NEPAUL, a long but narrow kingdom of Northern Hindostan, bounded on the north by the great range of Himalaya mountains, on the south by the provinces of Bahar, Oude, and Delhi, on the east it is limited by Bootan, and the territory of the rajah of Si Kim; and previous to the late war with the British, their conquests extended to the banks of the Suttelege, the eastern river of the Panjab. The kingdom was then divided into the following provinces, viz. Gorcah, Kyrat, Morung, Muckwany, Mockwanpore, Lamjung, 24 Rajahs, Kemaon, and Almora. The valley of Nepal proper, from whence the kingdom takes its name, is nearly of an oval figure; its greatest length from north to south being 12 miles, by 9 in the greatest breadth. On the north and south it is bounded by lofty mountains, but is more open to the east and west. This small track is very populous, and, besides the capital Catamandoo, is filled with villages. This valley, although situated between the 27th and 28th degrees of N. lat. is so elevated, that it enjoys an European climate, and the mountains, covered with snow, are in sight the whole year round. The soil is productive, and, in some places, yields two crops in the year. The mountains of Nepal contain mines of copper and iron; and, although commerce is not encouraged, it sends to Bengal ivory, wax, honey, timber, bastard cinnamon, cardamums, walnuts, &c.; and takes in return, muslins and silks of Bengal, carpets, spices, tobacco, and European goods.
The government is despotic, and the rajah is considered as the proprietor of the soil. The natives are in general a hardy and courageous race; and during the late war gave the British much annoyance. This, however, partly arose from the seat of war being in a mountainous and cold country, to which the British sepoys had not been accustomed. The prevailing religion is the Hindoo, but many of the inhabitants are supposed to be descendants of Tartars, and reckoned impure. The tribe called Newars admit of poliandry, or rather the women are at liberty to divorce their husbands, and take others as often as they choose. The Brahmins of Nepal are very numerous, and deeply skilled in Sanscrit lore. One of the libraries is said to contain 15,000 volumes in that language. There are five vernacular languages, but the Hindostany is pretty generally understood.—Edinburgh Gazetteer, or Geographical Dictionary, Vol. IV. For an account of the late war, see the Article INDIA, in this Supplement.