Page:Narratives of the mission of George Bogle to Tibet.djvu/246

62 the language of this country; the Tibetan Paima, a messenger of Teshu Lama, who had been sent for me; and a servant of the Deb Rajah, who was to attend me to the borders of his country.

Our way was by Rinjipu, commonly called Paro-gaund. The direct road is over the mountains, and we were to have travelled over it, escorted by a guard. This, however, was now unnecessary, and we took the low road along the banks of the Chinchu. It was the same by which we had come from Buxa-Diiar. We passed Simptoka, and came up with a party of the Deb Rajah's men. They halted at a little village, and their leader sent for us. He had formerly been Kalling,^ or secretary, to the Deb Rajah, and had been lately promoted to the office of Donnai,^ or Head Dewan. He enjoys the first place in the chief's favour, and his sagacity and superior abilities entitle him to it. In anything that relates to the government of his own country, he might be pitted against many a politic minister. As a philosopher, he would twist him round his finger. Of a truth, an ounce of mother-wit is worth a pound of clergy.

The Donnai was sitting on the ground surrounded by his men. He gave me part of his carpet. We had a dram of whisky. He told me of the escape of the insurgents from Simptoka; that he was in pursuit of them by the foot of the mountains, while another detachment had taken the upper road. As soon as we left him, I saw a village on the top of the mountain in flames: it was a punishment for its attachment to the Deb Judhur.

A soldier in Bhutan has not a distinct profession. Every man is girt with a sword, and trained to the use of the bow. The hall of every public officer is hung round with matchlocks, with swords and shields. In times of war or danger, his servants and retainers are armed with these; the inhabitants, assembled from the different villages, are put under his command, and he marches in person against the enemy. The common weapons are a broadsword of a good temper, with shagreen handle; a cane-coiled target, painted

The Joom Kalling, in Eden's List (p. 113), is the chief judge. Pemberton calls him Kalling Zimpe (p 54). Turner has Cullum.

According to Eden (p. 112), the Donnai Zimpen is the Dewan; Pemberton has Donnay Zimpe. He holds the second seat in the Council.