110 Sources of the Punjab Rivers. [No. 110. 



opposite, and reached Chumba, the Capital of the state of the same name. 



Chumba, or Chnmpapoora, the Capital of Chumba is situated on a 

 level peice of ground on the right bank of the Ravee, at an elevation 

 of 3,015 feet. There is a tradition that the river formerly covered the 

 Chaugaun or plain of Chumba ; which is certainly correct, for the plain 

 is formed of large boulders of slate and granite, mingled with rich earth 

 above, and with coarse sand below. There are nine good temples in 

 Chumba; none of them, however of such beautiful workmanship as those 

 at Burmawar. The Rajah's Palace is an extensive building-, but it can- 

 not boast of any beauty. The houses are not different from those usually 

 seen in the hills ; and 1 was altogether much disappointed with Chumba. 



Of seventeen purgunnahs, through which I passed I have a detailed 

 account of all the different villages, amounting to 258, containing 1,672 

 houses, and 8,849 inhabitants. These seventeen Purgunnahs form about 

 one-eighth of the whole country ; which must, therefore contain, with the 

 addition of 800 houses, and 7,000 inhabitants in Chumba town, 14,176 

 houses, and 77,792 inhabitants. The villages on the lower course of the 

 Ravee are however much larger than those upon the higher streams, and 

 I am therefore inclined to rate the population at nearly 100,000; of 

 whom perhaps 10,000 may be exempt from paying the house tax — the 

 remainder, 90,000, living in 12,500 houses, will give a revenue of 2,50,000 

 rupees, if taxed as usual at 20 rupees per house. 



The trade through Chumba, formerly considerable, is now very little, 

 owing to the opening of the new route, through Jummao ; Customs are, 

 however, collected at Bhudewar, which forms the North Western boun- 

 dary of Chumba, and through which merchants occasionally pass, and 

 merchants who come to Chumba, sometimes carry goods by the Sajh 

 Pass and Chutegurh to Ladakh ; but the traffic is comparatively trifling ; 

 and I do not therefore value the amount of Customs collected at more 

 than 50,000 Rs. yearly, making a total revenue of 3 lakhs of rupees, or 

 £30,000. 



There are no natural productions exported from Chumba, save rice and 

 wheat to Ladakh ; and the manufactures are considerable : the principal 

 are thick woollens called Burmawur, manufactured in pieces eleven yards 

 long, and fifteen inches wide, in all the colder parts of Chumba. Some 

 are carried to Kooloo for sale, and I have seen a few pieces at Simla. 

 Coarse Alwans, or Shawl Cloths, are made in the town of Chumba from 

 Ladakh Wool, but they are all used in the country. 



The men wear a long sleeved white woollen cloak, fastened round the 

 waist with a black woollen rope ; and on the head a peculiar peaked cap 





