• SURVEY OF THE GANGES, 497 



what they thought the least. The inhabitants are composed chiefly of 

 people, descendants of emigrants from the Dudb, Rohilc'hand and Audh, 



The greater portion of them are Hindus; the number of Musutman fami- 

 lies not exceeding sixty or seventy, . Most of these are petty shop-keep- 

 ers ; who, to gain a scanty subsistence, are forced to enter into various 

 speculations ; and a piece of silk or a ser of onions may be procured at 

 the same shop. The principal persons are the agents of great banking 

 houses at JVajzbahdd and in the Dudb, who are employed in the sale and 

 exchange of merchandize and coins. They reside here only eight months 

 in the year ; quitting the hills, and returning to their houses, at the com- 

 mencement of the rainy season. The traffic in silver and specie forms 

 one of the most profitable branches of commerce, and is carried on to a 

 considerable amount. Bullion and coins are imported, for the purpose of 

 being converted into TemdshaSy the currency of the hills ; and as a constant 

 coinage of them is kept up at the mint, the supplies are furnished by the 

 Serrdfsy who receive a premium, agreeable to the quality of the silver, 

 amounting to one and an half, or two per cent, on the Farrakhdbdd or 

 Bare'li rupee. The Temdsha is a small uneven silver coin, four of 

 which pass for the nominal rupee of the hills ; and five for the Farrakhd- 

 bdd or Bare'li. Spanish dollars also find their way hither, and are con- 

 verted into the same currency. The inferior coin is a small pice, ten 

 Tacas of which are equal to one Temdsha. 



The other articles of speculation consist in the produce of the hills, and 

 imports from Butdn. The former are bhang, {\\Qm^) ; a coarse cloth, or 

 sort of canvas, manufa6lured from it, called Bhangela ; lead, copper, drugs, 

 gums, wool, and a species of flannel made from it called Panc'hi : from 

 Butdn are received chaurs or cow-tails, musk in pods, saffron, borax, salt, 



C G 



