Regtni Research ( Pr.ivate) Ltd ISSN : 003l+-348X 
. .
...............ne(J'm 1 Re: C;2.rch Series________  
,,Ye:cr 15, No. 5 
Edited By 
Mahesh c. Regrni 
******** 
Con ten ts Page 
1 • �population of Mo 1 .r..an ds jn Eas te m 
Tarai Districts • • • 65 
2. Trading Activities of Gumbns, A. D. 1850 ••• 66 
3 •. Customs ElU!mption for Tr,:de1·s of Manang • • • 67 
4. Book Review : Th& tched Huts and Stucco 
P2·-1£'ces • •• 69 
5. Tbe Impact of India• s Railwa System on
Nepe.11 s Economy D.lring the Cr osing years
of the 19th C8n tury 
. � . 72 
6. customs ExP-mp tion for Lv.ma of Helambu ••t• ?6 
7. Forced Labor in Jumla, .A. D. 1850 •• • 77 
8. Weights and !·I•Jt1 sures. in Hus tang ••• 80 
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Rc�mi Research (Private) Ltd 
'r,aziJupc::' t, Kc· thmc..•ndu, Nepal 
(For privete stucty end research only, not meant for public 
sale , diS tribu t ion and display). 
65. 
DepomJ...roaon of Mal· Lands in Eastern 
,1.',.arai Districts 
1. Royal ordi:;r to the jagirdars, birtaowners, and c1mb.ilidars 
who have obtained p':'rmission to reclaim kalaba.njar lands in 
Bara and Parsa. 
''Procure royts only from the Moglan (i.e. India) to 
settle on your jr..gir, birta, or kalatanjar lands. In 
case you attack s:-.::ttlers from M·a1 lands, you shall be h·eld 
liable for the lJ?yrnr;r.t of r,3venue on such lands. Do not 
reclaim your land.r; by dapopulating � lands •. Any :pdrson 
who di.�ob..::ys this order shall be severely punished.on 
J estha Sudi 6, 1862 
(May 1 &J5) 
Re gmi Research Collection, vol. 6, P• 13. 
2. An identical order was sent in the name of landouners in 
Saptari and lvlahot,tari on the �ame date. 
Jestha Sudi 6, 1862 · 
(May 18o5) 
Regmj_ &.:search Collaction, vol, 6, P• 12. 
3. Royal ord.E;r to Shaktiballabh Padhya. 
ilYou are hereby ordered to submit a list of all those 
landovm-Jrs in Bara and Parsa who have persuaded ryots 
cultivating Mal lends to shift to ·their birta, bcmdha, jagir, 
or kalabarJ.jar lands. 
Jestha Sudi 6, 1862 
(May 1805) 
Regmi Research Collection, vol. 6, p. 12. 
4. An identical. ordc::r was sent in the name of Nain Siruha on the 
same date for Saptari , and Mal10ttari. 
Jestha Sudi 6, 1862 
(May 18o5) 
Regmi Research Coll�ction,,•vol. 6, PP• 12-13. 
**** 
66. 
i:rradinil._;A.ctivities of Gumbas, A,D. 1850 
Tl1G foliowing royal order was issued in the names of 
the Lamr>.s of Ghy2J1gs in Langtang and oth�r areas, and the 
headr.Hm (mukhiyn) and villagers of .lthgaun in Pansayakhola 
( '.Tu wal<:ot) • 
"Formerly, a royal ord,:r had been issued remitting jagat
duties on supplids nf�eded by gum bas. We here by reconfirm 
that order. 
1rfiouev,�r, we havs r'3ceived reports that you do not 
pay j3_gat duties even on sheep, chyangra goats, and other 
commoditic�s bou{jht or sold by Lamas with commercial. motives. 
We have also receiv.:-:d reports that you issue lc;tti�rs au tho rizinl 
other p:3rsons to conduct trade on your behalf without. paying
such clutias. n�cause such practices have re5U:lt()d in a 
los;;. of revenu(�, th0 loca.J, Chaudhari has submitted. a 
complaint to us. . 
"In th:.:: futur:..i, you must pay jagat duties for sheep, 
s_hyanrq.--q goats, and other cornmodi ties in which you conduct 
trc.de, Hitll the exception of supplies needed fo1-- gumbas,
and the dokos al)d ngmlos of the villagers. Any p-3rson \-.'!lO 
evadE:s paymimt of Such dutL.s shaJ.l be severel.y punished." 
Poush Sum. 6, 1907 
(Dec-embor 1850) . 
Regmi ResGarch Collection, vol. 81, pp. 47-48. 
****** 
6 t. '  
.£Mt oms Exemntion...fQ.1:._I,tade r3 of  Manang 
On b:}half of the inhabitants o f seven village s o f  
lvioanang (Manan g ,  Braga, Khangsar, Name , Phu gaun, N gawal , 
and Pi  sang) , P ewa T serin g Gu.rung and o.t hers submi tted the 
fullowint p n t.i tion to Hi s Maj e sty ' os Gov errm ento. 
"We , inhabi tants of  seven vill ageos in th e Himal ayan 
( '3hot) re£; iono, inclu ding Manang , h ave no l ands , and depoend·  onfo rei gn t r::..de fo r ou r liveliho od . . 
11A roy 3l o rder has be en i ssued with the followinz p rovi sions : 
( 1 )  No cn . stoms duti (� S  shall b e  ch arged on goods impoort ed  o r  
expo rte4 by u s .  
( 2) The inh abitants of the se seven villageos shall make a si rto 
p ayment amountin g to Rs 1 , 797 .9 8 eve ry ye ar, as well as a 
salami p ayment o f  Rs 4 .50 to Hi s Maj esty . 
( 3) They shall al.so supply the followin g goo ds eve ry yd ar : 
( a) Two p airs of da cha . 
( b) On:; mu sk.- deor . 
( c)  Onl� mu sl<-po d � 
{ d)  Two blue sh oop (!}au r, o r  p seudoi s n ay au r) sl�in s .  
"We: had ac co rdin�ly bee n .ful fil l ing the se  obl jg a tions un til 
,: . th .9 Vik ramao. year 2'.) 19  ( A.D . 1 962) • · 
"The roy al o rde-r aJ. so contained p rovi sion fo r p cymen t of 
�s 50 to us every your _ as exp ense s  fo r ou r jou rney ( between 
hanang and K athmandll)o. We have been rec e1V ing thi s p aym ent 
r e gul arly. 
11\-'Jhen we ·nosited K athmandu in the Vik rama year 2020 ( A .D . 1 96 3) 
to mak� th ese payment s and �upplic.s , we were told that the rates 
o f  p ayment s in rooney had be en in creased by 100 p � rc ent under 
the 1 %3 Finance Act .  Unabl. 1., to make p ayment at the enhanced 
rateo, we retu rned to Manango. l•lor eove r, custom s duti 0s too are 
now b(�ing coll ected from u s . _, ,.; 
11We ,  therefo re, submitted a p ,)tition to Hi s Maj � sty during 
.th� royal visit to P okhara . On Shrawan 26 ,  2:> 21 ( Au gu st 10 , 
1 964)o, we w,3ra info rmed that th:J f. ollowin. g dec isions . h ad be en t ak a1  : 
( 1 )  The existing a.rrang(3Jl ents shall be retaindd fo r a p e riod 
of t-w:> y aarso. 
( 2) No cu stoms d.utioos shall b1J charged1o_ w t reco rd.S of goods 
expo r·t�d and impo rt�d ( by tha inhabl.tants o f  tht) seven 
villag0s) shall b .:  maintain·.-"<1 . 
,68t. 
"Ac cordingly ,  wiJ dGpo sit0d the am:>unt of  th� s=i;::i;.co p aym ent 
at thG Kunchh a Revunu o O ffice .  
11 Sinc :: W8 do no t he.Ve any agri cul tu ral incom � s , ru t  dep end 
on trade fo r ou r liv,;.;l iho od, we are unable to m ake th .,:; .fil_ rto 
p ayrm.mt at 100 p c;rc ·,.mt o f  the exi .':iting rate . · U ntil , th �;r-:;fo re ,  
ou r l ands arrJ su rveydd , and tax�s as scl ss �>d , w0 p ray th at w1;3 
b e  all m�i.;d to p ay th ;: .§..irto ai.ld th8 s al ami levi t:: s , a:1d suppl y 
th -� pre sc ri b'.;d go od s  as u su al ,  fo r th e Vikrarria y uars 20 21 - 22 
t
( A . D .  1 961,-65 and 1 96 5- 66 ) , and th at th� u su al  anount of  •.;xp;n s0 s  
fo r ou r jou rnay bo  p ai d  to u s . 11 
Ac co rdin g to ,:i. (t.J ci sion taken on Bai sakh 26 ,  2023 (M ay 8 ,  
1 9 66)t, H i s  M ajte sty ' ts Govc rnm('mt deci d€.d : 
( 1 )  To r-.::confi nn the c:>-i s ting arrarigcl ,i10nt s reg2.rding ' cu .:;tows 
cx.::::m-,1,)t ion and p aymscmt s .  
(2) To cli r:..:tct th(;: Cor:1mi ssione r o f  tni;: Gan daki zon ,:; to make 
app rop riate arranc;cr:1 ent s about l and su rvey and tax ass estsment 
in con sult ation with the chai nn an  o f  the loc al P anchayat .  
( 3) To  continue p ayr1km t o f  Rs 50 as travellin g t· �xp8ns ,� s  uv0ry 
y ear. 
Th ,; d0c ision to t 2.k 0  ac tion in re sp 1'.3C t  to l and survey and 
t ax aS S l:S Siih mt in con sul tation with t hu chtai rman of the loc al 
P anchay at uas p rompt ,}d by reali zation o f  the fact th at : 
1 1 ( Thcs o  villtages) are situatod· in Himalayan t �rrain and 
r0111 ain cover::::d by sno w.  ....".t s omd pl ac d s  whi ch .:•.r0 not 
covetr0d by s no w, oa-.=: crop o f p atato o r barl ay is �rown 
ih  a y0ur . Th ·.; p etitioners - s ay that th;.; amount of  p aymm1t 
ass -.;ss  �;d on �'Uch ar'jas should not bi:! incrd asod by 100t. pe rc ent 
as t:l s.J\Jh 3re . I t  i s ,  th \,; rei'o r.:; , n.:.-'C e ss ary to stu dy the 
condition o f  th u l u.nd and firializ� arrange ,t1ents which will 
b J  sati sfacto ry to thu local inhabit ants •. 11· 
R9 gmi Re search Coll i..:!c tion , volt. 37 , pp . 1 48- 1 5 1 . ·  • 
Bcok Rev icn ,  ; Tha tc he d  Hu ts � Stu c co Pale ce s  
Regm i, �:I<' ':n LJ :1 c .. 1 ??.3 T!"� l'o tc ; . ·  d J-:'u t� E n d  Stuc co Rlla_si:.§. :"
p0as an "t;s c:1.n ct U--n ill.o r··d.S .in 1'ltn- Cen"turv N ep al". Ne ,, Delh i_ , 
In d ia : v .ikas Pu o:, _ .iS h  :in g  I-!ou:::"·:: Pv"t J;itd, 1 978 � M� P � :: lo !:l sary,b iblio;'{ :ra pqy an d s our� m a tc r_i01 s , m dex .• XI.1 ,  175 V P •  
R0v icw by : S�1ya m Tha pa , Brc,.,m Un ivers ity . 
S ch ola :c:..: o f  Nepul,)38 s ocie ty &gre e tha t 
Ma he� h c. Reg m i' S· con tribu tions to the s tudy o -£  
Nepa1 1 s -2 conor.:ic  b is tor y hove  be en ou ts tanding". 
Hi s wo rks fo cu s on t h,3 ha a.rt o r  tna economy o f i'i ,:�p al - : l an d 
and agra:-ci un �y :;t un � . The p rim ary ::;ou rce s o f  info rination fo r 
Re gmi 1 s s tudi e s  arc gove rnmen t reco rds and oth er pu blic and 
p rivat(! ;1rc bivc s ,  uhich he p ain st akingly di ge st s  and con si s t en tly 
an aly ze s  in a lucid and coh�rent m ann e r . 
. Recmi 1 s l ate st  cont ri but ion to  N ap al -3 s e  hi sto ri og raphy
is Tl1_.a_tc.!Lld Hu t.�_.@d StY.££Q. P al ac e s , the fi rst o f i: wo p ro j ec ted 
volumc-! S on the .  cou nt ry ' s e conomy du ring the 1 9th c i::mtu ry . 
The bo ok i s  an ou t gro wth o f hi s earli er wo rt on l �-in d tenu re 
and t axation L1 U ep al ,  and embo dies  the au tho r' s  d0 si re to 
c o mply ui th E • .H .  C arr' s dic tum that "th e main wo i'k o f  the 
hi st �n1..  an i s no � to r�co rd," . bu t  to �v aluat e " sinc o nhi sto ry
con :.ns t s  u s scnt1.ally in se eing the p ast th rou gh t he e yes o f the 
p resent and in li ght of i ts p ro blems n ( cit ed in P refac e p age)". 
Re 9ni ' s o bj ective i s  to e xamin e thE;  hi sto ri c al and in 5ti tu"tional 
c onst raint s that hindered N ep al I s economic dev elopment  du ring
the 1 9th c sntu ry in o rder to explain why the country h as 
remain � · d.  1 1poo r 1 1  to thi"s day . 
n,;; ,�i1ii"1 s c ent rnl the si"s is th at N tJp al  suf fcr·.)d f rom a 
vic iou s c i r·cl -:: , whi ch was a con sequen c ,:: o f  th e n 2..tur(:! o f  
th e rel ationship b:jtween th e p easan ts ,  on  th e one hand, an d
th e state  and the l pndlo rds , on the o th er.  The standard 
o f  living o f  th e p 1;.as ant s ,  who wer-.a the great maj o ri ty of 
tha cou nt ry'" s popul ation,  was v e ry  l ow·; thi s r0$Ul ted in a 
l ack o f  ct6ri cul tuxal inv� stment , whd.ch id tu rn 1 ,:�d to low 
p ro du c ti vi ty an d thu s mo re pove rty and a lowc-. r st anda rd of 
l iving .  · P aasan ts wera 8xploited by the state , th �; l andlo rds 
and oth .: r  int ,..;; nn;,; cliari c s to such an � xtent th at thoy were 
s tu ck in the "margin bctwc: en su bsi stenc e and de stitution"  
( p . 1 54) . Th� peasant s wer:3 n\Jith� r  able no r did th ey have 
any ii.1c"entive to imp rove th ,3 p ro duc tivit y o r  the quality o f 
l and ,  cr,1d the l andlo rds · -sho"w·:;d no intere st in doin g so ei the r . 
Th e boolc p re sents a conc i s e  hl t  comp r3h ,Jnsiv iJ c:naly si s  of 
the in sti tution al  struc ture s that se rv(!d to m aximi z:� revenu"e 
fo r the gova rnm1.:nt and oth 2r rent rcc uive rs � 
A cruc ial poin t th at :;.;m0 rg� s f rom the book I s ten chapt ers 
is bow c o alition s  w�rG fo rm��d bcltWQ3n the dl3 facto Hana 
go ve rnm(.mt , t he l :;.1.ndlo rds  arld othe r loc aJ. rep ru s cmt ativb::. 
o f  l ando wning e11·t;-:1 s .  Al thou gh th e ri se  of  th ..: Rcmas 11 di d  
r:iot rr. ark . th\;; .; nc ry  o f  n:::w group s into th8 t radit; i:i al  no b!lity ,
J. t c ;,rt:.u.nly hc raldd<i the emer
�
genc e of a n-aw polrc i c al  elit e" 
( p . 3J ) • Th(3 poli tic al system o f  th� s·c new 8.it �: ;J ,  whi ch was 
11 �. s mu ch again st tl1.a t raditions  of tho Sh ah  dyn"asty as ( it) was
again st th� t raditionaJ.. politic al p ro ce ss " ( p . 2J ) ", requi red 
70  . 
a r0ali gnm ·:.mt o f  tho a g rari an  bu reaucr ati c  syst an so as to 
in sure: a st eady sou rec of rcv::::nu0 from th 0 p easant s . Th0 
Rana re: gi:m";.;; ,  th ol" �; :Co r,J ,  · dcvclop 0d co alition s with l ::;.Ildlo rds 
and :7ill age elites (ht-1admen) l , and i t was throu gh . t�is r.__!ali gn,:;d mach1n- ry o f  thG govo rnm .m t °l,i'1 at r�v;jnU -3 was r.aax:Lmi z::� .  
Bu t  th'.:.;: h,J g1.;�onic rol ;;; of th,.:) Ranas did  not maan any change 
fo r tbe:! p easant s; th.,;y wer sti ll forc ud to sharo th0i r 
p ro du ce with ,  and p ay rent and t ax�s to , no t  only th s:;1 
�ove; rrun cut bu t al so a ho st c f  othe rs , su ch as th:J ,:rraisl.§., 
thu J?ir:ta o wr11.� rs ,  th a ..if!gi rdars , and the vill _ag2 0lit os 
( Chapt ,.; r 5 )  . P ayrncnc s in th ;:; fo rm o f agricultur� p ro du c e  
di d  not rcp rt: ,:icn t th _� tot al bu rden on th ._: p ·�as2J1t s since 
c ompul sory unp aicl-l ato r o bli gation s and 1Jxt ra l • :-vi� s werd 
cornrnon du 1�ing that p ,.,,: rio d ( Ch apt er  6 ) ". 
Ano th,i r impo rtant fa atur� of t ha ag rari"an syst ,:m p e rt ains 
to how cli ff .ar..::11t c at;J so ri ..:: s  o f  int� nn.Jdi aria"s -- such as 
th � n10n 8y- l -,md;__; r- cura-l andlo rd , the .!!!!d.tfilrn, and tl10 .i imidars 
-.Jmc.:. rg,;cl and op i:.! rat ud du rin g tt1 0 1 9th c untu ry. '.£h ��y r(,pr e seri tud 
a f'u rth u"r sou rcG  of -.:conomic domination ov0 r th•.; p on.s antry 
by e xploi ting it s l abo r and app rop ri ating a shar•..:-� of it s  
p rodu ct wi tllout mu.king any cont ri bution t o  i . np rovin g th e  
l and 0 1.· p roductivit y ( Ch ap tu rs 7 and 8) . ·. 
Re [;lni al so 1.,:; x,1rnin,; s ch ::in z; , s  in th :.:: agrari clll syst em ana. 
in l anc1 � \.mu r ...�  poli ci e s  intro duc ed by the Banas du ring
the s , · c or1d half o f  thG C 'Jn tury". Th ..� se polici .es incr 1Jas ,::d 
the to t al  a:rt:: a  cov ·:! r0d by thu LUY.a, the bi rt�h and th_c 
jagix sys t .mi s  o f  Lm<l. t'.;nu re ( Ch apt e r  3) by stren�t h0ning 
c o nt rol o f  th� c ,-m t ral go v•..:. rt1IIl"8Ilt ove r i ts func-�ionari� s 
i 1 wi thou t affe ctin � th..: basi c stru cture s  o f th .:; st:; sy st i;!II1 s 11 
( p . 47) . Biuu.l �irly ,  the Rana 1 s t axation polici dS imp rov�d 
th e m -.tllo d and m i.·schin .;; ry  of coll i..:ction ( Ch apt� r 4)" . Other 
l and polic L; s ,  such us tdnurc s , ;cu ri ty and p rop .. rty ri ght s ,
di d not chan g �  tru� ·,:: xploi tiv.::  si tu ation uith.::r  b t;c au s::: the 
p •Jas an.t s r.::inain ,--d su bj (: c t  to the villag0 <lite l s manipul ation". 
Int\j r�: stin gly , t "0mancy and p rop".'. rty ri ght s we re initi at8d 
l argely ::i.n r0 spon s0 to conflic t s botw00n th -� intJrs st s  o f  
th0 s t at d  and th9 s0 o f  th L:  l andownin g 0lit0 s . What�vor 
inc r .Jm ent of p ro du ctivity was o btainud could b.:.:; attri wtod 
to n •.:w l:�nds b rou ght und.:; r cultivation by th .:: p �; a.S QI'lts 
( Chapt 0 r  9)". · R0 oni con clu d�:: s that i i _th e  o ffic ial policy 
t owa1--d th .J p eas ru.1.t r;.!fn ain ,..:d on'cl of ap athy and 0: xplo it ation 
th rou ghout th e nin ,)t1..: ,:mth centu"ry" (p . 1 5 3) . 
Thu au tho r  thorou ghly anaJ.y zes the uncnvi abl u  ·,)o sition 
of t ho N cp al;.;".su  p 13asaJ1try and the economy . Although he 
co ntends t�1at tho stu dy 11pu rpo scl.y S .; Gks to avoi d  r(jf ercnc e 
to id...::r.J.. conc eptual $yS tGm s such as patrimoni alism and
bu reD.uc racy , o r  f eu dali sm and c apitalism, in th w boli cf that 
a conc uptu al  analysis of a so ci ,3ty i s  no su b sti tut.:J fo r 
so cio- -:.:cono mi..c res0arch 11 (p . xi)", 'l,t l,.; analysi s woul d havo 
bi..':en st i.":.::n gth en0d with a mo re comp arative , an alytic al app ro ach .
How ,  fo r JXam�l ;� , �101;1l d  he co mp are tI: e N dp al e s:;;: syst em to tho se of p re- 1.nuu s·i:, r1."al Eu rop e do sc ri b-.:.- d by Brcmno"r1 ?  
::?u rthc nno r J ,  so 111;;, o f  R�gmi I s assump tion s an d c rite ri a  are not
I 
71  � 
e xplicit -- for in stanc e , . hi s ove rill view of theep ro bl em 
of economic development • Similarly, the reade r  i s  l eft 
wond.::-::r::Ln,g how the.• autho r understands and defines the .  central 
question whic h  the book seeks  to answer : "Why i s Nep al  
poo re? "  The readDrec an only agree wi th the a-i;tho r, given 
th e b- in :Jfl. � o f hindsight , that agricultu ral p ioductivi1.,y 
coul d  h c·.ve been rai sBcl by mo 1-e c apital inve stJn(m t in l and .• 
\Jould hi Ji:J. .. ; ;c  p ro duc tivi ty have i.np roved the p easc.n t..tY ' s 
eondition t. o r  woulcl it h ave result�d simply in a f,::_,,., mo re 
" stucco paJ. 9 ce s 1'? Hould hi gha r agricultu ral p ro ductivity , 
have made Nepal "rich "  as oppoesei to 11poo r"? Woul d N ep al  
hav e achi cv;;:d i t ec onomic devdlopment :1 today . h ad n8:t"i cultu ral 
p roduc tivity be en hi gher du ring the 1 9th centu ry ? 
The book concentrat tils on the :Lnt ernal fo rces op erating 
in N ci:; �1l , bu t i g10 ro s si gnific ant exte rnal fo rcees . Nep al ' s 
geopol j_t i e al  statu se the re gionaJ. political si tu ation , 
N t3p al '  s t rade reJ. :-:tti1 on s with nei ghbo ring cou nt ri e s ,  and 
t rade h�tween I n.ii a a�1d. 'fibet --- all of thes� are impoertant 
-�xte mal fo rc e s . -to con sider. 
In  conclu sion , ue can c artainly concu r with R1� @-i1i ' s 
cavea-t that the rec:i.de r "will valu e  ( th e book) mo r0 fo r 
the qu e stions it stimulate s than for the a."l swe rs it  po stulat�s 0 
( p .  XX:i.i)e. Thatch2d Hut s  and Stu �co Palaces nav�rth el ess  
is  a p ro vo c ativ1?- n no graph ·not only for scholars o f N ep al ' es 
hi sto ry, soc. it>ty c1.nd politic al economy, b.lt also  fo r students 
of develop,nent in genaral , wr19 may well find it  an i!nriching 
c as e  study . 
---------
1 Rob(;; rt Drann�er, i1Agrarian Cl ass St ructu re  and Economic 
D evelopment• in Pre-Indu st ri al  Euerope ,  n P ast and P re  sent , 
70 ( 1 9?6) : �-?5 . 
Source ;_ H:unalayan Research Bulle tint  Win te r  1983 , 
Vol . II Ie, No •e. 1 ,  ( pp. r;:3�.1.4 5 1  publishe d  by th� 
.N epal  studies 
As socia 't ion a t  the sou th As ia P!'ogram of the cen ter for 
In te rna tional S tudie s , Cornell Univ e rs ity, I thaca , 
New Yorlt 14853 , U . s .t .  
-� 
***** *  
,The Im a c t  o f In dia •  s �W ilway Snt..em on 
N epa1 t s Ecegomy ffir ing the � os ing
Yca�_' s of the 19 th Cenetury 
By 
vrhe l a s t fifteen ye a rs of  the 19 th cen tury , almos t  
co in c idin g witb -::-Iw rule of  ?r ime Minis ter B ir Shumshe :re 
( 1 8 85- 1 901 ) witnn c s 0 d s i[.{n j_eLc&nt tren ds in the e conom ic 
fiel d w!1 j_ch se t  tbe tone  for H apa1e1 s de but in to the 2 0tjl 
cen tury. The �e tren ds ope r2 te d la rgely from the Indian 
s ide .  . Inde ed, tl1e h i:sbl ir; b  :;:-:: of Ne pal i e conomic h is tory
dur inrl · the clos in .:-: yea rs of t ile n ine teenth cen-tury we re 
mostly sn imp� ct of  econ ornic dev el opmi.:;: n ts  in India. Foremost 
amon3 those dev zlopmenets we re the ex tens ion of India • s railway  
system to a numb:-:� r of  po in ts alon g  the Nepal-India bord� r.  
In dia • s ra ilway sys tem w it.'1 essed ra pid expans ion during 
th is pG rio d .  The to tal :m ilc a-�11  .in cre c:, s e d  frOOI 9 , 89 1 m 
1 8 8 1  to 1 C ,977 5-n 1 89 1 e, an d to 2 5 , 373 ten years late r ,  an 
in cre ase of 2 56 . 5  :µ:i rcenet du 1· i ng a period of twe n ty  ye G rs . 1e 
By the e n d  of tho cen tury ,  r�' ilway lines  had be 0u bu ilt to 
conneer::t c'.. nurn b-::r o f  towns on tt.e Nepal -In din borde r  s ituate d 
a thwar t  impor tua t con te rs oi' t.:ade in Nepal. In 188 5' ,  the 
Ben ca.1 ,' nd  No :c th-Wes tern :1a :LJ.,_ 1 <', y comp any opene d a branch 
. 1. in r  t.o �-! e�3lz:u.r i Ro� d on -t;hc In di.vn ia.e of the bor �r ne ar 
N opalgunJ m Bo.n�e dis trict of  Nepal . 2 About fou r ye a rs 
1 3. te r ,  m 1 890 , the As sam-Biha r state Ra ilway s imila rly 
op e ned its Pu rncD  se ction from Kus ba to Forbe s ganje, a dj oin :ing 
thee. m :) 1·ke t toWli  of .nonge� i� :1-n !•iorDnj · dis trict of' Nep� l (nucleus o f  t-:he i-:1o dern t;mn1 of B irc: ·m :::- :� a r ). · However ,  the developme nt 
of ra. il,.-1a y trb n sp o rt fc· c ll i -� io s in the can tral Tara i reg ion 
had to w.:! it un tjl the 1 ,, s t  yc,,. rs of the cen v.iry . Jayanaga r ,
a dj o in :ing Jan a"!-::pur , an d Raxaul. , a dj oin ing  Parsa 1n N ep_al , 
we re conn e c ted only in 1 897 Ln d 1898 re spe ctively. 4
su ch an orde r of p rio r iti.::s m the in s tal lt::et ion of  bran ch  
l inees conn t:: ct iw� touns en -;;!)c :·! �pal- India border w ith ma jor  
can tc rs o f  trade an d cQTim.;: rco ·in the �b- con tinen t wa� 
obv iously dic tr-i te d  by the nc e cl  to exp�nd an d che apen suppl ies 
of primt1 :ry pro dU co from th0 Tar, i reg ion of n epal , pc rticul a rly 
foo dg ra ins an d timbe r e. Indeed,  s ect rcity of firewood 1n the 
G angG tic Valle y hF d b '.7 •�n cite d  by Breitish officials as e arly 
c1s t!r� 18 5'Us ::-1s c jus t ific2e-'-;tOQ for· con structing bran ch l ines 
in to thG sub- Himt: lc:yDn pl z-dn s . J  CQDmerc ial l iri"ks be tween 
the T,1rc: _i rt:q ion of JH�;, al v.nd too (I d.j oining a rea.s o_f India ,  
traditionDlly clos� becE-u�:J o f  the absen co of n t: tural  boun daeries 
an d the prox imi ty of populous se t tle man ts  on the Indian 
s ia; of  the bo :�dc r , wo re .rur·thc r cemen te d  by the ex tens ion 
of Indiae• s rc-·- Uwct.y s ys tom . 
. ·  
73 . 
Tbo deve lopme n t  p f the In dian railway system re duced"· 
the importa nce o f  r iv e r  n :.-·.v :ig a tion m . the ex port tra de in 
pr imG. ry p ro du c·J .from the : Tara i  reg ion o f· Nepal to the a dj oin ing
a re as o f  n or th .:- rn In dia". na i-lway l ines al te re d  the · c ours"e 
o f trade and di.'!! in ishe d  thf.• impo rtan ce o f  rive r-borne tra ffic . 6 
. Howeve r i ttlC 1,e is no ev�den ce tht• t �he ra ilwnys en tirely d ispl,1 co<.l r iv e r  r� ,.:v ;iga tion 1n the tra ff ic o f  g oo ds . For 
ins tan ce ·, For bes�unj in Pt.1..rno e dis trict of In dia was conne"c te d · 
by ra jiway in_ 1890", bu t  tJ.mb·"r ,  ca rdamom", an d othe r commoditie s 
we re s t il l  be inc( r:xpo rte d fr0m . a s te rn  Neoa l to Pa tn a by
boa t e t  the en d  of the cen tury .,". S imilarly", the bulk o f  
N epa1 1 s tra de in . the cen tral se c tor pa.sse d  th r.oug h  F.axaul
t he te rm inus o f  the Sugaul i- Ha.--raul branch ra ilway but ·  ' · 
" the G m d ak c!nd. the Burhi G and&k also ca rry mu ch lra .ffic". "8 
Riv e r  transpo rt , more ov er ,  con t inue d to play an 
important rol€ in the movem0.r! t of commoditie s  from the
in t& rior a re as to ra ilheads on the Nepal-India borde r .  
T imbe r "1 foodg ra ins an d o t..'1 <:- r  commoditie s  we re transporte d  
by r iv e r  to the. ne P- res t  Indian ra ilhea d , whe re th ey we re 
tri:lnss h i:ppe d to_ wag ons and cle sp s  tched to differen"t,
des tln,. tions in India". 9 . 
The ex tens"ion of the I ndian ra ilway sys"tem to ma rke t­
towns on the L:1d :Lan  s ide �f the borde r gave a fillip to 
the grow th o f  tovm :J on the ITi::p ci li s ide of the borde r as 
well". E0pa lgun j , in the r-:'- r-wes te rn  Tura i re g ion , may be 1 
cited ci s  an ' ou ts tan d ing ex&raple .  There se�ms to have been 
a b3 :1vy :in nux of Indian trc.: de rs , bo t.'1 se�,sonal an d 
pe rma nen t , in to i'!op�•lgunj t!1Unks to t.11c,. t  pol icy .  By th e 
e n d of the cen tury , the town ,•. c:commodc.1 te;d ne al,'lY 45 pe rma nen t "· 
coinme rciGl e s ta bl ishn�i1 ts ,  1n a dditi on  to more t."ian 1 00  
t·3mporr ry s tal l.s"· d1=1rmg the �on ths fr� N ov e mbe r  to May 
ev ery _ �e r , ope r.:."te d  by Marwa r is"- and · othe r  tra de rs frQn 
fu d� . , o  
. . . -
. Thanlts to the s e  !llea sures, Nepalgunj .develope d in to a bus tu,ng
town, w it..l-.l a brisk · buil ding _ ac.tiv ity ,"1 1 a groww" popula tion 
. and ·eve·n ·a rud�ntary s tree�l igh �lllg sys tem . 13 . 
The ox tens. :1on of  the Indian railway sys"tem to Raxaul 
on the- Indian s ide of thil �uorcior in 1898 simil urly le d  
to the grow th of a n("W Jnc:rke t-tc>wn in the a dj o :in :ing 
. a re e. o f  N epa l .  : ·The , town Wi.tS nome d Birgunj", obv iousl y
a fte r  r r ime  Min ia.to r Bir Bbutlshe re"."· G oods _"exporte d to 
India from tba t nre � we re  clw.nnelle d t.))rougb Birgunj on 
a com:pul sory b£�s is . The (; OV cmme.n t construc ie d  a number 
o f bu ll.ding s in tba town- wh ich we re l�s"e.d w trade rs".
� s ta te tra din i;:, ;: gen ey ,  kn own c:..s th� Birgun j Mabs j an i 
Adda , w.::,s e s tafil:ishn d, t.nd �l? 1"0ug h it t�c., d.e was �on ducte"d 
in the s to"te se ctor 1n - raw s ilk and o.the r commodities". ii+ 
74 . 
nr�"ilway . tr.:ns:1o r t  f,'.:1 c il :Lties al ong the borde rs ha d 
on e mo 1• c  .imp or tan t tmp t": ct  on Nepal". Thank s to the se .
ft c j_l i.ti·:. s ,  t !K, ou tly ing 2 rc 2 s  of  · the K ing dom 1n the eas t 
c::: n d  the we s t  be c.Lme more c:. cc css"ibl e frQn the can ital". For
in s tr.n ce", one coul d trnv al on foo t from KE: thmandu to Ra.xoul 
in In c1 j_:.,. , thu n i)y j·C: ilwc::: y to I:'o rbcs gunj ,  als o in India",
En d tl1. .m  cro s s l> : ck in to H 0 p, l i  w rrito ry  in Morr: ng ,  the 
e n t ire j ou mey ·ca·k ing l' bou -::  four ctc:; ys ". As Porcev el Lan do n 
n o te d  m 1928 , "For ·c:: ny lon·::. d is tan ce it is e a s ier  an d 
qu icke r <'i n d ,  i t  i 11,i y l::e P dd0d , cheap er for a Nepale se to 
m&ka h is wr1 y -::1 it 'L· r  to orn o f  the ra ilway s t& tions on the
I ridian  borde r • • •  ,' n d  then j o :i.n the Indian rn ilway s ys tem 
for c::n 0x cli rs ion c-J s t or ue � t  ev en when h is  de: s"tmL tion 
is in h j.s own c:oun try . 1 1 1 5'  
T!'K� in cre::. sc  d ,.: cce ss tha t tho new rc ilw�y trrnspo r t  
fr.>. c il itiG.s  prov id.J d to th e f'..: r-wi.Js ro rri Ta rf. i  :re g ions had 
y;a t .:::,n o th-3 r itnpo rtEn t con se gu cn ce iri the s ocio-e conom ic 
f iel d .  I t  n ow be came po s s ibl. c  for membe rs o f  the Ka tbman du­
b:. so "d pol it i·c:;l e l ite to expl o it ·tha ug riculturo.l an d fo re s t 
ro s our,.e s  o f  th�. t r(lg ion for pc rs on£-l b-.:m.a fi t. To be sure , 
th is W<• S n o t  a n ew b:.:.: ne fit , for the se group s ho. d long 
0xpl o ita d the r:- ::: ou r ce s o f  trJO iJc- s te m an d we"s te rn  Tara i 
ro ,1 ionn , w h ich ,JC! l'O more c,t'.s ily D cC\;: S S ible from the 9ap ita1". 
The Ind:La. n  ra ilway_ fc:. c il �tic: s  -cn �bl e d  1g·e m to enl c: rge the s cope o f. the ir DX i:>.L O i tfo  t1v 1J p �:r ctice s ". The grc.n t of the 
c:ntirc d:Ls tric t of  whr't 1 , , t.:: r come to te ·known c:s J3c.:. rdiya 
to Pr ime hi n is t,� r Jung Bc."',h,. c:tur "nd h is brothe rs in 18 60 
was an e xca ption,l  er- s o , P n d  it  1s s ignifi c� n  t th ..". .t  1 r1 rg e­
s ca1 c  b 1:r tc g r: n ts  in tho ft r-we s te rn  TOrE' i rog ion be gan 
to"'tD m:, do only L ftc r  t.'1e Inclir. n ra ilway system touc.he d 
Nepa lgunj Roe: d ::, r�d o th,.J r po j_n ts on the borde r ". 
-------------
No"tes 
-
1 .  R01n�s h Dutt·; The Ecooomic His tory o f  I n dia , Vol". 2 : 
.!b£._Victor iun AP, o ,  • ( repr in t),  U ew ta lh i ; Publ ic5'l1ons 
Div is ion , Min is try of In fo rn1c : tion c1n d. Broc1 dcas t1ng"·,
G ove rnmen t of  Indio , 1 963", p . 4�1 ..  . . · 
2 :  J"' h� r sen , ,!?� do-Nup�l T�;- do  in the · Nirie to gi th  century, 
Co-lcu tta : I11irma KLM Priva te Ltd, ".:"- 1977 , P •  77 . 
3 .  1!?!.9:, pp .  80-7 1 • 
4 .  I bid, p .  72 . 
5 .  Fo r  ins ta.n ee , in his report to the". Selec t comm itte e  on 
_"Colon iza tion t. nd  Settl -:illt;n t  in 1857 , lvf.D j or--O ane rDl c .w .  Tromonheo re , R."E. · no 'b3 d  1 1  t.'1e r�lfl tive s cD rc ity ,  even 
:in 1 8 57  , o f  woo d fuel ip the a a.nge tic valley"," e nd he ·  c i'bJ d  
th iS e.s an :;. ddition8l' :r.e o son for the ne ce"ssity"1 o f
cons"truct ing b:ran ch 1 1no ts  in to  1 SUb- mma1ayan pla ins 
an d o the r  }1 illy dis tricts . or Cen tral. Ind� whe re wo od 
7 5.. 
was to be · found in 1 1 ine.xhaus7tible abundan ce • "  . Eli
w zh ai bet� thCII}b  e7t �rs rian condit
.l' ih oe n slt ff  n71. inte  <1 No:;� rov tin hece rns u  n Ide n dr iB ar  iti Vs oh lRii . le 1 , •1  86Ct.12.QQ.; •
Be rl·�ele y, Los J1.n3 eles .:· nd London : Univ ers i ty f
cal ifo rn 1a P:·o s s , 19721 
o
 , p • 94 . 
6 . Jahe r· sen (.92..  cit . P •  7 t ) , . .for ' ins tance , cites officiel
British  Ind1,m sources s ccording to which the open in g
of the Purnea se. ction of tb� i\.ssam-Bihar State RB. llway 
from Kusba. to Forbesganj .in 1890 led to a de cline in 
tho v olu.'lle of the J<o.s i bo� . t trade .  
7 . 1 1  0rder to I . ,I the7. ·.  S. ap" ta.  r• i,.. HPntim:.:•nna.gar Mal Regarding 
Timbe r Eltp o1°ts to CBI cu·tt;a , 11 As_hadh B"di 30_, 1954
(June . 1897 ) , Re0m 1  Res oa:i... ch Colle ction7, v eil.  ? 1 ,  pp7. 540..497· 11 0rder7. to Lt . Aridaman Khadka Chhetri 
Rega rd ing Export of  cc;;..rdamom from Chauriya-G ola to 
p2. tna7_,' 711 Mcg h 3udi 1 2 ,  1957 (January 1901 ) ,  RRc, v ol .  70 ,pp . _6z+- 17 7 . · . 
8 .  The lnpe rial G r ze tieer of India , Vol . x, OK ford : Cla ren don 
. Press , 1900 , p .  143 . · . . · . · 
9 . i• Order to tne Neya Muluk ·Kusme-o,ar Ka tbmcihaJ. Adda 
Regs.rd in� EXport o f  Timb!') r to the Railway :Eng ineer 
at  Go.:akhpth•7, <m.ci1,a ,J� J(i :rtil� 195.4 {October 1897 ) ,  
. .  RRC, vo l .  76 , pp . 3o 5'-74 ;  11  0rder to .. Banke- Ma l  Rega rding 
· J?. aan i : �ymen ts; for MS-nu ft:. cture of Boats for Transporting 
Ti.isnpe7r ,  11 Shrt.wan 9 ;  196 0 (July 21.t-, 1903 ) ,  Jmc, v ol7. 77 , 
pp � - .344- 50 • . E f�n  durin1 the 194(E. , g(?ods we re tran sporte7d
be tween IIBnumc.nnt·gar in S,:1.ptari di$ trict en d the Indian 
. ra ilwf, y st� ti0n r t  •Nirmal i by, boQ.t througtl the Kos i 
riyer .· (G ove_rhm�1·1t of Nepal : ·Indus trial7· survey Re rtof ·S aptari� :arid Bi�tn,1:,gar ( :Fng • . t rans .7,: n1:uneo � ) , 19�� , . 
p .  4 .7 .. I_n ·  1�96 ,' the Nei>a1 gove._mmen t re qu�•j.tione d the . 
. .  .s �rvice s of ' :an om-:tnee-r from the BritiSh Indian gove rnmen t 
: : · ;to ·. � �(t!1� Kfrrlal:� r �',' tr .:kl order to . ff;. c ll ;i. ta w
trttns_po'rt_a ,e1o11 ·Of tfmber \,hrgugh the : ,rivep . •�.Order to 
> t118 · 138 11�· .�1- Retfirdin,Z Experis,es ,:f-or' -�ptain Royal , 11 
. 19 5'�7: C1896J1 .. . £t�_g, v ol �  .767, '.7PP- � -1�4?• 
f,- · .  , . � -- , ,• . ,. -' ·.c. ,- ,,l ,.- _:'.',_ . � •  _ •..  ,,
., �- - • · ··
- - .. _.-' - ·  _·
. _: : ·:-,c ·· · :jc··;_,;; -�·�• · -'.;' - :  
1 0�. ,J�t�t Sen.,. · op • ; c it.  p • .  1 06  ·7. : . Reterence . to .  a r:ta·�ari 
:·., ·;;tr�dl� '� :'Jptra�_ 1,ti1. Mai!iti-1,., .. :who · pad � ttled down7' in :Nehelgunj' · 1.<?" cot1--te7•in�d.7' 'in -'f'O?'der7: to Lt,. Kalu Qf the 
.Jia�,a .�lU:� Ki· �•r i, & l;7f _!Cq�;r. ��d� ;, '' Bba�a· Sudi 10, 19,1+( A�-s t 189? l · · ·:rote · Jjur � . 5lf, � pp .� .: 232.;.:lf97. � ":--
, . ·  , t <. �- J . - : · - '. / ; ;  : .'�� ,_ -}� �- . :\. :. J ;  •· �� :- :..i(- · ·  !�:; · : ·  . ;-, ' . .: ' ' . '
1 '.\ :tt��r 1"4 , .i� t{�.1a:�\ ltt¥ RElpti•lCUS:ma'!"l)lar Ka tanahal
.. :a�;{?:7:rqing Stlp �1].y•:: of': F�woo a to · Brick kilns in Nepalgunj7, 11  . 
� ,. · · \Ml�n qtf13� di r;". 12·�.- ,(.J:une , 18?7.),, ·RRo, PP •  86-92 • .. . �, ' , ••..c•. . . • : ··�. , ' '"" I .,. , .  . ' ., .
r2'l/;ihfa� :'Tti �· - dO;curnerl't• :;&lsq , ,r;efers to ;t�_ -g rowirlg popul& tion 
· of H cpalgunj town7. 
76 . 
. ' 
13 . " Ordert• to Hc :J<-":.lgun j t. J3t.. zo. .::r Adda Re ga rd ing Purchase 
o f  U- n te m s fo r S tre e t-U.:, h ting in Nepalgunj � u Jes tha EB di 1 0 ,  1 954 ( Ma y  1897t) , RRc, v ol .  76 , p p .  t,0-82t. 
1 4 . 1 1Birf_{ un j  w. zaar ,t1 1  · ne2:m i -m se c rch se ries , ye e. r  1 3 ,  No . 9 , 
Scp t3mbe r 1 9 8 1 t, p p .-135-3? . 
1 5 .  P0 rccv al Lan don , NopD l ( r 0p rintt of 1 928 e d . t) , Ka thman du : 
R�,ma pus t;c:::1:: D!1Ln di, r ,  197 8 ,  v ol .  2 , p • 41 • 
1 6 . Gf . 1 1Baka� D :l.rta Gran t to s� rda r  Bh,,gawa t Bhak ta in 
��.·tnkc � 
1 1  Shr�·.,i c:-n BL di 1 ,  ·1 9 52 ( July 1 89 5 ) , RHC, v ol .  9 0 , 
POt. 10 5-242t. 
** ***  
cus toms Ex emp tiont· for L,�.,..a of Helambu 
· 
Ch hew e,ng G yC l cho IPma of IIe lam bu submtitte d the follow ing 
pe t i tion to  P r i:in0 M in is te r  Jung J3aha dur : ·  
Io  the yer r 1 fJ7 3  V ikr�'-ma ( A . D. 18 16 ) a . royal cbar t2r 
( Lal moha r )  h:.1 d been is sue d in the n�me o f  my fa t.l-)etr ,
Ka ls yfll 1c:.m a, tin d h is di�:. ciple s , g ran tin g exe mpt ion 
from pB ym0n t o f  cus tcms  ;: ; i1 d trans it duties ( JO.g o t , 
hb;.;. nsnr-, tatcs ar , da12 l )  �nd  sc:ile s taxt. ( N irl;dl i )  on 
6oo dS · expo r te d  to Kuti _ a.n d Ke run g ,  such as  rice , ghe e ,
De p.3 r , Phu,;.� ,  c.n d  phPle·1 LS wel l n s  on g oo dS  imp orte d ·  · from . �he'ro , :in cludm� su1 t Undt. wool . Accordin�ly , we 
did n ot pay tho se du ,;ic s c m  tax es frQn the yoo rs 18?3 
to 1905 V.ikrr,1110. ( A . n. 18 16  to 1 848 ) .  Thas e days , howev e r, 
:[&p:8 t du tie s  t re butin:� c0ll e cted cm su ch goo ds .t1 1 
The follow :in i  orde r _w�s · th�n is sue d in tho names of 
tGx- col l•� ct:ing o ffic iels r- t  Swtan , Ti51Ure , an d  Pan chas aya·kholt 
In cr. se it is true thL t no du tie s cJn d taxe s hove  been 
.. colln c tc d on goo dS  tr,· .de d ( w i th  Tibe t )  as men tion ed 
.: bovo , from 187. J to 1 905 V ik r�ma , ( A . D. ·  18 16  · to 1848 ) , 
do n9 t mckc su ch col le ctions in th-3 future a ls o , on d 
re fun d t ny P ,;1ount_  th::, t :i1c..y r:1 re , dy ht..v e  b ee n  col le c te d . 
I f , howev e r ,  t !Jo f: ·. c ts c:' re d iffe ren t , t!n d you r; re no t 
s .. t is ficd w :i. th th is orde r-, rep re s �n t  your c:-:; se befo re us .t11 
As h:- db SU di 3 ,  1907 
( June 1 8 5 0 )  
Regm i ne s ea rch colle ct ion , v ol t. 79  , ppt. 1·5a ... ,9 . 
****** 
77 . 
(1  ) 
i. n t.
Th� inha b itz.n ts- o f  Lum t Tal(ha rpa ta �  an d Ranis a m  v il la ge she S ij a  d iv :,.s ion ( cta ra J of.  Ju·m l· a subm itte d t.11e fol lowingpe tition to Ka thm3n du : 
�;1rom fo rme r times , oo po r te rr ge serv ice s  ha d been
1.m�i re s se d  fr• om us". we ·p rov ide d su ch serv"ice s ,is 
�xde re d  by our J �mma�-�-1 on ly to bh� rda rs v is i ting
cl_1e  temple of  Sr JJnol 1!:0 ". I n  the Vikrama ye ar 1 9 03 
{ ii. . D. 1 846 ) ,  s 0me of U!:l  lie re exe mp ted  from th a t
obl � c.  t ion .  con s e quen tly", o the rs we re forced to ca rry 
lo c· d.S throv.r)1 �tl"'ree or fot:.r po s ts ( a dda ) ,  ins te a d of
be twe"en our usual pos ts . The he,;v y burden o f  such 
PQ rte rage s •." rv ice s h,· s thus ru in e d  us". 
. 
The 1; ov e rnmon"-c hci d ea rl L�r in c orpo ra te d  the f::>ll"owing
c rran3ern 1:m ts in -�ha 1 903 ( A ". n. 1 846 ) �ek- Tb iti orde r : 
In the . fu ture , p rov ide )or te ra ge se rv ice"s for only 
four l oa ds o f  suppl ies i.:-e qu ire d  for offici al ce remon ies 
c. t the te nr�)l8 o f  Srinic  1 ika th rough bba rdars , .  mil ita ry 
suppl ie--s , an d s ick pe rson r. ". Do not l)rov ide su ch se rv ice s
fo1..  o th e r  '� ov"c rrnn oo t C iil )J. oyees or priv a te  in d iv  idua1s 
( dhol(rc ) ,  bht 1• dc rs , mil 5.t.:, ry o ffice rs ( i6-gari ) ,  or 
s ol die rs ( SiY1 b i ) . Such pe rs ons sba11 empl oy pc-r te rs 
on ly on pc yrnen t of waGe s  a t  the ra te of 2 ann a s  a day . 
en Asha dh &'• di 1 o, 1 9 0'1 ( June 18 50)", a royal orde r was 
issue d re con f :_ · 0::i inc . th ese arran gemen ts • 
Re gmi ftes ea rch Colll� ct  ion , v ol .  ? 9 , pp". 1 3 8-4-0 . 
( 2 )  
The inha b itLn -i:s o -.(  S ij cJ  submi tte d th e f oll owing pe tition 
to the g ov e rnmen t : 
JhE ra 1 2bor !wd been i1:.T1u•e s se d for the con s truc tion 
o f  c1. fo r t an"d the" . ta rrri:>le o f  Sri Kan akasundari in the
Sij e  div is"ion o f  Jumla . Th is was done a t  the time o f  
tho sow in3 s c.:• S •)n", !1em ce r:>0 opl� rema"ined a bsen t from 
worlc for on:� 01� two c1, ys". A fl.l1e was , the re fo re , 
impose d on u� , c:i nd '.:!udda" l•:"' ct.11av Bas nyc.1 t �v en took _  
awoy ou r housH h ol d  po ts ci_ nd pan s to rea_ liz e  the fine . 
The royf,l orde r rel_a t :tn:·: to the·k- th iti a r�angemen ts 
for our v il lt:.ge prE· s cri b: S th, t no fin e s h0ll: ?e . c olle c te d 
fo r d8 � ul t :m the fulfJllmen t of J hc ra obl iga tion s . 
Moreov e r ,  no such find s houl d �ave be en impo se d  a t a 
time when we were sow·ini our f1 ol ds • 
?8 •· 
Tho g ov e rnt1en t; ·  th3n : i.ssti.o d the - following orde r in the 
:1 ['.me o f the Cb i(i i' Ldm iri-is t r,-1 tor · of .rumla , Ka j 1 Ran as :imha 
Basnyat  : 
If · this comlil�J in t is trusr, an d the proceeds o f the 
fine h�1ve b c•cn dE, pos im d , iith you ,  re fun d  ev ery s ingle 
dalJL • · I f  thG pro ca •3 c¾3  l li . '.v e n ot been de.pos ited w i th  
you , i� suc ord0 rs to tho con ca rnE; d pers onrs to rerfun d  
the amoun,t .  Th;;"' se  ryo ts belon g  to en ou tlying bo rde r 
rcr� ion . L( t not  such com:·i1 :,·- in ts come to us· in the 
ftl ture • 
As h� dh B,- di 1 0, 19 07 
( Jun a 1850 ) 
Rt::gm i Rose ,i rch _ Col L:'., c tion , v ol �  79 , PP • 14o-42 . 
Order to :}orlt h ..: l is , -�ovb rnIIJen t employees ,- common people , 
· 8n d inb:: bi tc m ts of  JumlF:- tr 'Vol l ing  throug h the Barha bis 
div :Ls ion ( de• r.:•r) o. f  Jumla cl. is .trict : . ' , · , I 
, ; ' 
Th�� inha b it:}n ts ( of B,J rhL.bis ) complain th,: t you exa c t  
unp ::i ,id portr: rr:. ;� e  · rnd  o ther  l e>  bor s Jrv ices  fromr_ them , 
.::..n d '" : lso dei:land free su-o ·)l iGs of provrisionsr. 1� royal 
ordl) r  h.:ad b : :cn issued in- the Vik rama yo£.r 1 887 ( A .  D. 
183 0 ) , wh ich c0n ta ine d t!1e follow ing p rov is ions : 
( a )  Unn a id po r b:rP g� shal 1 ·be prav ide d only fo r 
mil itary · suppl ic•3 , s ick pc rsoo s , and co in s  remit te d  
to th:: .c;ov e mman t .  
(b ) PrC!V).s :i.on s she-11 bo mE de eva Uv.ble to peons
de puto d to the v n1:-· g0  forr. the col le ction of  
rev �- :nue only-  for the- durc. tion of  such work . 
( c )  J..  ny P'. 'l' S on  wh(f· o±,-:;• cts unpr: id porm rr- gc se rv ices 
_o r pr 1...-.v is ion s in\ e:on t.r�··ven tion of these r� rrQflgemen ts,:i 
· ·  · shc1� be h2ld _l i� brd to the p�ymen t  of revenuer· 
· o.ssc s so·d fOr t!1�� ·C �-rer.� • 
. T�,eso t rr r.� 0.ne_nrts ': re !-12 reby . .re con fifU)� d.  
AshO.dh B:- di  :t o, 19 07 
(Jun0 1850 ) 
R�gm i: ne�eri rch - co1L� c�1on , v ol .  _79 , PP • 144--1+-5 . 
·-
(A.n ord�r- w J. th the · snnie . con ten ts we s issued on the snme 
d� t£, · for Bh: rtr. r� uun rlso .  Ibid, pp . 146-48 ) .  - - · 
7 9 . 
( 4 )  
Th e inhe b i t.:'"i 1 ts o f  Rara V il lclge in the Pan chs aya
o  f d iJ vu  i8r:1l ia o n com, L:: if1•:.: c l tha t  they we re l ia ble to prov i
on ly d nb oo tt  h K e agc1 re- HulFk an d Th�ple- I�l&k se rv ices for the 
tra n sporta t ion o f  m,' il en cl z ov e rn men t suppl ie s re spe ct iv e
bu t  a1 s l0 y  por tc rcge se rv ices for g oods re ce iv e d  th roug h o the � 
. a re a s  in Jumla cUs tri c t .  In D pe tition to Ka thman
a dudde , d th e: y
Su ell a. he av y  burden of  :)o r ter[1 g e  se rv ice s  bas cause d  
· g re c; t h,• rds h jl) S to us . In ca se ou r  gr iev an ces a re  no t 
re dre s se d , uc s h&l l be for ced"· to l eav e our v Ulage s ". 
The g ov e  rmn(• r! t then i8 :3ur.; d  the foll owing orde r  : 
In the fu tu.re , Thc: pl c-HuJ.ak i porte rs shall n o t  p·rov id.e 
un pr id por te r�,� e se rv ice s for sup pl ie s  o the r than 
mD_ iV> ry s tore s belonr� :U1R · to the gov e rnmen t ,  an d  s ick 
:,>e rs ons". In c :.; se any 0n 0  forc ibly exa c ts  such se rv ices 
from you , srJ ize him nnd ht: n d  h im  ov :.: r to th e · Amal i 8 t  
tlle Chh in asj_m Kc• chr.• hc' r i .  With due a s surc1n"ce , ?rov ide 
po :i.·tera g e  S c  rv ices as u�ual for go"ods belon g .mg to the 
gqv e rnmen t .. 
As hr, d.'1 :9, , di 1 o, 19 07 
( June 1 8 50 ) ". 
Regm i Hese a rc h  Ci)l le ct  ion ,  v ol .  79  , pp". 1 45-46 . 
( 5 )  
Or de r to the �-mal is  of Jumla : 
Rudra bha na Shah i  has  com� he re w i th the foll ow ing 
c om plo",in t  : 1 1  The :i,nhab i tants ' · o f  Bas:kot Village in the 
Pa la n ta div iS"ion ( de rD )  hcvo s h ifte d to o the r areas ( in 
Jumlu ) ". The y have ,  coh�e guen tly', de faul te d in t.lic paymen t  
o f  revenue a s s c s s i  .. d for Bask_ot , he n ce the bu rden o f taxa tion 
hc1s  b 3 come h 0tvy for the rc s_t of the inh a bitan ts  of tha t 
v llla�e". In adclition , _,: unpa id porte rage se rv ice"s a re  b e ing 
:im pre s "se d cril y from the"· inhc;.bitan ts  of,  v iJ, lage"s , s itua � d 
n ea r  th e ms in . rou �"J... _w ith the 'resul. . t tba t  thes e v lllages are oo ing ru in e d.  ® dra t>h�ne Shab i bas o ffe ra d  to promo � 
se t tlemen t in .. ·t ho t e re o  if npp ropria t:3 orde rs ( th iti) are 
is su� d in h is n ame". 
•itou are he reby dire c ted to colle c t . the am'oun t o f  
�venue due from the people w!lo have s hifte d  to ot.�e"r pa,rts 
_ o f  Jum la . I f  they re fuse to meke such payr_nen ts on the 
g roun d thc;"t the y. hf·v e a1 re r dy l e ft the v, U lage , make a rrang em en ts 
in su ch a wP-. y th::. t they rom,. in in ( Bas t{o t) Village". E,ca"c t  
unpa id p ort� r.::.°,r e s erv ices from e a ch househol d in the v U la g e 
by ro ta tion in" the pres cribe d mcnne r ,  so tha t th� burden 
o f such se rv icE: s  doc s  not ftll on ly on the inhabitan ts o f  
v illcees s itua te d  nea r the· ma in rou te ,  an d the y a re n o t  
obl ige d to qu it . 
As.'10. d'1 Ba di 1 O, 1907 
( Juno 18 50) 
Dagmi R�sea rch Colle ction ,  v ol . 79 , pp • 148-49 . 
so  .· 
( 6 ) 
Mu l�h iy:: s o f  diffc n.m·t v ill ,  6e s  in the
1
 Tripur2.ko tdiv is ion of  .Jum L  ct is trL� t ,  Ri.lme Roke yr1 o f  Bok&t e gaun ,  
Ch2.n cJ.r�tJl l'-• n i  Bu0J1a o f  Hotr:., ::; c..  un , c:. n d  Anny2 Rokaya o f 
SG.rm ir� aun , s u bm i·� te d t ha foll ow in .5 pa tition · to K& thman du : 
G ov 0 rn m2n t o ffic ialst, �; r iv r� te  in div iduals , an d othe r 
pC Oi,)l e tr.: v c: 1 1 l ln �  throti c:h  lH1 c  lu- Bh rtnj yeng ex2 c t  unp s id 
po rt0 rFt�e s r1 rv t'it:?,rn fro f  p rov is io_ n r_; ,  in c on ?
rn us , �n d :: ls o demcn d free sup J?l Y  
-c rr· ven  ti.on o f  royal o rdetrs .  Tb l.S 
11c:.: s  c2.u;52 d  r:; rc E t  hs rcts r d:i., s  to the ryo ts t. 
Th e g ov ernmun t  then is.srn: d  the foll ow ing o rde r : 
In the fu turc, , you s h 2l l  1, rov ide porte r2.ge so rv ic es 
· a� usuc 1 un ly for th trinspo r t<° t.ion of  m�l i taryt. suppl ios , 
s <: 1.cl: p � rs on s ,  :' n d  co in s , _ z. s  �-1el l c::.s sup pl ies du r in g  
w 1.:. r .  You s hel l prov ide f,)O d to peons a nd Jimm awal s 
only s o lonJ c:1. s  r0v ,1nuc col le ction is not compla te d . 
N o otha r p .:, :c son s hc'.. ll be 1>: rm itt0 d to 0:zJ. ct  por te ra ge 
s c  rv icC;.- s o r  fr,� 0 p rov is ion s from you . 
As hadh Be di 1 0 ,  1 9 07  
( Jun f1 1 8 50 )  
Re3m i Ros li ;;: rcb Coll :-3 ct ion , v ol .  7 9 , PPt. 1 49- 51t. 
*****� 
we ish ts ar.a MG,' s u.ro s  in Mus tang 
- ·  Roya l o rd,: r to Kas h ir�m UJ[' dbyc· ya : We h ave re ce iv etd 
. repo r ts  th?. t a t  JJ',n a  you hr.v c-: se ize d  we igh ts an d  me asures 
on tho g roun d t:1s t ( the owno rs ) hav e re fuse d  to le t th em 
be s tampe d (w it!1 the royn.l sc z l ) .  Weig hts a n d measure s  
h avo no t s o  fD r  bo on s tamp e d  tho re in th iS m�nne r ,  an d all 
s our ce s of rGV 8nuo a t J::P.n :.,_ htr v c  been  pl r. ce d  un de r  the au th or ity 
o f Jt.yan ars ingt. Return the, i.·;r- igh ts an d mea sure s  thc1 t you 
hav.-::: so  ize d .  You \.Jtill be �1 _ _, 1 d guiJ. ty if you cre a te uny 
obs tru ction in th :Ls regard . "  
Marg a Br, di 9 ,  1848 
( N ov ombo r 17 9 1 ) 
Reg m i  Re se a r ch Collo c t ion , v ol .  5 , P •  83 . 
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