ACCOUNT OF BHUTAN. 137 



Puna-ab or Pima Zimpe is the Governor of Punakha fort. In the 

 cold weather the Dherma and Deb Rajas live there for six months, the 

 surrounding ryots are under Puna-ab and are all Bhuteas. — Puna-ab 

 has nothing to do with the cultivators of the low-lands ; under him are 

 Leejee Zimpe and two other collectors, called Tmnas of inferior rank. His 

 jurisdiction extends in length two days journey from South to North, and 

 somewhat less in breadth. Punakha is the centre of it, and the whole 

 can be seen from that place. Puna-ab collects from the ryots, rice, wood, 

 wheat, and grass, according to custom, and having stored up these articles, 

 serves them out to the Deb and Dherma Raja and their followers. In the 

 month of P'halgun there is a religious ceremony called Dungsu, at which 

 the Pilons, and Zimpes attend, and pay the accustomed tribute to the 

 Deb Raja ; on that occasion all the ryots of Punakha attend, and the 

 Governor is required to feed the whole assembly. At that time a great 

 council is held and persons appointed and removed from office. Puna 

 Zimpe has many horses and cattle, and trades with a capital of 4 or 5000 

 rupee?, he has a Zimpe, Zimpenum, Neb, Tui, and officers of different 

 descriptions, the same as the Deb Raja has himself. He gets no revenue in 

 cash and pays none, but feeds the court for six months, with the exception 

 of thirteen days, during which time Andipura Zimpe is bound to furnish 

 them with provisions. He tries all causes civil and criminal, except homi- 

 cide, and his jurisdiction includes about a 32nd part of Bhutan,. 



Thimpu Zimpe is the Governor of the fort of Tassisujon or Tashizong; 

 during the six months the court remains there he feeds the whole, and pro- 

 vides for the puja, &c. (in concurrence with the Deb Raja's officers.) His 

 territory extends to the north, three days journey, and to the south, seven 

 or eight. From east to west it is from one to three days journey in breadth. 

 In this district there are under Thimpu, aPilon, a Zimpe, aJaddu, and five 

 Tumas. Two days journey to the north there is a place called Gacha, the 

 Pilon or Governor of which is tributary : there is a Tuina at Wakha six coss 

 to the South, a Pilon at Chipcha fifteen coss South West ; and under him two 



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