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 C)80 BHUTAN

Baxa and Diwangiri, within a few miles of their frontier, serves as a material guarantee against further aggression.

The form of Government in Bhutan, which existed from the middle of the sixteenth century until 1907, consisted of a dual control by the clergy aud the laity as represented by Dharma and Deb Rajas. In 1907 the Deb Raja, who was also Dharma Raja, resigned his position, and the Tongsa Penlop, Sir Ugyen Wangchuk, K.C.I.E., was elected as the first hereditary Maharaja of Bhutan,

Chief towns : Punakha, the winter capital, a place .of great natural strength ; Tasichozong (Tashichiidzong), the summer capital, Paro, Angdu- phorang (Wangduj)otang), Tongsa, Taka, and Biaka,

The people are nominally Buddhists, but their religious exercises consist chiefly in the propitiation of evil spirits and the recitation of sentences from the Tibetan Scriptures. Tasichozong (Tashicodzong), the chief monastery in Bhutan, contains 300 priests.

Beyond the guards for the defence of the various castles, there is nothing like a standing army.

The chief productions are rice, Indian corn, millet, lac, wax, two kinds of cloth, musk, ponies, chowries, and silk. The State is now beginning to realise the necessity of encouraging foreign capital for industrial enterprises such as mines, tea gardens, and the working of its extensive and valuable forests. Muzzle-loading guns and swords of highly-tempered steel are manu- factured.

Imports into Bengal and Eastern Bengal and Assam, and exports from those Provinces to, Bhutan : —

190S-00 1009-10 1910-11

1911-12

£ £, £

Imports. . . 20,148 13,000 13,400

Exports. . .1 SSj-We 23,688 19,771

£ 40,060 28,180

Books of Reference Concerning Bhutan

Accounts relating to the Trade hj Land of British and India with Foreign Countries. Annual. Calcutta.

Report on Explorations in Sikkim, Bhutan, and Tibet, 1856-86. Edited by Lieut.-Colonel G. Strahan. Delira Dun, 1889.

A Collection of Treaties and Engagements, relating to India and neighbouring Countries by C. U. Aitcliison. Volume II. Part IV. Calcutta.

Reports of Expeditions through Bhutan in 190G and 1907. By J. C. White. London.

Sandberfi (G.),Bhot?in, the Unknown State. [A Reprint frojn the Calevtta Rfview.] Calcutta. 1898.

White {.J. C), Sikkim and Bhutiln. London,'1000.