Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/476

448 by innumerable streams, and blessed with a healthy climate and a fruitful soil. The capital of Nepaul is placed by in north latitude 27° 43′, And east longitude 85° 36′, the mean elevation of the Valley is reckoned at 4,782 feet above the plains of Bengal, and the heights of its surrounding mountains by barometrical measurement are as follows. Mahadeo Poker, or the highest peak of the eastern boundary, 6,786 feet; Jaber Powah, the north-east boundary, 5,716; Sheopooree, or the highest peak of the northern boundary, not known; Colonel Powah, on the nortnorht [sic]-west corner, 6,654; Chandragiree, or the southern boundary, 6,600; and Phoolchoke, bounding the south-east corner, 8,800. These circumstances exercise such a powerful influence over the produce of the soil, as regulators of climate, that they will not, I presume, be deemed out of place as prefatory observations. The mean annual temperature of the valley is 64° [sic]. The population of this area was estimated by Mr., in 1832, at no less than 2,90,000 souls, which allowing 400 square miles as its inhabited extent, gives the extraordinarily large number of 725 to the square mile: a proportion so far as I am aware, not known to exist in any country of the world, and one which I believe Mr. is willing to allow to have been rather exaggerated even for the valley of Nepaul. It is however certain that this valley teems with human beings, its whole surface being sprinkled with towns, villages, and insulated dwellings. No portion of India with which I am acquainted can be compared to the valley of Nepaul in density of population, and it is not improbable that after the most correct estimate shall have been obtained, it will shew a population, compared with its area, equal in extent to that of any country in civilized Europe. Allowing the utmost possible extent of area to the valley within its mountainous boundaries, we could not assume more than 30 miles in length, and as much in breadth, as its dimensions, or 900 square miles; and at this exaggerated rate, we should still have, by Mr. 's estimate, a population of 322 and a fraction to the square mile. In East Flanders, as containing the maximum rate of all Europe, a recent census gives 560 souls to the square mile. In the most populous parts of Ireland the greatest proportion to the square mile is 345 souls. In Berkshire in 1831 it was only 193 to the