1839.] Capt. Pemberton's Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. 269 



Thibet, in the form of huge flat cakes : it does not possess a particle 

 of aroma. Still more common is the beverage called runga pat, which 

 may be likewise used for the tea; if their accounts can be relied 

 on it is prepared from the leaf of a pear or medlar. I had no anxiety 

 to taste it as it was of a muddy appearance and reddish colour. 



Of intoxicating fluids they have two; one of these is merely fer- 

 mented, and is known by the name of chong ; it is a vile preparation 

 from rice, made in the same manner, but very inferior in quality 

 to that used by the Singphos. To this drink, which is not strong, 

 they are immoderately addicted, and it generally is carried with them 

 on journeys in large horns made from the horns of the Mithan. 



The distilled liquor I had one opportunity of tasting; it was 

 very clear, and much resembled weak whisky, as the Soobah had 

 I imagine diluted it prior to distribution to the spectators. 



The political relations of the country are as limited as the boun- 

 daries. With Sikkim they appear to have no intercourse. In the 

 Kampas to the eastward there is some reason to believe that they 

 pay an annual tribute. That they are tributary indirectly to Lhassa, 

 and now directly to China, there can be no doubt, although the 

 official people most strenuously denied it. It was affirmed indeed that 

 a considerable time ago the Chinese were in actual possession of the 

 country, but relinquished it finally on account of its poverty. China 

 also exercises its authority in inflicting fines on them, and keeps 

 guards on all the passes into Thibet. The tribute is taken I believe 

 annually to Lhassa accompanied with an envoy. With the British 

 government its chief relations have existed owing to the occupation of 

 certain tracts in the plains called Dooars, from their being situated 

 near the passes into the mountains. These tracts are of considerable 

 extent, and are held by the Booteas on toleration, as the tribute they 

 are under the obligation to pay is not only so small in amount as to 

 be quite nominal, but is generally allowed to lapse into arrears. 



In assigning the continuation of the possession of these tracts where- 

 ever an accession of dominion was gained, the British government 

 acted with its usual liberal policy; but this liberality has been so 

 little appreciated by the people of Bootan, that the system, as it has 

 worked hitherto, has been fraught with mischief; it has been most 

 positively injurious to the territories in the plains, and it is, I think, 

 injurious to Bootan itself. 



We had ample opportunities of observing the extremity of misrule 

 to which the Dooars in Assam as well as those in Rungpore are sub- 

 jected by the infamous government of the Booteas, and it was the 

 more striking from the contrast presented by our Assamese territories, 



