Q BHOTIA MEHALS 



No complete enumeration has been made of the population in Bhot, 

 but sufficient data exist for computing the average of residents in each 

 house to exceed seven. The Bhotias are, generally, in good circumstances, 

 and many individuals possess one or more slaves or domestics, who, with 

 their families, live under the same roof with their masters. This estimate 

 will give a total of near ten thousand inhabitants, of whom, probably, 

 nine-tenths are Bhotias, and one-tenth natives of other parts, chiefly 

 artificers of low caste. The Bhotias, who reside permanently in the vil- 

 lages, at the mouth of the Ghat, and not included in the foregoing, may 

 be estimated at about five hundred. Prejudices in regard to caste, joined 

 to the jealousy of the Bhotias for their commercial monopoly, prevent the 

 permanent establishment of Hindus within the Ghats ; by the latter 

 cause also, further emigrations from Tibet are impeded. 



The following brief view of the climate must be understood as 

 solely applicable to the habitable parts ; the state of temperature in the 

 elevated portion contiguous to, or within the zone of perpetual congela- 

 tion, will only be cursorily noticed, as influencing the productions of the 

 soil. 



In the absence of a regular series of observations, general remarks 

 only can be offered. During fall half the year, the surface is wholly 

 covered with snow ; this begins to be about the end of September, and 

 continues to accumulate to the beginning of April. Thaw then becomes 

 predominant, though partial falls occur till even late in May. In open 

 and level situations, unaffected by drifts or avalanches, the bed of snow 

 which, at its maximum depth, varies in different years, from six to twelve 

 feet, is wholly dissipated by the first week in June ; in ravines and hol- 

 lows, it does not entirely disappear before the middle of July. The sea- 

 sons of spring, summer, and autumn, are comprised within five months, 



, from 



