226 List of Cotton Manufactures. [Apkil, 



the valley of Nepal for making grain-bags and sacks, for the transport of 

 merchandize. The poorer people of the hills, who subsist chiefly by wood- 

 cutting and carrying, make this cloth in their houses and wear it. I can- 

 not at present ascertain the description of trees whose bark is converted into 

 this clothing, nor the detailed process employed in making it into thread. 

 The hill people say that several different trees furnish the appropriate bark, 

 and that it is necessary to beat and pound it, as for paper making*, previous 

 to spinning it into thread. The cloth is exceedingly strong and durable, 

 and is said to stand wet for a long time without being rotted, or injured in 

 texture. It is brought to Kathmandu, in webs of about five yards long, and 

 12 inches broad, which costs on an average eight annas. 



13. Rkari. — A coarse kind of woollen blanket manufactured by the Bhoteahs 

 of the Nepal hills, and worn by them almost exclusively : is brought to 

 Kathmandu in pieces of 7% yards long, and 14 inches wide, and costs 

 about three rupees. Its texture is very thick and heavy, but it is ad- 

 mirably suited for the rainy season, to the inclemency of which the burden- 

 bearing, and wood-cutting Bhoteahs, are much exposed. The Newars do 

 not wear this, nor indeed (as a general practice) any woollen garments. 

 This is also for the most part of domestic manufacture, as every Bhoteah 

 who possesses a few sheep, has a web or two of it made up annually by 

 his family. To add to the warmth and thickness of the Rhari, it is fre- 

 quently improved by beating wool into it, which gives it the appearance 

 of felt. 



14. Bhote. — Has its name from that of the people making and wearing it. 

 The hill countries north of Nyakote and the valley of Nepal, up to the 

 snows, produce this article. It is a thick and soft woollen stuff, half blan- 

 ket half felt, much warmer and lighter than the rhari, but inferior to it as 

 a protection against rain. A piece seven or eight yards long, by 18 inches 

 wide, costs in Kathmandu about two rupees eight annas. 



P. S. On submitting the above to Mr. Hodgson's perusal, he informed me 

 of the existence among the Newars, of some coloured cotton manufac- 

 tures, overlooked by me in this list. I have procured specimens of them 

 and of an unnoticed plain manufacture, both of which are added , they 

 are as follows : 



15. Putassi. — So called by the Newars. It is a strong coarse sort of check, 

 generally blue and white, sometimes red and white ; is entirely a domes- 

 tic manufacture, and very rarely procurable for purchase in the bazar, the 

 women not weaving more of it than suffices for their own wear. Is woven 

 exclusively by the Newar women : a piece 5f yards long, and 2f feet wide, 

 costs about 2f current rupees. There are several varieties of this stuff, as 

 to colour and pattern (some of them being striped instead of checked), but 

 all are coarse and heavy. 



16. Punikd. — An imitation of the table cloth manufacture of Dinapur, and the 

 variety technically called il Bird's eye." Three or four sorts are manufac- 

 tured by the Newars, but all save one are coarse and heavy. It is worn 

 by the better class of Newars, male and female, and by the Parbattiah sol- 



* See the Nep£l paper-making process, as described by Mr. Hodgson in the 

 Journal of the Asiatic Society. 



