celebration of the Devali.

Women are not liable to capital punishment. The mutilation of noses no
longer exists, although some years ago it was the most usual punishment,
and one village was entirely peopled by the unfortunate victims of such
barbarous treatment.

The amount of labour which his position as prime minister entails upon
Jung is almost incredible; the simplest bargain cannot be struck, nor a
cooly engaged, nor can a departure or an arrival take place, without his
sign manual. In fact he comprises within himself the whole of the
ministry, besides doing the entire duty of the several departments, and
the office of premier in Nepaul can be no more a sinecure than it is in
England. One can only wonder that a position fraught with such imminent
danger to its possessor, and bringing upon him such incessant trouble and
responsibility, should be so eagerly sought, when it entails the almost
absolute certainty of a violent death. With us moral courage is an
indispensable quality for a prime minister; in Nepaul, physical courage
is no less needed. If he is a good shot, and expert with his kukri and
kora, so much the better for him. As regards both these accomplishments
Jung was eminently qualified for the post he now holds; but his literary
acquirements were of a very low order, for upon becoming prime minister
he could neither read nor write. Finding great inconvenience from his
incapacity in these respects, he applied himself diligently to his
alphabet, and was soon able to carry on all official correspondence of
any importance to himself. The whole of the political, fiscal, and
judicial communications are submitted to him, and the departments
controlled by him, very little regard being had to the Rajah's will on
the subject.

The next officer in rank to Jung Bahadoor is his brother, Bum Bahadoor,
who bears the mark on his hand of the horrible action in Durbar already
recorded. He appeared inferior in ability to his brother, but it is
difficult to judge of the talent of any one who is in a subordinate
position in Nepaul.

The Raj Guru is the highest spiritual dignitary in Nepaul, and in that
capacity received the greatest deference from every one, including Jung,
whose popularity in some measure rests on his intimate relations with the
chief priest, to whom he invariably paid every mark of respect. The Raj
Guru met us at Benares, and granted indulgences to those who had visited
England. So great is