Bhutan

Bhutan, an independent state in the eastern Himalayas, bounded on the N. by Tibet, S. and E. by Assam, and on the W. by Sikkim. It is divided into East and West Bhutan; and before the British annexation in 1841 and 1865 of the eighteen Dwars or passes which lead from the plains to the lofty terraces of Bhutan, the area was estimated at 20,000 sq. m.; since, it has been estimated at 15,000 sq. m. With summits exceeding 24,000 feet, the whole surface may be described as mountainous, abounding in sublime and romantic scenery, with a gradual slope from north to south. Generally speaking, the middle ranges are the most productive. While the south presents but a scanty vegetation, and the north rises far above the limit of perpetual snow, the central regions, at an elevation of 8000 or 10,000 feet above the sea, are covered with the finest forests of oak and pine, with beech, ash, birch, and maple. Amongst wild animals, elephants are numerous, and leopards, deer, wild hogs, bears, and the rhinoceros are also found. The Manás, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, is the most considerable river. Turnips grow well, and nearly all sorts of grain—wheat, barley, rice, maize, and buckwheat—are here and there cultivated on terraces cut out of the sides of the hills. The foreign trade, which consisted in the exchange of commodities in return for native cloths, rock-salt, rhubarb, Tibet goods, mules, and the famous Tangastan horses or ponies, has declined. The nominal religion is Buddhism, but amongst the common people this goes little further than the recital of a few sacred sentences, and the propitiation of evil spirits. The government, almost purely ecclesiastical, is in the hands of a rapacious oligarchy. The Dharm Rajah, the nominal head, is treated rather as a god than as a sovereign; while the Deb Rajah, the actual head, is elected every three years by the chiefs from amongst themselves. They are controlled by the Lenehen or council of ministers. Polygamy and polyandry are common. The lower orders are dirty in their persons and habits; their food consists mostly of pork, turnips, rice, barley-meal, and brick-tea. They are neat joiners, and their houses of three and four stories have the appearance of Swiss chalets, but are without chimneys. The winter capital is Punakha on the Bugui River, 96 miles NE. of Darjeeling. The summer capital is Tasichozong (Tassisdun), on the Gudada River, a centre of Lamaism. The original inhabitants, believed to be from Kuch Behar, were called Teph; they were subdued by a band of Tibetan soldiers 200 years ago, who settled in Bhutan. The Bhutias speak a dialect of Tibetan. In 1772 the rajah of Kuch Behar received assistance from the British government, against their invasions. Later raids led to the treaty of 1865, when the eighteen Dwars or passes of Bengal and Assam were ceded to the British government in return for a yearly subvention. The population of the state, formerly estimated at from 20,000, seems to be much larger—possibly 200,000.