38 HISTORY OF SIKHIM AND ITS RULERS. 



Another interpretation of Kashi and Lhassa Gotras is that the 

 former are Limbu on both sides, whereas the latter are the offspring 

 of a Limbu father, but a Tibetan mother. 



The country between the Arun and Kankaye was originally 

 peopled by Limbus, who were distributed over ten districts, each 

 subject to their own headman, Soubah or petty Raja, who looked 

 on his district as his own property. From this division into "ten" 

 (Das), the Limbus are often known as "Das Limbus," and from their 

 headman derived their title of "Soubah." These ten main divisions (or 

 Thums) derive their names either from the name of the locality itself 

 or from the number of the separate " Thars " or subdivisions, with 

 whom the Goorkha Government made settlement, after the conquest 

 of the Newar Raja and submission of the Limbu Soubahs. It seems 

 that the Limbus were not conquered by the Goorkhas, but voluntarily 

 submitted, and in consequence retain several privileges ; among others, 

 the right to guard the Walloon passes. 



The Thums named from their locality are — 



Yangrup. 

 Tambarkhola, 



Mewa or Mai-khola. 

 Ph^dhap. 



The second class comprise the remaining six Thums, viz.- 



Charkhola (four). 

 Panch-thar (five). 

 Chothar or Soodap Cha- 

 tharea (six). 



Terathar (thirteen). 

 Atharai (eighteen). 

 Chaubisa (twenty-four). 



The Thars or Septs embraced in these ten Thums are very numer- 

 ous, but a full account will be found in Mr. Risley's "The Tribes and 

 Castes of Bengal." 



Of other tribes in Sikhim the Newars are the most enterprising 

 and influential, though their number is small. Their liistory is, 

 however, in no way connected with that of Sikhim. An interesting 

 account of the Newars is to be found in Dr. Oldfield's "Sketches from 

 Nepal." 



The Gurungs live chiefly in Western Sikhim, and are well versed 

 in sheep grazing. 



The Man gars formerly occupied parts of the Kangpa-chea and 

 Tambur valleys, but were expelled, and their power broken by their 

 rivals, the Sherj^a Bhuteas : the last of their chiefs is rumoured to have 

 died near Pomong (in the Darjeeling Government Cinchona estate). 



