38 BHOTIA MEHALS 



days' journey below. Grain, to a partial extent, is conveyed by the north- 

 ern landholders on their own sheep, to the Himalaya villages, and there 

 similarly bartered for salt. The rates of barter which now commonly 

 prevail, may be stated as follows. In the midland and northern pergannas, 

 from three to four of wheat or rice for one of salt, and within the Ghats, two 

 of wheat or rice for one of salt. To the Hiuniyas, however, the Bhotias 

 give only one of wheat or rice for two of salt in Bhot, while in Hiundes, 

 they exact double that proportion. Coarse grains, such as mandua, 

 chenna, &c. generally average half the value of the finer descriptions 

 above mentioned, in this system of exchange. The advantages of this 

 trade to the inhabitants of the northern districts, will be fully appreciated 

 on a view of the state of prices, which, at this moment, prevails in differ- 

 ent parts of the province. From the nature of the country, its agricul- 

 tural produce cannot be made available for distant markets, and the 

 fluctuations of price which may there take place have, beyond a certain 

 sphere, no influence on prices in the interior. At Almora, which is sup- 

 plied from the midland districts of Kamaon (proper), wheat is now selling 

 at twenty-five sers the rupee. In the southern villages, both of Kamaon 

 and Garhwal, from whence exportation to Rohilkhand takes place, the 

 price is nearly the same. In the whole of the northern pergannas, 

 whence the Shotias derive their supplies, the average price may be 

 quoted as still higher. In the western midland pergannas of Garhwal, 

 to which none of these demands extend, wheat is selling at two maunds 

 the rupee, and purchasers even at that rate are not forthcoming. 



Calicoes. — From the constant use of woollen clothes throughout the 

 year, the consumption of cotton fabrics in Hiundes is small ; the demand 

 is confined to the coarsest descriptions, as quantity, not quality, is the 

 first consideration with the Hiuniya purchaser. Europe prints are in 

 partial request among the chiefs and foreign merchants. The aggregate 



value 



