44 BHOTIA MEHALS 



It now only remains to offer a few observations on the former and 

 present state of this commerce. During the time of the Rajas, the Juwari 

 Bhotias alone traded on the products and manufactures of the plains, the 

 Bhotias of the other Ghats confining their dealings to grain ; these latter 

 under the Gorlehall government, have extended their speculations, and the 

 trade of the Juivarls differs from that of the other Bhotias now, only in 

 its superior extent. In the early stages of this commerce a regulated and 

 fixed assize appears to have been made by the Trans- Himalaya govern- 

 ment, agreeably to which the commodities of the two countries were re- 

 quired to be bartered against each other. The commodities of Hindus than, 

 from the smallness of the supply, and from the exactions and robberies 

 to which they were subject in transit through the hills, were appraised at 

 high rates ; though these causes have been wholly or partially removed, 

 their original effects remain in force, and the Bhotias continue to exact, 

 the old and arbitrary prices. Since 1815, a most material improvement in 

 favor of these traders has taken place ; by the encreased facilities of com- 

 munication with the plains and by the total abolition of transit duties, 

 the imports from thence are now furnished in greater abundance and at 

 reduced prices, at the same time by the influx of capital from the same 

 quarter, the demand and value of every article of import from Tartary, 

 have been considerably enhanced : of these advantages, encrease of sales 

 is the only one of which the Hiuniyas have partaken in common with 

 the Bhotias. Were more equitable principles to be introduced in the 

 transactions of this commerce and were the commodities of Hlndusthan and 

 Europe, offered on fairer terms in the Hiunlya market, it is difficult to 

 say to what extent the demand might be augmented, while the Bhotias 

 retain their existing monopoly no such desirable modifications can be 

 anticipated, as a continuance of the present exhorbitant rates of profit is 

 almost indispensible to avert general bankruptcy, which must otherwise 

 result from the heavy load of debts, with which the Bhotias are universally 



saddled. 



