1837.] 



Proceedings of Societies, 



461 



thatched cottages, to the very tops of the boundary mountains. The 

 Murmis use the plough, but not often ; their locations being generally 

 much too steep for it. This is but a general indication of the localities 

 of the different tribes employed in agriculture ; individuals of these 

 races and tribes, are to be met with in all parts of the valley and its 

 confines. The Mewar however very rarely indeed leaves a village to 

 fix himself on the mountain tops or sides, nor will the Murmi, if he 

 can help it, live on the flat flooded parts of the valley. The brahmun's 

 ubiquity is most conspicuous; he is to be found in the fiatest parts, on 

 the confines, and on the tops of the surrounding mountains ; but as his 

 numerous privileges, and holy character often enable him to be ex- 

 empted from the exclusive drudgery of the field, his residence on the 

 flooded flats arises generally from his desire of being near the larger 

 towns and temples, whence he can visit the charity bestowing, and pi- 

 ous portions of the richer community, or exercise his vocation as a 

 teacher of slokes or pronouncer of munters among people little able, 

 or anxious as his rural neighbours generally are, to question his com- 

 petency as an instructor and guide. 



Proceedings of Societies. 



Royal Asiatic Society.— Proceedings of the Committee of Agriculture 

 and Commerce. 



April 8, 1837. 



A Committee was held this day at one o'clock. 



Present The Right Hon. C. W. Williams Wynn, M. P. ; Sir Charles 

 Forbes, Bart. ; Sir George Thomas Staunton, Bart. ; Colonel Briggs ; 

 John Fraser, Esq.; Dr. Horsfield; Louis H. Petit, Esq.; Colonel 

 Sykes ; Captain Harkness. 



On the proposition that the Right Hon. Mr. Wynn, the President of 

 the Society, do take the Chair, Mr. Wynn suggested that Sir Charles 

 Forbes, who had taken so lively an interest in the success of the Com 

 mittee of Agriculture and Commerce, should be elected its Chairman j 



