OF KAMAON. 41 



The Bhotias never part with their salt, except in barter for agricultural 

 produce, and by adhering rigidly to this rule, they are enabled to command 

 a supply of the latter, even in the most unfavourable seasons. The total 

 quantity of salt imported, may be assumed one year with another at 

 fifteen thousand maunds. 



Tincal — also the natural produce of a lake in Hiundes, for some 

 years subsequent to 1815, formed the most profitable article of specula- 

 tion, but the demand has now greatly declined. During the Gorkha 

 government, that is, up to 1814, not more than a thousand to fifteen hun- 

 dred maunds of tincal ever reached the plains through this province during 

 the year. On the British invasion, and even before the conquest was 

 completed, large advances were made by British merchants to the Bhotias, 

 for the provision of this article. By the competition among the former, 

 the amount of their advances was rapidly augmented up to 1818, when the 

 quantity imported exceeded twenty thousand maunds, as it did also in the 

 two following years 1818 and 1819. This import, as compared with the 

 demand in England, for which market it was chiefly intended, would ap- 

 pear to have been excessive. Heavy losses, and a consequent withdrawal 

 of capital from the speculation were the consequences. The supply has 

 since as rapidly decreased, and may be now stated, at seven to eight 

 thousand maunds. During the above periods, the price has been subject 

 to the same fluctuations up to 1814, the market rate of this article, in 

 its unpicked state, never exceeded three and a half rupees the maund, at 

 the marts of Kdsipur and Beldri; in 1818, it had risen to fourteen 

 rupees the maund, and some partial sales were made in that year 

 as high as sixteen rupees; during the two following years 1819-20, 

 the price ranged between twelve and fourteen ; it has since gradually fallen 

 to eight, at which it may now be quoted. The article is imported by the 

 Bhotias, in its original state, as procured from the lake. By the merchants 



m the 



