A copy of a letter from General Phatya Śamśera to Vakila Kulānanda ordering him to send articles from Calcutta to be presented to the emperor of China (VS 1950)
ID: E_2763_0075
Edited and
translated by Axel Michaels
in collaboration with
Manik Bajracharya and Pabitra Bajracharya
Created: 2021-03-22;
Last modified: 2022-06-17
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Abstract
This document under the authority of General Phatya Śamśera directs Vakila Kulānanda to send articles from Calcutta to be presented to the emperor of China. After purchasing the said articles, they are to be despatched to Kathmandu.
Diplomatic edition
[1r]
1761स्वस्तिश्रीमद्राजकुमारकुमारात्मजश्रीदक्षीणतर्फकाकम्यांडीङ्जनरलफत्येसम्सेरजङ्गराणावहादुरवर्मना2म्स्वस्तिश्रीसर्वोपमाजोग्येत्यादिव़कीलकुलानं∙दकेसलांउप्रात∙चीनवादसाह∙लाइसौ[?]∙पठा[?][?]
3हरुषरिदगर्नेसनदमामोहर्रकंपनीको∙दरलेषीयाकोरहेछकुनहीसाव∙लेदरमिलाईषरिदगर्नेक[?]थान्
4२४फर्कावादीथान्३१[?]साथान्१ञाहानपाउनेरसोमालहालैचलान्गरिपठाउनुपर्नेर२\४मैनाढी∙
5लाँभयापनीहुनेभनीजाहेरगर्याकोवेहोराश्रीगुरुप्रोहीतषजाँचीज्ञानेश्वरप्रसादपंडीतज्यूवाटजाहेरभयो[?]
6सनदमालेषीयाकादरसाविकमाषरिदभयाकोदरलेषीयाकोहोसोदरमाताहा∙कोअंज्याम्पुर्याईकेहीक
7मवेसीभयापनीषरिदगरिपठाउनेकामगर्नुसोमाल∙चलान्गर्नालाई∙हालैचलान्गर्नुपर्दैनअव३।४
8मैन्हापछीचलान्गरिपठायापनीहुंन्छताहानपाउनेभनीलेषीयाकोमाल∙हरुपठाउनुपर्दैनइतीसम्व
9त्१९५०सालमीतीश्राव़णसुदि४रोज४शुभ्म्¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
Translation
[1r]
76
Hail. From a prince born of a prince, the Southern Commanding General Phatye Samśera Jaṅga Bahādura Varman. Hail [and] greetings to vakila Kulānanda who is fit for all [flattering] comparisons. Uprānta: It turns out that the market rate, in Company mohara [coins], of articles to be bought as presents (saugāta1 and sent [quinquennially] as regular presents to the emperor of China is written in a sanada. It has been made known [to us] from the venerable royal priest [and] treasurer Jñāneśvara Prasāda Paṇḍita, that an order placed for 24 full lengths (thān) [of satin?], 31 full lengths of pharkāvādī2 cloth, 1 full length of caubisā3 which are not available here [in Nepal], should be processed at the exchange rate specified [in the sanada] and [the goods] be sent [to us], even if there is a delay of 2/4 months. The rate written in the sanada is the usual rate for the purchase [of the goods]. Come to some conclusion on the [purchase] rate there, and even if it is a bit higher or lower complete the task of purchasing and sending. Regarding the sending of these goods, you need not send them immediately. It will be all right to send them after 3 or 4 months. Goods that are recorded as not being available there should not be sent. Wednesday, the 4th of the bright fortnight of Śrāvaṇa in the [Vikrama era] 1950 (1893 CE).
Commentary
This document regulates the purchase of presents to be presented in the quinquennial missions to the emperor of China. The document refers to the mission of 1894, headed by Kājī Indra Bikrama Rāṇā (Mānandhar 2001: 189-200, Sever 1989: 201-5). In the arrangement between China and Nepal after the Sino-Nepalese war in 1792, it was agreed that Nepal should send “products of the country” (āphnā deśamā ubjeko vastu: see Naraharinātha VS 1922: 121) to China. However, China generally accepted that these presents were in some cases bought in India (Mānandhar 2001: 34).