64 Gaur Das Bysack — Notes on a Buddhist Monastery [No. 1, 
some portions of the concluding history of the Bhot Bagan down to the 
period of the chivalrous Gosuin’s tragic end. A rapid sketch therefore 
follows, of the broad features of these missions, bearing upon the present 
subject, basod mainly upon the records left by Mr. Boglo, which form 
the narrative of Mr. Markham, and upon Turner’s report. 
It was moreover from the proceedings of these missions that the 
first adminstrator of India obtainod a thorough knowledge of the 
wondei’ful politico-religious influence which, emanating from Tibet, 
operated, with more or less effect on China and Mongolia, and on its 
then protected state of Sikkim, and the semi-independent principality 
of Bhutan as well as on Nepal. 
Tho communication of the Lama stirred the fertile brain of Warren 
Hastings, to conceive a consummate policy of peace and friendship with 
the hierarchical chief, believed to be an incarnation of Buddha himself, 
seated in his snow-clad mountain home. By this policy he aimed at the 
commercial prosperity of Bengal. Through two successive missions 
to Tibet, and four to Bhutan, he succeeded, in some respect, to re-estab- 
lish the old trade routes and re-open, in a partial way, that active com- 
mercial intercourse which had subsisted and prevailed, from before the 
Muhammadan rule, between the plateau of Tibet and the plains of 
Bengal through the passes of Nepal, Bhutan and other channels, but 
which were sadly interrupted and checked by diverse causes. 
The first mission under Mr. Bogle started from Calcutta in 1774, 
and, after proceeding to the hills, called Nagarkof in Bengal and Bod la 1 * 
in Tibet, which form the common boundary of these two countries in the 
north, Bogle says, the only scanty information about the roads, the 
climate and the people which he there received, was from the Sannyasis. 
Proceeding, stage after stage, Mr. Bogle, with his party, arrived at 
Tashi Chhoijong, 3 the capital of Bhutan, and met the Deb Raja, 3 who gave 
him a good reception, but great obstacles having been raised in respect 
1 Boif (native name of Thibet) + la ‘ a pass’ = ‘The pass into Thibet’ 
Markham, ibid., p. 15. 
1 Tashi Chhoijong is the modom capital of Bhutan, 100 miles from the town 
of Kuch Behar. There is in it a palace and a citadel. Tho latter is a lofty stone 
building of Beven stories, in the fourth of which tho Deb Raja of Bhutan resides. 
» Dob Kaja. According to Sir Ashley Eden, the country, now called Bhutan, was 
formerly occupied by a people from Kuch Bohar, who were, throe centnries ago, driven 
away by an invading army of Tibetans over whom a Luma of the Red sect named 
Dugwang Sabdung acquired paramount influence as “ Lama Binpoohe or Dharma 
“ Rdja. On his death Sabdung became incarnate in a little child at Lhasa who 
“ was conveyed to Bhutan. When this child grew up, he confined himself to spiritual 
“ concerns and appointed a Regent called the Deb Raja.” lie is now elected by a 
council of six for three years. 
