crossing it the change of government was at once obvious. The villages
looked more wretched, the people more dirty, the country was almost
totally uncultivated, and nearly all traces of roads disappeared as we
traversed the green sward of the Terai of Nepaul, scattered over which
were large herds of cattle, grazing on the short grass, which extended in
all directions over the vast expanse of flat country.

This province is governed by Krishna Bahadoor, a younger brother of the
prime minister, an active and energetic officer. Any complaint of the
peasantry is in the first instance brought to his notice, and referred by
him to his brother, if his decision does not give satisfaction. His
subordinates are a sirdar, or judge, and several subahs, or collectors.

The Terai is a long narrow strip of territory, extending for three
hundred miles along the northern frontier of British India, and is about
twenty miles in breadth. The whole tract is a dead level. For the first
ten miles after crossing the frontier the country is used chiefly for
grazing by the inhabitants of the adjoining British provinces, who drive
thousands of cattle across the border, paying a considerable revenue to
the Nepaul government for the privilege of so doing.

Ten miles from the frontier commences the great saul forest, which is
also ten miles in breadth. It is composed almost entirely of the
valuable saul-tree, and a great quantity of timber is annually exported
to Calcutta down the Gandaki, which is navigable to the foot of the
Cheriagotty hills. The licence to fell the saul timber is confined
exclusively to Nepaul merchants, and the payment demanded by Government
for such permission is so enormous that the trade is not very profitable.

The principal sources of revenue derived from this district are the land-