108 
BOOTAN. 
throwing reinforcements into Punukka, or to check the progress of 
the rebels. 
Popular and prudent as the administration of the present Raja had 
been, yet seditious murmurs had long since been known to exist ; 
chiefly because several officers, nominated by the former Raja to the 
highest posts of public trust, had been displaced on his accession to 
the government. It is said that the Zoompoon of Tassisudon, and 
the Zempi, were soon obliged to give way to his particular favourites, 
while other officers, in various parts, of the country, were also super¬ 
seded. This early use of his authority did not fail to kindle dissa¬ 
tisfaction and disgust, among those who suffered from its exercise ; 
hitherto indeed, they had been kept within decent bounds, till at 
length a turbulent spirit having broken the peace, an avowed rebellion 
ensued. The disbanded chiefs were said to have consulted together, 
and confederated with a resolution to revenge their real or supposed 
injuries. 
During the night of the 26th of June, a large party was posted on 
the bridge, immediately opposite to the house in which we lived, and a 
strong guard also took its station at the palace gates. The alarm having 
gone abroad, and the peasantry far and near being called upon to defend 
their sovereign, constant additions of force joined the royal standard. 
The ploughman and mechanic, arranging themselves under the banner of 
the chief inhabitant of their neighbourhood, repaired martially arrayed 
to the head quarters, whence they were in different divisions, expedi¬ 
tiously pushed off to relieve the castle of Punukka, concerning which 
reports were still various : some asserting that it was not yet taken, 
