46 BHOTIA MEHALS 



The chief government is entrusted to two Officers conjointly, who are 

 called Garphans, with the additional title of Urgu Ma, and Urgu Ya, 

 They reside at Gartokh, and are relieved after three years : natives of 

 Lassa and of that neighbourhood, are invariably nominated to these situa- 

 tions. The province is subdivided into districts, each containing a certain 

 number of towns and villages. The internal administration in each dis- 

 trict is similarly confided to two officers, called the Deba, and Vazir, 

 whose appointment also emanates from Lassa; the Deba, commonly a na- 

 tive of the eastern provinces, is also changed every three years ; the Vazir 

 who is one of the principal inhabitants of the district, holds his situation 

 during good behaviour. The measures of these officers are subject to the 

 controul of the governors at Gartokh. 



The Urgu Ma and Deba appear respectively to enjoy superior conse- 

 quence and consideration, but to give effect to their acts the concurrence 

 of their colleague is indispensible. 



The only regular military force in the province is said to consist of 

 two hundred horse, stationed at Gartokh ; this body must have been ori- 

 ginally recruited from Tartary, as the men of which it is composed are 

 described by the Bhotias as a horse eating race. Each town and village 

 has its enrolled militia, liable to be called upon whenever their services 

 are required. The religious institutions are under the exclusive control 

 of the provincial and district Lamas, who also appear to exercise consi- 

 derable influence in the local civil administration. 



A rapid communication with the Capital, Lassa, is kept up by means 

 of a horse post, the stages are from fifteen to twenty miles apart, and four 

 horses with their riders are retained at each. 



The 



