Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-04

ment if anything should occur to deprive it
of its Nepal allies. There has never been
a census of Nepal and the population has
been variously estimated from 100000 to
100000. 1t is probably near the latter fig
ure The people are mostly engaged In
raising cattle, sheep and goats and growing
wheat, barley and other grains in the val
leys. The principal exports, which amount
to about $SO00,OOO a year, are wool, hides
and grain, and the imports, which amount
to about $5,O00,GDO. are cotton goods and
other wearing apparel, iron and steel, cut
lery and other manufactured merchandise.
There is always considerable apprehension
concerning the intrigueS of Russian agents
in Nepaj because of its strategic Importance
and location a bumper state along the
northern boundary of India, but cannot
learn that there has recently been any
serious ground for anxiety, and the pres
ent demonstration in Thibet will strengthen
British influence in Asia.
Peshawur an Ancient City.
There is little of interest except the polit-
ical question and the peculiar appearance
of the people up in this particular part OF
India. 1t has been debatable ground as
far back as the earliest days of Aryan
colonization. Although Peshawur is re-
garded as modern city, it is mentioned by
the historians who wrote up the campaigns
of Alexander the Great, and If you will
come up here the guides will show you
where he crossed the river. The city has a
population of about $1,000, of which three
fourths are Moslems. They come FROM
every part of Asia and the streets and
bazaars swarm with quaint costumes and
strange faces unlike any you have ever
seen before. And what strikes a traveller
most forcibly is their proud demeanor,
their naughty bearing and the independent
spirit expressed by every glance and every
gesture. They walk like kings, these fierce,
intolerant sons of the desert, and Their cos
tunes, no matter how dirty and trail
worn they may be, add to the dignity and
manliness of their department.
They are so different, these naughty Mo-
hammedans, from the bare-legged bare
footed, cringing, crouching creatures you
see farther south. 1t would seem imposs:-
bic for these men to stoop for any purpose,
but the Bengalese, the Hindustani and the
rest of the population of the southern prov
inces do everything on the ground. They
never use chairs or benches, but always
squat on the floor, and all their work Is
done upon the ground. Carpenters have
no benches, and if they plane a board they
place it on the earth before them and hold
1t fast with their feet. The blacksmith has
his anvil on the floor; the goldsmith, the
tailor, and even the printer, use the floor
for benches, and 1t is the desk of the let
ter writer and the bookkeeper.
1t looks queer to see a printer Squatting
before case of type, and even queerer to
of paper spread about before him on the
ground. But that is the Hindu custom.
Carrying Loads on the Head.
You find it everywhere throughout India,
just as you will find everybody, men. wo-
men and children, carrying their loads no
matter how light or how heavy, upon their
heads. If an errand boy is sent from a
shop with parcel he never touches it with
his hands, but invariably carries it on top
of his turban. The other morning 1 count
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