ACCOUNT OF BHfjTAV. 129 



tory is entirely mountainous except on the south, south west and eastern 

 parts, where there is level land. The low lands if well cultivated are capable 

 of producing a revenue of seven or eight lacs of rupees ; but they are in ge- 

 neral waste, and at present the whole revenue of Bhutan, including mol, and 

 sayer, and all items of collection, does not probably amount to three lacks 

 9f rupees, 



It is related by the people of Bhutan that to the North of Lhassa there 

 is a country called Lenja, in which Lam Sapto, or the Dherma Raja 

 formerly dwelt. From that place he went to Lhassa, and after residing 

 there for some time he arrived at Punakha in Bhutan, which was at that 

 time ruled by a Raja of the Coch tribe. When the Dherma Raja ar- 

 rived there he began to play upon a kind of pipe, made of a human thigh 

 bone, and to act contrary to the observances of the Coch tribe, and to 

 perform miracles, at which the Coch Raja was so terrified, that he disap- 

 peared with his whole family and servants under ground, The Dherma 

 Raja finding the fort empty, went in and took possession, and having de- 

 prived of their cast all the followers and slaves of the Coch Raja, who 

 remained above ground, he instructed them in his own religious faith and 

 customs : their descendants still remain at Punakha and form the cast or 

 tribe called Thep. In this way the Dherma Raja got possession of 

 Punakha, but on consideration that the sins of his subjects are attributa- 

 ble to the ruler of a country, instead of setting himself on the throne, and ex- 

 ercising the Sovereign authority, he sent to Lhassa for a Tibetian, in or- 

 der to secure possession of the country; and having made him his prime 

 minister and called him the Deb Raja, he occupied himself entirely with 

 the cares of religion and contemplation of the Deity. At that time the res- 

 pective boundaries, tribute, and authority of the different Rajas or Go- 

 vernors of Bhutan were settled as they continue to this day, as will be 

 more particularly detailed hereafter. 



All the people of Bhutan considered the Dherma Raja as their spiri- 



