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 extreme, and full of artistic relics of a bygone age.

The immediate outskirts of Katmandu are somewhat dull and unimpressive, as this city is approached through long roads bounded by high walls—the confines of estates surrounding the palaces of various princes—but the monotony of this acts as a foil to the interesting character of the streets within. As one turns into the chief bazaar, it is soon realized that there is only one word to describe the city of Katmandu, and that is "picturesque." It is hardly artistic, as the best art and architecture are to be found at Bhatgaon and Patau, nor are its buildings, with one or two exceptions, anciently interesting, but on account of being the living capital of Nepal and bustling with brightly garbed people on business intent, it has an air and vitality of its own, which distinguishes it from its two sister cities of the past. An impressionistic picture of Katmandu is a medley of tumbled wood-carving—here and there painted in crude colours, mellowed by time into harmonious effects,—brass grotesques sprawling