26 BHOTIA MEIIALS 



These items are all levied at fixed and invariable rates. The " Sink 

 Thai" is assessed at twelve " Polas" of Gur per Kanch, on the Khalsa 

 lands ; but as a great portion of each village is held rent-free, on former 

 grants, the aggregate payments under this head are very trifling. The 

 " Ya Thai," which, from its name, has probably originated in the migra- 

 tory habits of the Tartars, who, during the winter, remove to the warmest 

 situations, is assessed at one cake of " JBalma," or dried yeast per house. 

 The above dues are collected by Tibet officers, who visit the Ghats with 

 that view : the whole is received in kind, though the Gur and yeast are 

 partly commuted for sugar, grain, spirits, and coarse calicoes. The 

 " Kiwi Thai" is levied in the shape of transit duties, " Kiwi Kal" at 

 the rate of ten per cent, on grain. These are also collected in kind, at 

 the first mart visited by the Bhotias, the loads of every tenth sheep, toge- 

 ther with the wool on its back, are there taken, unless commuted by the 

 payment of twenty-seven " Polas" of Gur per sheep. Duties are also 

 levied on some few articles, agreeably to the rates fixed by an antient 

 tariff; commodities not included in that schedule, pass free. Broadcloth, 

 and many articles, the exportation of which from hence commenced at a 

 comparatively recent date, fall under the last description. In some cases, 

 individuals are subjected to a tax, called " Huro" or plunder, substituted 

 for the " Kiioi Kal" or transit duties, and levied at nearly the same 

 rates. This, from its name, should be a species of police.jtax, an 

 insurance against robbery. The inhabitants of the northern village at 

 the head of each Ghat, enjoy certain immunities from these duties, 

 and are, moreover, authorized by the Trans Himalaya government to 

 levy a transit duty of ten per cent, on the salt or borax of the Tibet 

 traders visiting the Ghat. This duty, as well as the " Kiunkal" paid 

 by the Bhotias, is levied only on the first investment of each trader, dur- 

 ing the season. 



In 



