94 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE 



for one and two, which are variously expressed, as 

 applied to different subjects : they however use the 

 Hindu words in counting from two to twenty ; and, 

 when reckoning any thing which exceeds that 

 quantity, they begin again at one, numbering by 

 scores. Of their manufacture and commerce little 

 can be said. The small and common Hindostany bed- 

 steads are made by the highlanders, and brought 

 down for sale, with the wood-work of ploughs rudely 

 shaped. Wood for various purposes, as well as for 

 fire, with charcoal, and planks shaped with a hat- 

 chet (probably that they may be more portable) 

 are also brought down for sale : to these, bamboos, 

 cotton, honey, plantains, sweet potatoes, and occa- 

 sionally small quantities of grain, may be added, 

 and will, I believe, include all the articles, which 

 they barter for their few wants from the plains ; such 

 as salt, tobacco, rice, for the purpose of worship; 

 cloth, iron heads for arrows, hatchets, crooks, and 

 such iron implements as they may have occasion 

 for. I may add, that they have no manufactures : 

 except the bed-steads, there is nothing made in the 

 hills : they are even indebted to their neighbours on 

 the plains for earthen pots. Salt and tobacco are their 

 principal wants ; for, in describing such hill-villages 

 as are nearest market-towns, or such as have hauls 

 on the plains, it is common to say, such a hill-vil- 

 lage is supplied with these articles by such a town 

 on the plains. Thus their trade is confined to a very 

 narrow compass. Cultivation is in as unimproved and 

 rude a state as it well can be, and seldom more ex- 

 tensive 



