20 HISTORY OF SIKHIM AND ITS RULERS. 



Rinchingpung. These gentlemen, attracted by the position of Dar- 

 jeeling, brought it to the notice of the Governor-General, and it was 

 resolved by Government to open negotiations with the Maharaja of 

 Sikhira on the first convenient occasion for the cession of Darjeeling 

 to the British Government in return for an equivalent in lands or 

 money. This opportunity occurred in 1834-35, when the Lepcha 

 refugees in Nepal made an inroad into the Sikhim Terai, and 

 Colonel Lloyd was deputed to enquire into the causes of the 

 disturbance. The refugees were obliged to return to Nepal, and 

 the negotiation ended in the unconditicmal cession by the Maharaja 

 of the Darjeeling tract under a Deed of Grant, dated February 1835. 



In 1841 the Government granted an allowance of Rs. 3,000 per 

 annum to the Maliaraja as compensation for the cession of Darjeeling, 

 and in 18-46 a further sum of Rs. 3,000: in all Rs. 6,000 per annum. 



The settlement of Darjeeling advanced rapidly, its population 

 having risen from not more than 100 souls in 1839 to about 10,000 

 in 1849, chiefly by immigration from the neighbouring States of 

 Nepal, Sikhim, and Bhutan, in all of which slavery is prevalent. 

 There was free trade in labour and all other commodities, with forest 

 land enough for all corners to settle in, and every encouragement 

 given to the new arrivals. The increased importance of Darjeeling, 

 under free institutions, was a source of early and constant jealousy 

 and annoyance to the Dewan of the Maharaja, who was himself the 

 monopolist of all trade in Sikhim, and this jealousy was shared in by 

 the Lamas and other principal people in the country, who lost their 

 rights over slaves settling as British subjects in our territory. The 

 plan pursued was through reports and secret emissaries to frighten our 

 new subjects, by declaring that they should be delivered up as escaped 

 slaves to their former masters, and by discouraging the resort in every 

 way of the Sikhim people to Darjeeling ; added to which some British 

 subjects were occasionally kidnapped to be sold into slavery, and 

 there were frequent denials of aid in capturing and surrendering 

 criminals. There has always been an arrangement for a mutual 

 exchange of slaves between Sikhim and Bhutan, and Dr. Campbell, 

 the Superintendent of Darjeeling, was constantly importuned by the 

 Maharaja of Sikiiim and his Dewan to get the British Government to 

 follow a similar course with Sikhim, which was of necessity steadily 

 refused. 



In 1849 Dr. Hooker and Dr. Campbell, while travelling in 

 Sikhim with permission of Government and the Maharaja, were 

 suddenly seized and made prisoners. The object was to force Dr. 

 Campbell to relinquish claims for the surrender of criminals ; to make 

 him, while in durance, agree to the dictation of the Dewan regarding 

 the giving up of escaped slaves; and to detain him until these 



