282 Notice of the Nipdtese Spirit Still. [May, 



effects of oxidation from common causes, is a sufficient reason for the 

 presence of this mineral, unaccompanied by others*. 



With regard, however, to the Nahun and Ramgunga gold, we are 

 perfectly decided on one point, viz. that the rivers bearing the dust have 

 no connection whatever now with the great Himalayan chain, and there- 

 fore, that if the mineral exists in abundance at any one point, it will 

 be found in the hills from which these rivers derive their sources; and 

 it is to be hoped, that we may even look forward to the ultimate disco- 

 very of gold in comparatively as great abundance as the present fossils, 

 the existence of which, six months ago, would have been as much 

 doubted as the possibility of finding gold now may be. 



Northern Dudb, April 10th, 1835. 



VI. — Notice of the Nipdlese Spirit Still. By A. Campbell, Esq. 

 M. D. attached to the Nepal Residency. 



The accompanying (PI. XVII.) is a rough sketch of the still in univer- 

 sal use throughout the valley of Nepal Proper, as well as its neighbour- 

 ing hilly country ; and so far as I can learn in the portions of eastern 

 Thibet, usually visited by Nipalese traders, on the beaten commercial 

 routes, by the Kerun and Kuti passes of the Himalaya, to Digarchi 

 and Lhassa. I believe it to be as different from that commonly used 

 in the plains of India, as it assuredly is from any with which I am 

 acquainted as existing in European countries, and as its use is con- 

 fined here chiefly to the Newar population, it needs no apology for 

 intrusion on the public attention. 



In India, (so far as my recollection is faithful,) Nipalese men, man- 

 ners, and things are regarded, as pertaining exclusively to the ruling 

 class of the community, yclept Gurkhas ; this arises partly from 

 want of better information on, or curiosity regarding, Nepal affairs ; 

 partly from the common habit of identifying the whole people of a 

 country, with the few, who may for a time direct its destinies, but 

 chiefly from Nepal being best known to us, as the theatre of a two- 

 years' war between one power and the afore-mentioned tribe. 



The Newars, as is well known, were down to the Gurkha conquest 

 the rulers of this valley, and were, as far as at present ascertained, its 



* In the specimens from the alluvial soil of the Brazils, the particles of gold are 

 much larger than those found in the Nahun sand, appearing like little boulders, 

 or rounded masses of the mineral. In my cabinet the Brazilian alluvium is clay, 

 or argillaceous matter, with rounded pebbles of white quartz. Mr. Ma we hav- 

 ing provided the specimen. 



