Documenta Nepalica

Diplomatic edition

[1r-part1]

1वितिपत्र­
2उप्रान्त­माहाराज­करुणानीधान­३५­सालमा­ल्हासा­हाम्रा­कोठिमा­गयाका­भाइ­र­गुम
3स्ता­स्मेतले­कोठिमा­वसि­वंदवेपार­गर्दा­हजुरका­पुन्येप्रतापले­र­पुर्षाका­धर्म्मले­वंदवेपा
4र­चलन­वढिया­तवरसंग­चलि­काम­वनिआयाको­थीयो­अघी­पठायाका­गुमस्ताहरु
5ले­वंदवेपार­वढिया­तवरसंग­चलाइ­कोठिको­रास­अनुसार­नफा­किफाय़त­भया़को­
6हुनाले­३९­सालमा­नीज­अघिका­कोठिवालाका­वदलामा­जो­चाहीन्या­मालमत्ता­
7दि­मेरा­छोरा­र­अरु­गुमस्ता­६­ज्मा­७­जनालाइ­पठायाका­थीञौं­अघि­मेरा­वावाका­
8पालादेषी­हाकु­वहालका­साहुहरुको­३­भाग­र­हाम्रो­१­भाग­लाग्न्या­साजा­कोठि
9को­नगद­जिन्सि­जो­भयाको­अघिदेषि­वन्दा­नगरि­गोसुव़ारै­राषि­कोठि­स्मेत­नचलाइ­
10राष्याको­थियो­पछि­पठायाका­निज­छोरा­स्मेतका­गुमस्ता­ल्हासा­पुग्यापछि­सो­हाकु­
11वहालहरुसंगका­साजा­कोठिको­मालको­मोलजोल­केहि­नगरि­अंदाजले­४­वन्दा­
12गरि­गोला­राषि­हाम्रो­१­भागको­वन्दा­कोठिमा­ल्याइ­राष्याको­र­पुराना­गुमस्ताहरुका­
13मालाको­सकेसम्मको­लहना­उठाइ­भारि­वाधी­कोठिमा­रह्याको­वाकि­माल­र­साहु­
14साहु­हालवालालाइ­वुझाइ­सकी­वंदवेपार­चली­किफायत्­भयाको­हुनाले­हजुर
15को­जय­मनाइ­नेपाल­आउनु­तयार­भयाको­रहेछ­निजहरु­आउन­नपाउदै­हाम्रो­चु
16क­कसुर­केहि­नभै­३९­सालका­चैत्र­वदि­३०­रोजका­दिन­अदाजि­१/२­घडि­जति­रात­
17गयापछि­हातहतियार­समेत­ली­⟪हाम्रा­कोठीमा­सदै­आई­वसि­कारोवार­गर्न्या­यो­चीज­यस­जगामा­राषेको­छ­भनी­जांन्या­⟫वाडा­भोट्याको­जत्था­भै­सो­हाम्रा­कोठि
18मा­आइ­गारो­ढोका­फोरी­भित्र­पस्दा­ज्मा­कोठिमा­१४/१५­जना­मानिस­भ
19याका­ठाउमा­हजारौ­वैरि­आइ­घेरा­दीयाको­हुनाले­ज्यान­वच्याउनाका­लाइ­आंगमा­
20लायाका­लुगा­गहना­मात्र­ली­नीज­कोठीमा­रह्याका­मेरा­भाइ­छोरा­गुमस्ता­कोठि­
21छोडि­माथी­भागि­गयेछ­र­३५­साल­अघिका­वनौताले­वुझाइ­आयाको­साल­३५­
22मा­गयाकाले­लग्याको­र­ताहि­ल्हासामा­साहु­काढि­लीयाको­र­पछि­गयाकाले­लग्या
23को­हाकु­वहालका­साहुहरुसंगका­वन्दामा­ल्यायाको­स्मेत­ज्मा­संपति­भयाका­
24कोठिभित्र­⟪थीयो⟫­नीज­भोट्याहरु­पसि­१/२­घडि­रात­चढेदेषि­सारा­रातभर­तल­

[1r-part2]

[1r-part3]

[1r-part4]

Translation

[1r]

Srī

Petition

uprānta: Compassionate Mahārāja, it is because of your virtue and valour and the moral integrity of [our] ancestors that [my] younger brother and an agent, who came to Lhasa in the year [VS 19]35 and [started] engaging in trade from their seat in a trading house, were [able to] run [our] business well and that the enterprise grew. Since the previously sent agents had run the business well and profits were commensurate with the house’s (large) quantity (of goods), we therefore, in the year [VS 19]39, sent my son and 6 other agents—altogether 7 persons—with the necessary merchandise to take the place of the previous house personnel. From the time of my father our business in Lhasa was running in partnership with traders from Haku Bahāla, of which 3 parts were owned by them and 1 by us. We did not split up the cash and goods but kept everything together in one place, even when we were not (actually) doing business. Once the subsequently sent agents reached Lhasa along with my son, the merchandise shared with the Hāku Bahāla people was divided into roughly 4 (equal) parts without any bargaining being done; we assembled our share, 1 part, and put it in the trading house. To the extent possible, they called in, [in the form] of merchandise, debt (owed to) former agents, packed it together and put it in the same place, and once they had distributed outstanding (orders of) merchandise and paid off current suppliers, they (started) doing business and making profits, and so have been hailing you, and were preparing to return to Nepal. However, before they could depart, [and] through no fault of our own, some 1–2 ghaḍis after sunset on the 15th (lit. 30th) day of the dark half of Caitra [VS 19]39, a gang of armed Bāḍā Bhoṭyās (i.e. Tibetans) who always came to our trading house and knew the things we traded in and had on hand came with weapons, broke down walls and doors and entered, and since a thousand (others) of hostile intent surrounded the trading house, where a total of 14–15 persons were residing, (these latter)—my younger brother, my son and the agents—in order to save their lives left the trading house and fled upstairs with only the clothes and ornaments they were wearing. All the assets—including what was returned by debtors before [VS 19]35, what (our personnel) who went (to Lhasa) in [VS 19]35 brought with them, what merchants took on loan (from us) in Lhasa and later brought back because they were leaving, and the portion [we] brought as [our] share of [what was held in common] with the Haku Bahāla traders—were kept in the trading house. For the whole night, starting from around 1–2 ghaḍis after sunset, these Bhoṭyās looted the trading house from top to bottom, taking (everything) away; some ghaḍis before sunrise they set fire to the remaining goods and account books, rendering them useless. [Even] after they left, the smoke from the fire they had set burning badly affected the trading house along with the people (hiding) above the ground floor. Unable to find even a single vessel of water to extinguish the fire, and even though they asked neighbours for help with water, no one brought any water for fear of the outrageous Bhoṭyās. Later, Vasu Bhoṭenī, who lives next-door to the trading house, and 1 or 2 Nepalese Bhotenīs brought them water, and [a woman] called Jumaki Bhoṭyānī some food. After they doused the fire, they looked (around) to see whether—given that the whole trading house had been looted and whatever goods remained had been set fire to—anything was left. It turned out that they had left behind 78 silver bowls, which Lūnarko Lāmā had deposited when borrowing 333 mohara rupaiyā̃s 2 sukās, and a small amount of gold and silver. These items were in a bag. When the Bāḍā Bhoṭyās came back with torches, the agents and 3 Bhoṭenis took that bag and fled upstairs, [and] from there to a monastery, (where) they flung the bag down next to an oven for melting ghee for religious purposes. Then they went to stay at Tuṃchā Nevu Bhoṭe's place.

Afterwards, after the Bhoṭyās had continued on looting and taking away (things elsewhere), the emissary sent subedāras, who came to inspect all the trading houses, and the agents, my younger brother and my son explained events to the inspector and (later) to the emissary as well. Concerning the bag which was taken (from the trading house), Tuṃchā Nevu and the 3 Bhoṭenis were taken to a Tibetan court and questioned under threat of the whip about the large bag. Tuṃchā Nevu stated that no other articles except for that 1 bag had been brought to his place, while the Bhoṭenis made the [following] written statement: “We did not take away any goods except that bag, nor did we see or know of any (other goods being carried away).” (This is now) on record. [We] have provided an accounting of the goods looted: a record of the goods stored together (in the trading house), including the goods taken as our share during the division of property with the Hāku Bahāla traders; a record of the goods we took (to Lhasa) from here (i.e. Kathmandu) along with a record of goods traders in Lhasa took on loan; and there was also a group of traders in Lhasa who (collectively) took loans of 30–35 thousand (rupees in cash). In our accounting we have not made any false claim, acted unethically or behaved dishonestly. We are ready to swear solemnly in writing a margin of error of 2–4 thousand (rupees) up or down. It is well known that in the past, too, we have earned (profits) and (used them to) engage in religious activities.

It is in order [to acquire such] wealth that we are—through your virtue and valour and our ancestors’ religious deeds—businessmen, and will go on earning. We were unable, through no fault (of our own) to do anything in the way of work for gods, deceased ancestors, kings or commoners, and so, in acts of violence upon helpless persons, adversaries engaged in looting behind your backs. Therefore we are submitting this petition to you. Our lives and property belong to you. If you are in doubt whether these traders have made dishonest [claims], (I should like to assure you that) the amount I submitted is 4–5 thousand (rupees) less than the amount which my brother submitted to our (officials) in Lhasa. There is nothing [suggestive] of having acted dishonestly by showing an inflated amount. If you find out that other merchants have acted dishonestly, then it will be clear (that we haven’t). My [claim] is not like others’.

There is no one to protect us and look out for our well-being other than you. The mentioned persons looted all our property, including the earnings my brother and the agents made doing business for five years. (Now,) in the aftermath, we ought to receive [compensation], including the five years of profits. Lord, regarding the particulars of the operations of our trading house—how we have been doing business up to now—you may obtain solid information from both new and previous emissaries, kājis sent to China and officials of the Tibetan government. Our business practices will become clear when you make inquiries with them. Your mercy [be upon us].

Ever your servant, Harṣapatī Sāhu of Tũ Che [sends] crores and crores (of salutations): Salutations! Salutations!

On a day in the bright half of Āśvīna VS 1940 (1883 CE). Auspiciousness.

Glossary

Bibliography