258 Capt. Vemberton's Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. [April, 



The supreme authorities are the Dhurma and Deb Rajahs ; the 

 latter representing the temporal government in its strictest sense, as 

 his reign is generally short ; the former the spiritual in as strict a sense, 

 for he is, although infinitely divisible, quite eternal. The immorta- 

 lity of the Dhurma is not so well known as that of the Lama of Thibet, 

 it is nevertheless equally true; both appear to have been firmly be- 

 lieved by Captain Turner, whose account of the behaviour and intel- 

 ligence of the Grand Lama, an infant of some months old, is very 

 amusing and characteristic. The present Dhurma is, as I have men- 

 tioned, the son of Tongsa Pillo, a curious coincidence. 



The chief test of the authenticity of the infant in whom the Dhur- 

 ma condescends to leave the regions of aether for those of gross spirits, 

 consists in his recognising his former articles of wearing apparel, &c; 

 and to avoid any supposition that might arise from the probability of 

 any mortal child being struck with shewy gew-gaws, this child is 

 bound to assert that they are actually his own ; if it does so, surely 

 it is satisfactory evidence. The infant Dhurma may as well be found in 

 the hut of the poorest peasant as in the residence of an officer of high 

 rank, but I dare say, if the truth were known, he is usually made 

 for the occasion. 



When he has been completely tested he is removed to the palace, 

 and his life thenceforward becomes one of almost absolute seclusion. 

 Surrounded by hosts of priests, and in the apparent enjoyment of 

 most things deemed desirable by a Bootea, he is nothing but a state 

 prisoner, virtually sacrificed to state ordinances. Neither is it proba- 

 ble that he enjoys any power sufficient to recompense him for being 

 cut off from the merry side of life, for if his teachers have been wise 

 teachers, they probably rule him throughout. But all this holds good 

 only on the supposition that his life is as really monastically rigid as 

 those of some orders of Christian monks were not. We heard strange 

 accounts, especially at Punukka, sufficient to suggest that a priest is 

 not necessarily virtuous in Bootan more than any where else. 



His revenues are, I believe, derived from certain lands in the plains, 

 and above all from offerings. He is also said to trade, but none of 

 them can derive much profit from commercial speculations. 



It is in the Deb that the supreme authority as regards the internal 

 economy of the country is vested. But supreme though he be called, 

 as he can do nothing without consulting all the counsellors, including 

 the Pillos, who have no cause to dread his displeasure, his power must 

 be extremely limited, and very often disputed ; and, if it is remem- 

 bered that he is always checked by those counsellors who are actually 

 present with him, and that he holds no, or at least very little, territory 



