JOURNEY TO SIRINAGUR. ,343 



thing to demand. From that period, to tlie invasion 

 of the country, by the G'or/i« rajah, it docs not ap- 

 ,j)ear that tribute has been paid to any one ; but on 

 the restoration of peace, some time in the year 179*-^, 

 that rajah demanded, in consideration of relinquish- 

 ing all the conquests he had made in the Sir'uiagur 

 x:ountry, that it should be subject to the payment of 

 the sum of 2.5,000 rupees annually. This stipulation 

 was ratified by the S'u'umgur rajah, and the tribute is 

 j-egularly paid. A vakeel, on his part, resides at the 

 court of the G'or/iT/ rajah ; and at the period M'hen the 

 tribute becomes due, an officer is sent, half way be- 

 tween Napaiil and Sirinagur, to meet and receive it. 



The standing forces of the rajah consist of about 

 5000 men, commonly called Peadafis : these are va- 

 riously armed, according to the custom of the part of 

 the country in which they are stationed ; that is to 

 say, with match-locks, bows and arrows, and the 

 sword and shield : the greater number bear the latteu, 

 and it is the established and favourite weapon of the 

 country. This body of men is distributed through 

 the several districts, to assist in the collections of the 

 country. One thousand of the number remain at 

 the capital. No attention is shewn cither to their 

 dress, or discipline, and they are paid with little re- 

 gularity. 



The natives <yi Sirhmgur profess the Hindu religion, 

 in the exercise of which I could not discover any va- 

 riation, from the practice of the lower parts of Hin- 

 dustan. \ 



The toM- n is inhabited by two races of people, dis- 

 tinguished by a difference of feature. This I am in- 

 clined to account for, by supposing that many of the 

 natives of the lower countries have, at different and 

 jdistant periods, emigrated to this part of the workl, 

 for the advantage of commerce. It is also common 

 for men of opulence and extensive trade, in other 



Z4 pans 



