whatever is wanting to the people from a defect in fertility, or in the
skill of their artists, they possess ample means of obtaining, through
the abundant riches of the earth. Their mines and minerals are capable
of opening to them such inexhaustible sources of wealth, as to
be alone sufficient to purchase every thing of which they stand in need,
though their wants are numerous, as they are ignorant of all but the
first arts of life, agriculture and clothing.
The advantages resulting from this trade, were once" greatly in
favour of Bengal. The commotions and disturbances by which the
kingdom of Nipal was long distracted, until its ultimate subjugation
under one chief, by destroying, the security, of merchants, interrupted
the commerce Between Tibet and Bengal ; and that country beingthen
the only known channel of communication, Bengal lost ground in
trade, which it has been since found difficult to regain. The advantages
arising from the present limited commerce, are enjoyed by a few
opulent Goseins, and by an agent residing at TeshoO Loomboo, on the
joint concern of Cashmeery Mull and Gopal Doss. I beg leave to refer
to the annexed paper, for a statement of the articles composing it.
The returns have invariably been made in gold dust, silver, «tincal*
and musk; the value of which articles always bears proportion to the
quantity in the market. The value of gold and silver in Tibet, is very
variable, depending on the product of the former from the mines. At
this time, a pootree ® of gold dust sells for twenty-one indermilleesb.
A few years ago, during the prevalence of an excessive drought, the
* Boise. b A base coin struck in Nipal, of tbe value of about one-third of a
rupee, and current in Tibet, where local prejudices prevent the establishment of a mint.
earth, by cracking and’-opening in uncommon,'chasm%is?rsaid*tQ) have,
discovered such an abundance^. ofvg®ldf that'tlap quantikyp40he0ted,f
reduced tfaedprice of a< pootree?, femmn^ndfermilfeqsuiAs these precious!
metals are merely representatives ok labour- and fcqrrunoditic.v, jbIiujs.
will constqucnl.lv> follow git.u ftwccuationsiin the pi wins ol conuneioectf
the balance, 'however, -will at, all ®ns$l$ie side feu th©
Those articles of trade which are next in importance, amongst‘the
natural» productions of rB b ^ t^ re> musk, rinck]<#'igQats,’j feaar, audr.rqoi^
salt.* > The. first of these aiUclost useditt^bc tianspbi LtcKllimugli Jfhe
Country of the ,Gho,ubeis Rajas, tand). thro ugh ’Nipal, ’by ; the. ways off
Benares* into thes upper parts, of Hindostanp-anddhe dominions of the
Marritt-a-stp but' as miisk! of hfSedhaSf gained- muchsBfjJUifeation •in tiiedi-
ciney artd'as there is ' reason-to * belieVd, that'node but? what; ffl- glieatly
adulterated, finds its way tavBurope, it^^iw lels,' mustbe an import
tant object- with therfacultyt to ireq^ivgiit in'its native purity*.!
^ Bootan, Nipal, Bengal, ’anefe Hindostan/ are 'supplied- with-v tinea!
from Tibet. Its value is litllcmoro-tlian that Of;‘the labour employed
ididigging it from -the bed. of a: lafejeirdwhieh it isodfeposited-,: atijthe
distance of about fifteen days! journey fromsTeshoorisoombeiAfef
The hair of the goats is carried to- Gashmeer; $ad;!is ,that< sup'^rioE
sort, from-which shawls are- manufactured., <
The demandv'for salt, is in the consumption and Bqotan* ^
. Here are also'several mines fif lead, but^asvifr iisr® metal that enters
not into their common utensils- of life, and is! ohlfftle- use/idpt-he country,
they are totally neglected. As lead, however, is generally found
3 B