1840.] Note on the Lepchas of Sikkim. 381 



county, to whom all classes should tender allegiance. This 

 was agreed to, and a deputation of Lamas proceeded into 

 Thibet Pote-leang, in search of a fitting ruler for Sikkim ; here 

 they were unsuccessful, and passed on to Kham-leang,* 

 where, after much trouble, they discovered a boy, the son of 

 respectable parents, whose horoscope was considered au- 

 spicious; he was offered the Sikkim crown, it was accepted, 

 and attended by his Khamba clansmen was brought from 

 beyond the snows, and proclaimed Raja of Dinjong (Lepcha 

 for the Sikkim country) . 



The first Raja although chosen for the office in a similar 

 manner to that adopted in the election of fresh incarnations of 

 deceased Lamas, did not exercise any spiritual authority over 

 his people ; the Lamas who brought him to the throne retain- 

 ed this in their own hands for some time, but not long after the 

 spiritual power came into the family of the Raja, where it still 

 continues. At present, the eldest son of the Raja is a Lama and 

 high priest of the kingdom, a younger son being nominated heir 

 apparent to the throne. 



The Khambas although a Trans-Himalayan tribe, and hence 

 by us generally denominated Bhotiahs, or Thibetans, consi- 

 der themselves included in that generic appellation \ but the 

 following distinctions are made by the Lepchas in talking of 

 people who are called Bhotiahs by Europeans — the Bhotiah 

 from beyond the snows is (i Pote," and his country ee Pote- 

 leang f* he of Sikkim ee Arratt," and his country " Dinjong ;" and 

 he of Bootan is denominated " Proh-murroh/' or man of Proh. 



The Lepchas, Khambas, and Lepchas proper, to be un- 

 derstood as included under this term, are Bhuddhists, following 

 the priests of Thibet and those of their own tribe indiscrimi- 

 nately ; the former from being generally educated at religious 

 establishments of repute, are considered the more orthodox, the 

 latter rarely go beyond the snows to study, when they do, they 

 derive the full advantages of the superior consideration accorded 

 to the Thibetans, provided they adhere to the strict rules of 

 monachism. Marriage is permitted to the native Lepcha priest, 



* " Leang," country or province. 



