552 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 
5. — THE HIMALAYAN STATE OF SIKHIM. 
Communicated by Hon , A. W. PAUL , C.I.E. 
GENERAL SKETCH. 
On the northern border of the British district of Darjeeling the 
main chain of the Himalaya throws out to the southward two enormous 
spurs— the Singilela and Chola ranges. These almost impassable 
barriers enclose three sides of a gigantic amphitheatre, hewn, as it 
were, out of the Himalaya, and sloping down at its southern or open 
side towards the plains of India. The tracts of mountainous country 
thus shut in consist of a tangled series of interlacing ridges, rising 
range above range to the foot of the wall of high peaks and passes 
which marks the “ abode of snow” and its offshoots. The steps of 
this amphitheatre make up the territory known as Independent 
Sikhim (from Sukhim, a new house). The encircling wall of peaks and 
passes forms on the north and east the frontier of Tibet, while on the 
west and south-west it divides Sikhim and Darjeeling from Nepal, and 
the Dielm forms the boundary between Sikhim and Bhutan. With 
the northern hills all intercourse is cut off during five months of the 
year, and the highlanders dwell apart except for occasional visits of 
Tibetan traders over the Kangralama Pass. The area of the State is 
2,818 square miles. 
INHABITANTS. 
The aborigines of Sikhim are known to the British as Lepchas, 
but style themselves Bong-pa, or ravine-folk. Their physical 
characteristics stamp them as members of the Mongolian race, and 
certain peculiarities of language and religion render it probable that 
the tribe is a very ancient colony from Southern Tibet. They are 
above all things woodmen of the woods, knowing the ways of birds 
and beasts, and possessing au extensive botanical nomenclature of 
their own. Of late years, as the hills have been stripped of their 
timber by the European tea-planters and the pushing Nepalese 
agriculturist, while the Forest Department has set its face against 
primitive methods of cultivation, the tribe is on the way to being 
pushed out. The cause of their decline is obscure. There is no lack 
of employment for them ; labour is badly wanted and well paid ; and 
the other races of the Darjeeling hills have flourished exceedingly since 
European enterprise and capital have made the cultivation of tea the 
leading industry of the district. The Lepchas alone seem to doubt 
whether life is worth living under the shadow of advancing civilisation, 
and there can, we fear, be little question that this interesting and 
attractive race will soon go the way of the forest which they believe 
to be their original home. Next in importance of numbers to the 
Lepchas are the Bhuteas from the Tibetan province of Khams, and 
the Limbas from the Tibetan province of Tsang. These, like the 
Lepchas, are all of Mongolian race ; they recognise the spiritual 
authority of the Delai Lama of Lhassa, and are in great fear of 
Tibetan power. The Newars and Goorkhas of Nepal, professing the 
Brabminical faith, have nothing to attract them towards Tibet, and 
they may be relied upon by the British authorities, with whom their ! ; 
interests are identical. 
