DARJEELING TO TONGLO. 89 
though only of nine years’ standing, the station has become, in spite of 
numerous, and some very serious, obstacles, the emporium of a rising 
trade with Bhootan, Thibet, and Nepal. The necessity for a sanitarium 
near Calcutta was very obvious ; and Sikkim, a protected state, was the 
only province of the hills in this direction where we had any show of 
right to demand a lease of ground. The kingdom was overrun by. 
the Ghorkhas, from whom we wrested it in 1817, restoring it to the 
deposed Sikkim Rajah, and ensuring him our friendship as its sovereign, 
with the view of placing a fender between Nepal and Bhootan, the 
latter being a lawless country, which would otherwise have fallen a 
prey to the Ghorkhas, who to this day thirst for possession of the 
whole Sub-Himalaya, and hold our protection of Sikkim to be an 
invidious proceeding. 
Long left to himself, the Sikkim Rajah ungratefully forgot his 
dependence upon us, and adopted the jealous policy of his neigh- 
bours, the Chinese (Thibetans), Bhootanese, and Ghorkhas, excluding 
Europeans, and refusing every just or liberal demand for free trade and 
-intercourse between the mountains and plains. It was not, therefore, 
without reluctance, and some intimidation, that the station of Darjee- - 
ling (a long strip extending from the plains into the heart of his moun- 
tain-territory) was obtained from him, on the payment of a just remu- 
neration. An imbecile, probably so by nature, and certainly by habits and 
education, ignorant of our real power, disbelieving our professions, and 
accustomed to rule by intimidation, though he was awe-struck by our cool 
* proceedings, he was not likely either to aet towards us with judgment or 
in any conciliating spirit. Direct opposition he dares not offer, but 
nothing could be easier (he thought) than to put such obstacles in our 
way as should lead to our either acting on the offensive (when he deems 
himself safe in his fastnesses), or abandoning the station. As the 
natives of the plain are unserviceable at this elevation, the British 
have always required the attendance of the hill-people, and of them the 
Rajah attempted to deprive us: the traders from the neighbouring 
countries he either wholly excluded from passing through his dominions, 
or heavily taxed their merchandize : his country became the refuge for 
notorious offenders, whom, in defiance of treaty, he refused to surrender, - 
and various other annoyances were ventured by him. To obviate these 
difficulties, no little skill and prudence, and even more patience and con- 
sideration, were needed on our part. To teach any 
VOL. 1I. 
wbarian that we ean m 
