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THE RANA OF KOTHEE.
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The Rana of Kothee is a feudatory of the Rajah of Keunthal, who is the possessor of a considerable tract of country situated in the vicinity of Simla. Among Rajpoots, Rana is a higher title than Rajah; but, though actually of a superior grade of rank, the Rana of Kothee is yet a feudatory and dependant, and has no direct relations with the British Government.

In common with all the other reigning families in the Simla States, the Rana claims to be of pure Kshuttrie or Rajpoot origin; but at what period this tribe emigrated to the hills and settled there, is not ascertainable. While some authorities consider that the Rajpoot emigration and settlement was caused by the early Mahomedan invasion of their native districts, from which they were driven out to seek a new home, others are of opinion that the settlement of the Rajpoots was of a much more ancient character, long antecedent to the Mahomedans, and belonging to one of the periods of Aryan invasion. It is certain, at least, that Alexander encountered them in the north-west of the Punjab, and there seems no reason to suppose that the Hill Rajpoots of the more eastern portions of the Himalayas differed from them in character. 

While the ruling families and their feudal barons, as they may be styled, have preserved their purity of descent in a great degree, by choosing brides whose pedigrees were without taint, the rest of the Rajpoot or other Aryan settlers have produced the mixed races, Kunaits and others, which now prevail, especially between the Sutlej and Tonee rivers. While the Rajpoot families of the Simla districts affect equal purity of blood with those east of the Sutlej, that is, in the north of the Punjab, the latter by no means admit equality, nor do the two classes, apparently of the same extraction, intermarry. It is alleged that the settlers in the Simla districts took wives from the aboriginal population they found there, and this taint can never be purified.

The ruling Rajpoot families do not possess a good character either for intelligence or respectability. They are for the most part dissolute and ignorant.