HISTOKY OF SIKHIM AND ITS RULEES. 31 



where the lamas were, the men began to cut down the tree. Rather 

 than fall alive into the hands of such barbarians, the lamas determin- 

 ed to kill themselves by flinging themselves off the tree. They tried 

 to do this, but the one who held the woman's hand was miraculously 

 wafted through the air, still clinging to the hand, and safely transport- 

 ed to Lhobrak. The other was transformed into the semblance of 

 a vulture and flew into some thick forest, whence he subsequently 

 made his escape. In commemoration of this event the first lama 

 obtained the name of Lag-lDing-pa, "the hand-flyer," and the 

 latter of rGod-Rong-pa, "the wild bird (the lammergeyer) of the 

 crags." 



The first La-ding-pa connected with Sikhim was called Lama 

 Thampa Phur-gyel, literally the Holy Flying King: he is said to 

 have been able to fly all over the Tumo valley, Rinchingong and 

 Nyam-nag-tsho. This miraculous power of flight is attributed to more 

 than one lama at Sikhim. Thus just below Tashiding is pointed out a 

 rock, called Urgyen-phur-sa, because Padmasambhava is said to have 

 flown tbence. 



The Barphungpuso (vii) and Adinpuso (viii) have hitherto been 

 thought to be pure Lepcha or Rung families, and General Mainwaring 

 considers that the first is Bar-f6ng-mo="the flowing from on high," 

 and the second A'-den=:"the created, fashioned, formed," the two 

 combined being equivalent to "the patricians and plebians." The 

 following accounts given by members of the two families are entirely 

 different : — 



The original ancestor of Tekong-tek, the old Lepcha chief in the 

 time of Jo-khy^-Bum-sar, came of divine orgin, Tekong-tek being the 

 sixth in direct descent. From Tekong-tek or one of his brothers came 

 one Tasa Aphong some five or six generations later, who was a leading 

 Lepcha and a minister under Raja Ten-sung Namgu^.* His wife was 

 also a Lepchani. The husband in course of duty was sent on a mission 

 to Tibet which lasted some time. In his absence the Raja formed an 

 attachment for his Minister's wife, and by him she became the mother 

 of a son, who was called Yukthing Adub or Arub. This boy grew up 

 and rose to the office of Treasurer to Raja Chador Namgue. When 

 the latter fled to Ham and Tibet on the invasion of the Bhutanese, 

 Adup was in charge of the palace of Rubdentse, and thus fell into 

 the hands of the Bhutanese, who brought him prisoner to Hah in 

 Tibet. Here from an incestuous marriage there was born to him a 



* Tasa Aphong originally held a small post or tahsilship at his native place LBar-phag, 

 and his full title was Tumiyang Thekong Tasa Aphong of hBar-phag j this was contracted to 

 Bar-phag A-phong, and thence to Ear-phong : hence his descendants (Pu-tsho) arc now known 

 as " the I3ar-phong-pu-tsho." 



