INTRODUCTION. 



acknowledging the religious supremacy of the Dalai Lama, was as far 

 as possible from posing as a vassal of her Eastern 

 and Tibirr "^ ^'''^°' neighbour._ Notwithstanding the close matrimonial 

 and proprietary connections between the reigning 

 family and Tibet, the Raja had at no time put forward his relations 

 with that country as a reason for failing to comply with the demands 

 of our Government, nor had we in our dealings with him made 

 allowance for any possible claims to suzerainty on the part of Tibet. 

 No difficulty, therefore, was experienced in carrying out the terms of 

 the treaty of 1861. Europeans travelling in Sikhim were cordially 

 received by the lamas and people ; surveys were commenced without 

 hindrance ; criminals were surrendered by the Sikhimese, or captured 

 with their consent by the police of Darjeeling; freer intercourse 

 with Darjeeling brought about the extinction of slavery; and 

 many British subjects acquired landed property in Sikhim and held 

 office under the Government of that country. The actions of the 

 Raja himself showed a tendency to look to us rather than to Tibet 

 for guidance and support. In 1873 he was permitted to visit 

 Darjeeling, where he had an interview with Sir George Campbell. 

 The results of this were that the allowance he received from us 

 was increased from Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 12,000; and in the cold season 

 of 1873-74 the Deputy Commissioner of Darjeeling was deputed 

 to visit Sikhim and the Tibet frontier to enquire into the condition 

 and prospects of trade with Tibet, and the advisability of making a 

 road through Sikhim to the Tibetan frontier. In the course of this 

 tour the Deputy Commissioner (Mr., afterwards Sir, John Ware Edgar, 

 K.C.I.E., C.S.I.) visited all the passes of the Chola range, the eastern 

 wing of the Sikhim amphitheatre, meeting the Raja and his chief 

 officials and some officers of the Tibetan district of Phari. He 

 discovered that the Tibetans were very jealous of our attempts to use 

 the Sikhim Government and country in our efforts to open up trade 

 with Tibet, and that the Chinese ampa, or Resident of Lhassa, had 

 written to the Raja in the name of the Emperor of China, reminding 

 him that he was bound to prevent the " Peliug Sahibs" (Europeans) 

 from crossing the frontier of Tibet, and warning him that if he 

 continued to make roads for the Sahibs through Sikhim, " it would not 

 be well with him." In deference to this feeling, no attempt was made 

 by the Deputy Commissioner to cross the Tibetan frontier; but the 

 discussions on the subject left no doubt as to the fact that the frontier 

 line was the water-parting of the Chola range, and it was assumed 

 throughout as a matter of course that Tibet had no right of interference, 

 direct or indirect, in the country to the west of the frontier. She 

 desired, in fact, nothing more than that her ancient solitary reign 

 should remain unmolested by the approach of the European trader. 



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