132 ACCOUNT OF BHUTAN". 



vernment of the country or to its relations with any foreign states, he has 

 no authority whatever : and with exception to spiritual and religious mat- 

 ters, the administration of the Government of the country is conducted by 

 the Deb Raja, with the advice of the Korjis and Counsellors, and in 

 some cases, with the concurrence of the Dherma Raja. From the cares 

 of Government the Dherma Raja is almost entirely free, and he has no 

 great number of attendants for purposes of state. According to the anci- 

 ent custom he receives for his daily subsistence, 8 measures, or 4 lbs. of 

 rice, his Zimpe receives 2 lbs. and the Gelums attached to his suite re- 

 ceive some 2 lbs. and some 1 lb. according to their rank. The Zin- 

 kaups or Messengers, and Sankaups or menial servants, and his male 

 and female slaves to the number allowed by ancient custom, each receive 

 1 lb. of rice per diem : it is called in Bhutan clean rice, but is in fact half 

 composed of that grain in the husk. Besides the above any person who 

 is employed by the Dherma Raja on the public service, is paid from the 

 public treasury by the Deb Raja. The Dherma Raja also receives 

 something in the way of Nezzerana or offerings from the inferior chiefs, 

 and he trades to some extent. These perquisites are under the controul of 

 the Lam Zimpe or household steward, the Dherma himself remaining 

 constantly employed in the performance of his religious duties. The Lam 

 Zimpe exercises authority over the agents in trade, and the Zinkaups, and 

 slaves, male and female, and other personal dependents of the Dherma 

 Raja, and an officer called Zimpenum acts as Lam Zimpe's deputy, and takes 

 care of the treasury and store rooms. About fifteen or twenty menials are 

 employed in the service of the Dherma Raja, and besides them sixty 

 Zinkaups* or Messengers remain in attendance at the gate- way, and forty 

 Gelums are constantly in attendance, for the performance of the ceremonies 

 of religion; the above constitute the whole of his personal attendants. The 

 Dherma Raja possesses lands in the low country to the south of the hills, 

 of the annual value of 7 or 8000 rupees, and trades with a capital of 

 25 or SOjGOO rupees. On the appointment of any of the officers of state, 



5 Spelt Zingarba by the Bhoteas, 



