230 DIKKEELING. Chap. XXVI. 



it demanded our instant release, or his Raj would be 

 forfeited ; and declared that if a hair of our heads were 

 touched, his life should be the penalty. 



The Rajah was also incessantly urging the Dewan to 

 hasten us onwards as free men to Dorjiling, but the latter 

 took all remonstrances with assumed coolness, exercised his 

 ponies, played at bow and arrow, intruded on us at meal- 

 times to be invited to partake, and loitered on the road, 

 changing garments and hats, which he pestered us to buy. 

 Nevertheless, he was evidently becoming daily more nervous 

 and agitated. 



From the Rungmi valley we crossed on the 14th south- 

 ward to that of Runniok, and descended to Dikkeeling, a 

 large village of Dhurma Bhoteeas (Bhotanese), which is 

 much the most populous, industrious, and at the same time 

 turbulent, in Sikkim. It is 4,950 feet above the sea, and 

 occupies many broad cultivated spurs facing the south. 

 This district once belonged to Bhotan, and was ceded to the 

 Sikkim Rajah by the Paro Pilo,* in consideration of some 

 military services, rendered by the former in driving off the 

 Tibetans, who had usurped it for the authorities of Lhassa. 

 Since then the Sikkim and Bhotan people have repeatedly 

 fallen out, and Dikkeeling has become a refuge for runaway 

 Bhotanese, and kidnapping is constantly practised on this 

 frontier. 



The Dewan halted us here for three days, for no assigned 

 cause. On the 16th, letters arrived, including a most kind 

 and encouraging one from Mr. Lushington, who had taken 

 charge of Campbell's office at Dorjiling. Immediately after 

 arriving, the messenger was seized with violent vomitings 

 and gripings : we could not help suspecting poison, espe- 



■' The temporal sovereign, in contra-distinction to the Dhurma Rajah, or 

 spiritual sovereign of Bhotan. 



