The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-07-22
Street Scene in Patan, Nepai.

Street Scene i
Prepared by the National Geographic so
cicty. Washington. D.. O.
Ncpal. in which is situated much Of
Mt. Everest, the worlds highest pin
acIe, which is now being attacked
~ an deliberately equipped British
scientific expedition, is the true her
nit kingdom Of today. The govern
mcnt purpoSely keeps the roads which
lead from India TO Napal in bad con
dilion. and travellers are admitted to
Dut one small valley, and then only
FOR special reaSons upon u difficulty
obtained permit.
This kingdom which holds itself SO
iIoof from the world is a narrow strip
If country about 100 miles wide and
800 miles long, extending for nearly
4 third Of the distance between India
and Tibet along the sky-picrcing
lIimalayas. On the south II includes
Il very narrow strip of plains country,
but predominantly 1t is a mountain
Gus region. In fact, its possession OF
Mt. Everest and some Of the other
Of the highest mountains In the world
give it claim, in one sense at least, to
be the most mountainous of countries.
The Nepalese are Il fighting people,
have an excellent army and organiza-
zion, and are fond OF show, both In
military display and in their religious
festivals. The latter are very numer-
Gus, and in fact seem 10 be intermin-
able. The women take Il prominent
part in most of them.
Some of the semi-milltary pageants
end IN the massacre of hundreds or
buffaloeS. In n such ceremony.
known as the blessing Of the colors,
the commander In chief dips his hands
IN a bowl of blood and clasps each
banner in turn, thus lmprinting on
each the mark Of bloody hands. The
scene is somewhat revolving, but prob
ably has its use in keeping up IA mar
tial spirit IN the army.
VoIuminous Dresses Of Women.
The Nepaiese women wear yards
upon yards--sometimeS as many as a
hundred-cf fine muslin plated to
form Il huge f~an-shaped bunch in front,
the back being quite tight. When a
lady of rank drives in her barouche
She completely fills the carriage with
her voluminOus skirt Of brilliant hue.
Above the skirt q vivid little tight-fit-
Ing jacket, usually Of velvet, Is worn;
he hair is dressed in a peculiar knot
IN front, above the forehead, n faS-
iened to II side by ar enormous gold
plaque with a jeweled center. A
heavy gold necklace and gold bangles
complete her jewelry. E~ery imag-
inable shade is used-purple, pale
blue, green, carmine, orange, white,
yellow, turquoise, and deep red-and
The effect is wonderful.
At the time Of state ceremonies the
streets are filed with professions OF
elephants in gorgeous trappings,
horses and ponies, brilliant military
uniforms, and the usual crowd Of
~goOd-natured, pleasure-loving people,
the whole against the background OF
the Old temples and natural surround
ings making Il wonderful spectacle.
The Journey into Nepal is not an
easy one. At first there is a track
through the forest, but as soon rs the
outer hills are reached the road loses
itself in the bed OF q stream, up which
the bearers pick their way with diff
Guilty over and among great bOulders.
The Official road finally goes over the
very rough track across the Chandra-
girl pass and down the almost inn
paSsable road on the other side into
the Nepal valley. The last portion
Of the descent Is down a long stair
case OF roughly-placed blocks Of stone,
and 1T is marvellous how the laden men
and ponies keep their footing on il.
In the Nepal Valley.
From the foot of the pass an excel
carriage road into the town Of
Khatmandu runs through the valley
teeming with people, towns, palaces,
temples, and innumerable shrines.
There are miles Of such good carriage
roads within the valley, mostly con.
structed In Jung Bahadur's time, and
carriages and pairs, and occasionally
a four-in-hand are constantly used by
the palace people.
In this valley. where the shrines
alone are said to number mora than
2SO0 tho huijdinvu nreaoofs an a1aa. '