The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-28 00:00:00

SKETCH OF NEPAUL.

(From the Morning Post.)
In another part of our impression of this day will be
found a literal translation of an original letter from
General Jung Bahadoor, the Nepau!ese Prime Minister,
whose visit to London and Paris excited so much inte-
rest about six years ago, and whose personal qualities
won for him in both capitals so large a share of general
esteem, and.we may even add of admiration.
The history of Nepaul from the rise of Perthi Nevayun
Sab, the founder of the present dynasty, has been preg-
nant with events of no common interest ; and this little
State seems destined to play a very important part in
the future history of Asia. In the very infancy of its
power it defeated the attempt of Meer Kasim to reduce
it to subjection, and baffled a British force which, under
Major Kinloch, tried to penetrate into the valley.
Without meddling with the affairs or polities of Hindos-
tan, the Court at Katmandoo gradually extended its
dominion over the entire mountain ranges between its
plain and the Himalaya, until, in 1814, the Goorkha
commander in the north-west came into collision with
the Sikhs at Kangra, be end the Sutlej. In that year,
however, some ill-judged-aggressions on British territory
brought on the war which ended in severing Kumaon
and all the western hills, and thus, by an alliance with
Sikkim to the east, the British Government restrained
this ambitious nation from further conquest to the east.
General Bheem Sen Hupa was the Prime Minister at
Katmandoo during this war. He retained his power,
and ruled Nepaul with absolute authority during two long
minorities, but when the second minor reached maturity
and assumed the reins of sovereignty, he was degraded
and tortured, and at last put to death with insult and
indignity. The Raja was personally weak and inca-
pable ; but he had two wives—one of reckless, violent
character, whose influence and intrigues produced the
fall and death of Bheem Singh, and the banishment of
all his adherents in the years 1836 and 1837. Since
then the Court of Katmandoo has witnessed several
straggles for power, attended with bloodshed and cruel-
ties abhorrent to European notions of humanity. After
near 10 years of miserable anarchy and confusion, Jung
Bahadoor and his brothers succeeded, after a bloody
struggle, in destroying or subduing their rivals, and
reducing the Baja to a mere cypher, seized the reins of
Government. and held them most vigorously. In a very
short time his authority was universally established, and
he gave to the world a very unusual proof of his confi-
dence in the fidelity of his servants and associates in
power, by quitting his dominions for a couple of years
in order to visit England and France. He returned,
like Peter I. of Russia, a wiser man, full of high pro-
jects for the improvement of his native country. He
soon after detected a plot for his ruin and assassination ;
having defeated it, and seized the conspirators, he made
then over t) the British G )verninent, for safar custody,
declaring to the Resident at his Court that but for the
lessons of moderation he had learned in Europe they
would all have been sentenced to torture and death.

The Goerkha population is essentially military. Every
one of an age capable of bearing arms is compelled to
serge, and one-third of the number is always under arms,
to be relieved at the end of the year. Very strict regu-
lations of drill and discipline are enforced, so that there
is always an efficient army ready for the field, with twice
its number in reserve, to be called out if required. Jung
Babadoor must have felt that he could only retain his
hold on the affections of such a people by opening to
them some field of ambitious conquest. He was too
wise to embroil himself with the British, who surrounded
him on every side to the south of the Himalaya. Tibet,
therefore, was the only field remaining open, and the
Nepaulese have an old grudge of enmity against that
nation and much lost credit to redeem.

In the time of Lord Cornwallis the Nepaulese attacked
Ti'aEt, and, penetrating to the place of secand rank
for sanctity and wealth, plundered it, when the Tibetans,
calling in the aid of a Chinese army, drove the Nepaulese
out of the country, and, defeating Caeca in a great battle,
compelled them to accept disgraceful terms, of which oae
was that the Court of Nepaul should send a triennial
mission to Pekin with tribute.

Jung Bahaducr seems to have been sufficiently in-
formed of the pre-ent troubles of Coina to have felt
that the time was favourable for throwing off this de-
grading yoke, and re-asserting the claims of his nation
upon Tibet. He has been now for two years engaged in
warfare beyond the Himalayan ran4e. We hive had
various reports from time to time of his advance, sue--
ceases, and reverses. But nothing has yet been made
public. Toe letter, of which a translation is now given,
announces the conclusion of the wan by a p ace glorious
for Nepaul. She recovers alt lost trophies and alt pr -
soners, including those made from the S.khs when toe
force of Z Singh was surr 'ended and starved to
submission near the t,unrces of the Sutlij, in the year
1341. But, rnost import,nt of all, the stations by which
entrance into Tibet wib be secured are to be re-e,ta•
hlisked, and Nepaulese officers —with, of course, a valua-
ble guard—arc to be stationed at Lassa and at Digarcila
Joorig,,, the seat of the two principal Lamas, through
whom it is proposed to conduct the Government of tne
country.
It is very probable that there will be more than one
bloody encounter before this scheme of Nepalese' moan-
dancy can be firmly established ; but if Jung Babad ior
lives, the chances are that each will only further con-
firm his influence and power. We mty therefore look
to see the Nepaulese holding the place at Lassa aid
throughout Tibet that the Chinese have held for the last
half century. We look upon this as a gain for Hin-
dostan, and cert :inly no loss or source of injury to the
British power and dominion there. The road to Tibet
will still be closed against Europeans, but not against
the commerce and productions either of Europe or of
India.

The following is the translation of the letter alluded
to above :
"The royally descended Prime Minister and Com-
mander-in-Chief, General Jung Bahadoor Bunwar Ra-
nape, sends his compliments to the illustrious --.
The Minister is quite well, and hopes that --- is
the same. The news of this place is all good. Your
letter of the dark half of May reached me on the light
half of the same month, on Monday, and I understood
the contents of it.

" I am very glad to hear from you that you continue
to be in good health, as for a long time I had not re-
ceived any letter from you. I have already written to
you about the war with Tainet. We won thirteen
oattle., and took possession of K‘froong, Jhunga,
Kuty, Dhakling, the Bhairablanggur, Chewar-Goomb..,
and Taklakhar.

" In the meantime, as the Thibetans often wrote to
us about making a treaty of peace, we a's ) wrote to
them about it. During these discussions about peace,
and whilst wo took the occasion to recall the garrisons
kept to guard the different places conquered by us, and
to place therein fre-h soldiers., the four Thibetan Rajas
of Kwombo, and Khatn, and Dharaia, and Bhot got
up a treacherous plan to expel us from Tnibet, and with
9,000' infantry and 1,600 cavalry attacked us suddenly
in the fort of Jhunga, which they environed and be-
sieged, whilst 4,000 or 5,000 more of their troops at-
tacked ours at Pangsingtar of Keroong ; and a third
division of them, consisting of 9,000, marched on our
post of Kuty, where they killed 900 of our soldiers,
sick, women and coolies, took nine cannon, all the am-
munition, treasure, and provisions, and expelled our
troops from the fort of Kuty. Soon after, my youngest
brother, Dheer Sham Share Jung Kuuwar Ranajee,
went with 7,000 soldiers, defeated the soldiers of the
four kings above-named, and recovered Kuty, Dhakling,
&c., as far as the Bhairablanggur. Jhunga was then
under the command of my youngest but one brother,
General Jagat Sham Share Jung Kunwar Ranajeo.
In the former campaign he had fought and gained
eight battles at Pangsingstar of Keroong, two at the
village of Rama, one at Keokoor Ghaut, and one at
Ghorma. But, in his absence at Kattmaundu, his
troops were besieged for 28 days, in the fort of Jhuagha
(during which time they fought every day). On the 29th
day he arrived from Kattmaundu with fresh troops, de-
feated the besieging soldiers of the four kings, and drove
them beyond the Boairahlanggur. Oa the west at Tak-
lakhar, the 4,000 Thibetaus who bad come there to fight
were defeated by my paternal cousin, Major-General
Krishna-dhoj Kunwar Ranajee. At length, on account
of our being victorious ev,ry where, the Lamas wrote to
the effect that they were unable to fight against the
Gorkhaleea, and wanted to make peace ; that the
country belonged to men of religion(Lama,s); thatloo, 000
of ' them would always pray for the Prime Minister.
They agreed to give back our nine cannons our men
who had been taken prisoners, and also the Sikh eoldiers
who were taken prisoners in the Sikh war. A'so; they
said that they would not hereafter take the customs,
duties, and tolls
taken
formerlyby the Thibetans from
and
subjects; that they would pay
10,000 rupees as an annual tribute ; that the Gorkhalees
should be permittedareh ta,
besides the
two new factories at
Lhasa and Dig
in
the des the 32 old ones, and keep
a chief (Bharadar) former city. Having agreed
upon these 10 articles, the
of
representative of the Potala
Lama (Lhasa), the. Lmen
othera Goombas (Convent
Thibetan Monastery), and severalchiefs, came to
Nepanl, where they sought our protection, and, by
kneeling down and prostratinaA_ themselves
k theern four
Ei
k
e bere us,
entreated us to make peace.
our
enemies, thus implored our protection and forgiveness,
we thought it improper to continue the war, and
gauntly made peace with Tnibet. Thera is cones
to us in the articles of treaty ; and if the Thibetans mischiefvio-
late these articles, we will, of course, act to themas they
do to us. You have written about the good behaviour
of 1-‘l,,jor Captain Gajraj Tnapa, midi know that he will
derive great benefit in every respect by being under your
kind care. I have told Ameer Moonshee Lachimidas
and Gbannanand Banda about drawing the pictures of
the Buddhist gods. As the cholera has been raging
violently since the conclusion of the war, the birds and
beasts you require cannot be sought for at present ; but
whatever may be procured hereafter shall without fail be
sent.
"Dated Nepaul, Sambat, 1913. Akhad Suddy 13th,
on the light half of July, on Monday.
" P.S. I hope you will continue to write to me about
your health, remen3bering me as your friend."