230 
E. Vansittart— Tribes , Clans , and Castes of Nepal. [No. 4, 
The original home of the Magars was to the west of the Gandak 
river (Kali-war), and, roughly speaking, consisted of that portion of 
Nepal which lies between and round about Gulmi, Argha, Khachi, and 
Palpa. 
This bit of country was divided into twelve districts (Barah Man- 
granth 1 ), and the residents of the same in time came to be spoken of as 
the Magars of the Barah Mangranth. 
Brian Hodgson and Captain T. Smith both give the following as the 
Barah Mangranth :—Satung, Pyung, Bhirkot, Dlior, Garhung, Rising, 
Ghiring, Gulmi, Argha, Khachi, Musikot, and Isma. 
By the term “Barah Mangranth Magars” no particular set of 
tribes was meant. The term had a purely local meaning, and referred to 
all such Magars, of whatever tribe they might be, whose ancestors had 
resided for generations within the Barah Mangranth. 
Each of these twelve districts had its own ruler, but it would appear 
that the most powerful kings were those of Gulmi, Argha, Khachi, and 
that the remaining princes were more or less tributary to these three. 
Since the rise of the house of Gurkha, towards the close of the 
eighteenth century, the country has been re-divided, aud the twelve dis¬ 
tricts no longer exist as such, and the term “ Barah Mangranth Magar ” 
has no signification now, and is therefore falling into disuse. Not one 
recruit out of five hundred knows what the term means. 
As mentioned before, the original home of the Magars was to the 
west of the Gandak river, but it would seem that some clans had for 
ages occupied certain portions of Nepal on the east bank. 
The city of Gurkha was originally the residence of the Chitoria 
(Citoria) Ranas. It is supposed the city was built by them, and to this 
day numbers of Chitoria Ranas are found there. 
The Magars having participated in the military conquests of the 
house of Gurkha, spread themselves far and wide all over Nepal, and 
numbers are now to be found to the east of the Gandak river. 
Allea .—The Alleas in appearance seem a very pure-bred race. 
As a rule, they are very fair, well-made men. The Allea tribe must, 
however, be rather a small one, as the percentage of Alleas enlisted 
yearly is very small. They are most desirable men to get. 
Burathoki .—Burathokis are also apparently very limited in number. 
Some excellent specimens of Gurkhas are, however, every year obtained 
from this tribe. They are very desirable men to get. 
Gharti .—The Ghartis are pretty numerous, but care should be 
taken in enlisting from this tribe, as they seem to be far more mixed 
l The Sarda on the west and the Gandak in the centre of Nepal are both 
spoken of as the Kali. 
