulated race of people, whose origin cannot be traced to any of the nations immediately surrounding, but who are conjectured to have sprung from a Tartar or Chi nese stock. They are not supposed to have been at any
period of a warlike disposition, and are rarely employ ed in the army ; but are almost exclusively engaged in the agriculture, arts, and manufactures of the country. They are, in general, of a middle size, with broad shoul ders and chest, stout limbs, round flat faces, small eyes, low, and somewhat spreading noses, open and cheerful countenances. They possess great corporeal strength, and are capable of severe labour, particularly in travel ling as hill porters under heavy burdens. Their com plexion is between a. copper and sallow colour. The women have sometimes a little florid tint on the cheek ; and it is remarkable that, like the females among the Nairs of Malabar, they may have as many husbands as they please, with the power of divorcing- them on the slightest pretences.
The pundits of the country are not inferior to those of any other Hindoo district, in the branches of science usually cultivated among them. Their favourite study is astronomy, or rather judicial astrology, to which, in deed, all ranks are strongly attached, and by which al most all their proceedings, both in public and private life, are chiefly directed. It is supposed that ancient and valuable Sanscrit manuscripts, in every department of Brahminical learning-, are more likely to be found in the valley of Nepaul, particularly at Bhatgong, than in any other place in India. Besides the Sanscrit, which is cul tivated by the Brahmins, several vernacular languages are spoken by the different tribes which have been men tioned. See Asiatic Researches, vol.ii.—Turner's Em bassy to Thibet.—Kirkpatrick's Account of the Kingdom of Xelzaul.--And Dr. Francis Buchanan's Account of Nepaul. (q)