480 CLIMATE OF 



after the termination of the war with the state of Nepal in this quarter 

 in 1815. 



The natives of this part of the country are subject to the goitre or large 

 swelling- in the neck. The complaints most prevalent among them are fe- 

 vers and rheumatism. 



The aspect of the country in the neighbourhood differs materially from 

 that of the lower mountains near the plains, the ranges are more regular 

 and the mountains are lofty and abrupt. It is extremely steep on all sides. 

 The villages are few and small in most places, and the population is scan- 

 ty and scattered, but does not seem to be on the increase.* The quantity 

 of waste land which is considerable, evidently appears to have been culti- 

 vated at an antecedent period, and indicates beyond a doubt that the country 

 was better peopled formerly than it now is. Most of the villages are more 

 or less in ruins, and some of the houses though still standing are deserted 

 and remain unoccupied. This may be accounted for partly from the ty- 

 rannical measures resorted to by the Gurkha chiefs to keep the people un- 

 der due subjection. 



Immediately after the rains cease the Zemindars or farmers, whilst the 

 soil is in a moist state, begin to plough, and commence sowing wheat, 

 barley and iiwa jow. These being the principal grains on which the in- 

 habitants at this height are dependant, are buried in snow during the win- 

 ter months. When much more falls at the elevation of Kotgerh the pro- 

 duce of these grains is very considerable ; but when it does not, and the 



* Population being stationary maybe easily recounted for by the prevalence of female infanticide, 

 of the revolting custom of Polyandry and the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes from the early 

 age of eight or ten (female chastity being unknown) together with slavery, a traffic formerly in the 

 plains of Hindustan to considerable extent more especially so from the lower hills. The former 

 •throughout the states subject to British authority, as far as we know is of rare occurrence and the 

 latter is certainly less extensive than it was formerly. It is therefore to be hoped that population will 

 begin to augment. 



