INTRODUCTION. xxi 



clearly essential to have something in the nature of a final settlement 

 to show for our trouble. 



But we can afford to be content with a distinct surrender of the 

 indefinite claim to control the course of events in Sikhim wliich for 

 the last three years has troubled the peace of our frontier and stopped 

 all trade between Darjeeling and Tibet. Above all things, we have 

 no call to irritate the Tibetans and possibly excite the jealous terri 

 torial susceptibilities of China by introducing stipulations granting 

 to European traders or travellers the coveted right of exploiting the 

 commercial and scientific treasures of the interior of Tibet. Traders 

 would assm-edly fall foul of the monopolies reserved to the monks of 

 the great monasteries; while scientific research, however modest in its 

 aims, could scarcely fail to come into collision with some form of reh- 

 gious or social prejudice. Here surely is one of the cases where "the 

 half is more than the whole." Be the treaty never so meagre, we 

 anyhow remain in possession of the disputed tract, while the roads 

 and bridges made during the campaign ensure us the command of 

 the passes against Tibetan inroads. Our influence is predominant in 

 Sikhim ; it has been vigorously asserted by the introduction of essen- 

 tial reforms in the government of the State, and we need not fear 

 that it will hereafter be permitted to decline. 



Most of all will our position be strengthened by the change which 



is insensibly but steadily taking place in the composition of the 



population of Sikhim. The Lepchas, as has been stated, are rapidly 



dying out; while from the west, the industrious Newars and Goorkhas 



of Nepal are pressing forward to clear and cultivate the large areas 



of unoccupied land on which the European tea-planters of Darjeeling 



have already cast longing eyes. The influx of 



The future of Sik- -tjjgge hereditary enemies of Tibet is our surest 



guarantee against a revival of Tibetan influence. 



Here also religion will play a leading part. In Sikhim, as in India, 



Hinduism will assuredly cast out Buddhism, and the praying-wheel 



of the Lama will give place to the sacrificial implements of the 



Brahman. The land will follow the creed; the Tibetan proprietors 



will gradually be disjDOssessed, and will betake themselves to the- oetty 



trade for which they have an undeniable aptitude. 



Thus race and religion, the prime movers of the Asiatic world, 

 will settle the Sikhim difiiculty for us, in their own way. We have 

 only to look on and see that the operation of these causes is not 

 artificially hindered by the interference of Tibet or Nepal. The 

 trade with Tibet which the Macaulay Mission was intended to 

 develop may well be left for the jjresent to take its chance. Such 

 scanty data as are available do not appear to warrant a very high 

 estimate of its value. Whatever it may be worth, it is bound sooner 



