1840.] A cursory Notice of Nayakote. 1117 



Byasi. The first of the three is the Sindhu Byasi, from the name of its 

 streamlet, the Sindhu ; the next the Tadi Byasi, from its river ; and 

 the third either Tadi Byasi also, or Sangum Byasi, from the confluence 

 of the Sindhu and Tadi within it. The Tar, or chief tract, is numer- 

 ously subappellated, as PuUo Tar, next Devi Ghaut ; then Manjhi Tar ; 

 then Burr Tar, next the Nayakote hill ; with various others parallel to 

 these and nearer the Trisool, towards which the plateau in general has 

 a tendency to sink step-wise, though never nearer the deep narrow 

 bed of that river than several feet, twenty or more. These Tars are 

 rather more wholesome and habitable than the Byasis, and capable of 

 more various culture, though chiefly of trees, since trees alone can 

 flourish deprived of water except from rain ; and thus is, in part, 

 explained the great predominance of mangoe and other groves over 

 fields of agriculture in the Tar or Tars of Nayakote, which however 

 lovely at all seasons, boast no winter or spring crops, despite of the high 

 temperature of the place ; the Tars are too dry, and the Byasis too wet 

 for such spring crops, though they be common in the much colder valley 

 of Nepal Proper. The difference of temperature between the valleys of 

 Nayakote and of Nepal Proper is occasioned by the difference of eleva- 

 tion above the sea. This difference amounts to 2,250* feet ; and 

 the same cause affords us also the only apparent, but very far from 

 satisfactory explanation of the fact, that, whilst Nayakote is pestilently 

 malarious from March to November, Nepal Proper is free from this 

 scourge, all other circumstances being the same in each valley. The 

 lowlands of Nayakote, consequently, are but very thinly peopled, the 

 only permanent dwellers therein being several singular and affined 

 races of men, called Durri, Kumhal, Manjhee, Bramoo, and D^nwar, of 

 whom more hereafter, and some few Parbuttiahs and Newars. The 

 Newars build and dwell solely on the Tars. The Parbuttiahs will not 

 adventure even so far, but usually have their houses on the hills 

 around, and never suffer themselves to sleep in any part of the low 

 lands for a single night between April and November. In the Byasis, 

 then, are the houses of Denwars and their compeers only : in the 

 Tars, those of the above people and of some few Parbuttiahs and 

 Newars also, but in neither do the clusters of cottages hardly ever 



* The valley of Nepal is 4,700 feet above the sea. 



