342 NARRATIVE OF A 



From Paeenkiinda comes a species of blanket call- 

 ed PiDickee. Tliey are of sheep's wool, of a texture 

 resembling those sold in the Dooab and called Loocest 

 but stronger and finer. 



From RoMlcund all kind of cotton cloths are im- 

 ported, as also considerable quantities of salt, the 

 kind brought from Laiiore, known commonly by the 

 name Nemuk Lahooree. This th.e Bootan people carry 

 back in exchange for the merchandize they bring. A 

 kind of rice is also imported from the southern coun- 

 tries, below the ghats, remarkable for the odour it 

 diffuses, when boiled. It is produced in several 

 parts of Hindustan, but particularly in the mountain- 

 ous countries of Ramghur. 



At the diiferent ghats or passes into the mountains, 

 duties on imports and some kinds of expoit.> are levi- 

 ed ; which, accordiiig to the best information I conld 

 obtain, is on an average about six per cent on their 

 value, but on some particular articles, an additional 

 duty is laid. The pass at Coadwara is rented by an 

 officer called Halcein, who pays annually to the rajah 

 twelve thousand rupees. 



Upon the authority of the rajah's historian, this 

 raaje was, for many years, exempt from tribute to 

 anyone. In the reign ofAcBAR, that prince de- 

 ir.anded of the rajah of Slrmagur, an account of the 

 revenues of his raqje, and a chart of the country. 

 The rajah being then at court, repaired to the pre- 

 sence the following day ; and in obedience to the 

 conmiands of the king, presented a true statement 

 of his finances, and for the chart of the countr}^ he 

 humorously introduced a lean camel, saying "this 

 is a faithful picture of the territory 1 possess ; Kp and 

 dffwn (oonclianeechu), and very poor." The king 

 smiled at the ingenuity of the thought, and told him 

 that from the revenues of a country realized with so 

 much labour, and in amount so small, he had no- 

 thins: 



