ACCOUNT OF BHUTAN". 



. 



they proceed,' after receiving their dress of honour from the Deb Raja, 

 the Dherma Raja, to whom they present an offering, and receive a hand- 

 kerchief, or a piece of silk of three feet in length and two fingers breadth, 

 which is tied about their necks ; this they consider sacred, and to act as a 

 preservative from danger. From this source the Dherma Raja may re- 



ceive 2000 rupees per annum. When any of the Dherma Raja's servants 

 obtain any public employment, they also present him with something addi- 

 tional, and when people die, he receives something at the funeral obsequies, 

 or when any religious ceremony takes place ; from both these sources he 

 may derive about 2000 rupees annually. Besides the above income he pos- 

 sesses about one hundred and twenty-five tangans and mares, one hundred 

 and fifty or two hundred cows and buffaloes, and a considerable sum of rea- 

 dy money. His expences are very considerable, as he is obliged to main- 

 tain all supernumerary Gelums and followers, exceeding the ancient esta- 

 blishment, from his private funds, and also to defray the expences of the re- 

 ligious ceremonies and charitable donations; so that little remains of his 

 annual receipts. The Deb Raja has no authority over the Dherma Raja's 

 people, and whatever is done by the Deb Raja is done with the advice or 

 knowledge of the Kalan, who is one of the Counsellors invariably appointed 

 by the Dherma Raja. If the Dherma Raja's people go to any Subah or Col- 

 lector in the interior, they receive from them their food, but without the 

 Deb Raja's orders they can neither demand food from the ryots, nor porters 

 td carry their baggage. Lam Zimpe has under his orders twenty peons ; in 

 point of rank he is on an equality with the Deb Raja's Dewan. 



The Deb Raja is the prime minister. The Bony is the Deb Raja's 

 public Dewan ; Kalan is a Counsellor who attends on the part of the 

 Dherma Raja, and these two with Pitnab or Puna Zimpe, the Governor 

 of Punakha, and Thimpoab or Thimpu Zimpe the Governor of Tassi- 

 sujon, are the four Chief Counsellors of state. Andipura Zimpe, the Go- 

 vernor of the Fort of Andipur, Paro Pilon the Governor of Paro, Tangso 

 Pilon, the Governor of Tangso, and Tagna Pilo the ruler of Tagna, 

 are also of the same rank \ and without their concurrence the Deb R.ija 



