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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



conceivable design. The verandas and 

 overhanging balconies are highly orna- 

 mented and the work on some of the 

 pillars is very bold and striking. 



In weaving, the natives are deficient, 

 the only cloth made being a coarse cotton 

 of no artistic value. 



In the neighboring State of Sikkim ex- 

 cellent metal- work is produced. The 

 Sikkim wood carving is also good, but 

 not comparable to that of Nepal. 



The Bhutan metal-work is excellent, 

 especially the swords, the wrought iron 

 being hammered out after each of a suc- 

 cession of heatings and reheating in 

 charcoal and eventually becoming a mild 

 steel. These weapons are sheathed in 

 most artistic silver and gold scabbards. 



Some of the dagger sheaths are made 

 of beautifully worked and pierCed silver, 

 with dragon patterns running through 

 and beneath the open-work. 



BHUTANESE SKILLED IN CLOTH-MAKING 



The Bhutanese also make excellent 

 cloths, both of cotton and silk fabric, and 

 many of them are of exceptional quality 

 as well as artistic design. Their wood- 

 carving is on the same lines as that of 

 Sikkim. 



The teapot (see page 278) is an excel- 

 lent piece of work and came from Lhasa. 

 It was part of the property of the late 

 Regent, who was in power when the 

 present Delai Lama came of age. He 

 was detected in using evil spells against 

 the Delai Lama, and consequently was 

 first degraded and eventually sewn into a 

 skin and thrown into the Kychu River, 

 his possessions being confiscated and sold. 

 ami the writer was lucky enough to ob- 

 tain some of the articles, including this 

 teapot. 



The feudal system, which has prevailed 

 among these hills for many years, is in 

 a measure responsible for much of the 

 artistic work of the natives, for it enables 

 a man to put his whole energy into his 

 work. He has no care about food or 

 housing : it is to his master's and his own 

 advantage to produce the most artistic 

 work possible. Time is of no account 

 and he has no occasion to work at high 

 pressure or to work when the spirit does 

 not move him. 



All this tends to the creation of objects 



in which the artist can put his individ- 

 uality. 



The early history of Nepal is obscure 

 and the outer world had but few relations 

 with it prior to 1/6/ . 



NEPAL INVADED BY THE GURKHAS 



In that year the Gurkhas, who claim 

 descent from the Rajputs, a fighting race 

 in northern India, invaded the Valley of 

 Nepal under Prithi Narayain, and the 

 Newar Rajah of Nepal appealed to the 

 British for assistance. His prayer was 

 granted and Captain Kinlock was des- 

 patched to his assistance in command of 

 a small military force. Unfortunately, 

 he commenced his journey in the rainy 

 season, and fever attacked his men and 

 himself to such an extent in the Terai, 

 always notorious for its unhealthful con- 

 ditions, that he was compelled to return, 

 and the Newar dynasty, unable to with- 

 stand the warlike Gurkhas, was extin- 

 guished. 



In 1792, after the Gurkhas, now firmly 

 established as the ruling people, had 

 plundered the temple of Digarchi in 

 Tibet, the Chinese sent an army to punish 

 them ; and this they did to such good 

 eiiect that the Nepalese were obliged to 

 conclude a treaty with the Chinese gen- 

 eral within a few miles of their own 

 capital. In order to commemorate this 

 victory of the Chinese over the Nepalese, 

 a pillar was erected in Lhasa, where it 

 still remains. 



In 1814, after much provocation on the 

 part of the Nepalese, who laid claim to 

 land in the plains of India, war was de- 

 clared on them by the East India Com- 

 pany, and at its conclusion, in 181 5, the 

 Treaty of Segowlie was signed and Brian 

 Hodgson was appointed to be the first 

 Resident at the Nepalese Court. 



most oe Nepal's maharajahs die 

 suspiciously young 



From this time onward, as it doubtless 

 was before, had we known about it, the 

 history of Nepal is one long chronicle of 

 bloodshed and treachery. The different 

 factions, each desirous of obtaining power 

 and equally callous as to the means used 

 to obtain it, stopped at nothing. The 

 post of Minister to the Maharajah was 

 eagerly sought, the Maharajahs being, 



