April, 1848. LTMB00S, ORIGIN AND CUSTOMS. ]:>,7 



a mixed race calling themselves Kumpa Rong, or Kumpa 

 Lepchas ; but they are emigrants from Tibet, having come 

 with the first rajah of Sikkim. These people are more 

 turbulent and bolder than the Lepchas, and retain much of 

 their Tibetan character, and even of that of the very pro- 

 vince from which they came ; which is north-east of Lhassa, 

 and inhabited by robbers. All the accounts I have received 

 of it agree with those given by MM. Hue and Gabet. 



Next to the Lepchas, the most numerous tribe in Sikkim 

 is that of the Limboos (called " Chung " by the Lepchas) ; 

 they abound also in East Nepal, which they once ruled, 

 inhabiting elevations from 2000 feet to 5000 feet. They 

 are Boodhists, and though not divided into castes, belong 

 to several tribes. All consider themselves as the earliest 

 inhabitants of the Tambur Valley, though they have a tradi- 

 tion of having originally emigrated from Tibet, which their 

 Tartar countenance confirms. They are more slender and 

 sinewy than the Lepchas, and neither plait their hair nor 

 wear ornaments ; instead of the ban they use the Nepal 

 carved knife, called " cookree," while for the striped kirtle 

 of the Lepcha are substituted loose cotton trousers and a 

 tight jacket ; a sash is worn round the middle, and on the 

 head a small cotton cap. When they ruled over East 

 Nepal, their system was feudal ; and on their uniting 

 against the Nepalese, they were with difficulty dislodged 

 from their strongholds. They are said to be equally brave 

 and cruel in battle, putting the old and weak to the sword, 



to here : they are all described in various papers by Mr. Hodgson, in the " Journal of 

 the Asiatic Society of Bengal." The Dhurma people are numerous at Dorjiling ; 

 they are often runaways, but invariably prove more industrious settlers than the 

 Lepchas. In the Himalaya the name Bhotan is unknown amongst the Tibetans ; 

 it signifies literally (according to Mr. Hodgson) the end of Bhote, or Tibet, beiDg 

 the eastern extreme of that country. The Lepchas designate Bhotan as Ayeu, or 

 Aieu, as do often the Bhotanese themselves. Sikkim, again, is called Lhop, or Lho', 

 by the Lepchas and Bhotanese. 



