CHAPTER XI
SKETCHES
The Water-Garden of Balaji—Fishponds and Fountains—The submerged Narain—Lamaism—The "Unko Vihar"—The High-priest—Gambling—The Day of Gifts.
The useful and refreshing qualities of good water in a hot country were not overlooked by the Newars, and wells, fountains, tanks, and watercourses abound in the villages and towns of the Valley. Some of these are of great antiquity, and a public fountain in Katmandu bears an inscription which indicates that it was built in the first part of the seventh century. Each city has several small artificial tanks, sunk in the vicinity of the various tols (squares), approached by flights of steps, and containing makara spouts, from which water continually flows. Similar arrangements are also met with by the road- 23
