622 On the Nepalcse Method of Refining [Dec. 



IV. — On the Nepalese Method of Refining Gold. By Dr. A. Camp- 

 bell, Asst. Surgeon attached to the Residency of Nepal. 



Gold dust to the amount of two lakhs of rupees or more is annu- 

 ally imported from Thibet into Nepal. It is not reckoned pure, and 

 is bought from the Bhoteahs by the dealers in Katmandu for about 

 15 rupees* per tola. The greater part of this gold is required for 

 consumption in Nepal. A small portion of it for the Government 

 mint, and the remainder for making female ornamentsf, as well as 

 chains and lace for the officers of the Gorkha army, who ornament 

 their turbans with handsome and massive chains, embroider their 

 regimental jackets most richly, and mount their swords and kukries\ 

 with the precious metal, to a degree highly detrimental to the purse, 

 but eminently advantageous in making a display of splendour so grate- 

 ful to this enthusiastically military people§. The process of refining 

 is tedious, but not expensive, nor attended with much loss of the metal : 

 it forms a separate occupation for a few individuals, but is for the most 

 part performed by the purchasers themselves — and is, although rude, 

 supposed to be very effectual, as gold can be purified through its means 

 to an extent that raises its price from 15 to 24 rupees per sicca weight 

 or tola. 



The first step of the process is the melting of the dust, when it 

 is cast into uniform plates about the thickness of writing-paper, and 

 a little larger than playing-cards ; in this state it is as impure as when 

 in the original form, unless as is sometimes the case, insoluble and insu- 

 lated particles of sand are mixed with it, which of course become sepa- 

 rated during the melting. The plates, if cast too thick, are beat out to 



* Nepal currency, about 13 Sa. Rs. 



*T Every Newar woman who can afford it wears a bar of plain gold, sus- 

 pended by a ribbon from the neck ; it is of a lozenge shape ; and weighs generally 

 from two to four tolas. Besides this, the most favorite ornament is a massive 

 gold ear-ring, not suspended from the lobe, but worn in the upper part (helix) of 

 each ear ; it is shaped like two cones with a connecting bar. One of the cones 

 unscrews, and when the bar is passed through the perforation in the ear, it is 

 screwed on again. These ear-rings cost generally from 30 to 60 rupees. 



X Short sword, peculiar to the hills, and worn constantly by every Parbattiah, 

 great or small. 



§ Every commissioned officer has his turban nearly covered with gold 

 chains, tastefully arranged ; added to this he wears the distinguishing mark of his 

 regiment, which is a small plate of gold worn in the front of the " Pugree." 

 Some corps wear a crescent to represent their " moon-born lineage," others 

 carry the " Lion of England" above their brows. And every soldier of the Kat- 

 mandu force wears the same of silver alone or gilded. The embroidery so 

 thickly laid on the officers' coats comes mostly from Benares. 



