Book contents
- Frontmatter
- DEDICATION
- PREFACE
- Contents
- ERRATA
- INTRODUCTION
- NOTE ON THE MAPS OF TIBET, NEPAL, SIKKIM, AND BHUTAN
- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF GEORGE BOGLE
- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THOMAS MANNING
- NARRATIVE OF THE MISSION OF MR. GEORGE BOGLE TO TIBET (1774)
- CHAPTER I MISSION TO TIBET
- CHAPTER II FROM KUCH BAHAR TO TASSISUDON
- CHAPTER III TASSISUDON, THE CAPITAL OF BHUTAN
- CHAPTER IV HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN
- CHAPTER V BHUTAN: NEGOTIATIONS
- CHAPTER VI SUGGESTIONS RESPECTING BHUTAN AND ASSAM
- CHAPTER VII THE JOURNEY TO TIBET
- CHAPTER VIII AT DESHERIPGAY
- CHAPTER IX RIDE FROM DESHERIPGAY TO TESHU LUMBO
- CHAPTER X TESHU LUMBO
- CHAPTER XI A VISIT TO A TIBETAN COUNTRY SEAT
- CHAPTER XII AN ACCOUNT OF TIBET
- CHAPTER XIII TRADE OF TIBET
- CHAPTER XIV NEGOTIATIONS
- CHAPTER XV CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TESHU LAMA AT TESHU LUMBO
- CHAPTER XVI THE EPISODE WITH THE CHAUDURI
- CHAPTER XVII RETURN FROM TIBET TO BENGAL. NEGOTIATIONS IN BHUTAN
- CHAPTER XVIII GENERAL REPORT BY MR. BOGLE ON HIS RETURN FROM TIBET
- CHAPTER XIX JOURNEY OF THE TESHU LAMA TO PEKING, AND HIS DEATH. PROJECT OF MR. BOGLE FOR MEETING THE LAMA AT PEKING
- JOURNEY OF MR. THOMAS MANNING TO LHASA (1811–12)
- APPENDIX
- INDEX
- Plate section
CHAPTER IV - HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 October 2011
- Frontmatter
- DEDICATION
- PREFACE
- Contents
- ERRATA
- INTRODUCTION
- NOTE ON THE MAPS OF TIBET, NEPAL, SIKKIM, AND BHUTAN
- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF GEORGE BOGLE
- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THOMAS MANNING
- NARRATIVE OF THE MISSION OF MR. GEORGE BOGLE TO TIBET (1774)
- CHAPTER I MISSION TO TIBET
- CHAPTER II FROM KUCH BAHAR TO TASSISUDON
- CHAPTER III TASSISUDON, THE CAPITAL OF BHUTAN
- CHAPTER IV HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN
- CHAPTER V BHUTAN: NEGOTIATIONS
- CHAPTER VI SUGGESTIONS RESPECTING BHUTAN AND ASSAM
- CHAPTER VII THE JOURNEY TO TIBET
- CHAPTER VIII AT DESHERIPGAY
- CHAPTER IX RIDE FROM DESHERIPGAY TO TESHU LUMBO
- CHAPTER X TESHU LUMBO
- CHAPTER XI A VISIT TO A TIBETAN COUNTRY SEAT
- CHAPTER XII AN ACCOUNT OF TIBET
- CHAPTER XIII TRADE OF TIBET
- CHAPTER XIV NEGOTIATIONS
- CHAPTER XV CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TESHU LAMA AT TESHU LUMBO
- CHAPTER XVI THE EPISODE WITH THE CHAUDURI
- CHAPTER XVII RETURN FROM TIBET TO BENGAL. NEGOTIATIONS IN BHUTAN
- CHAPTER XVIII GENERAL REPORT BY MR. BOGLE ON HIS RETURN FROM TIBET
- CHAPTER XIX JOURNEY OF THE TESHU LAMA TO PEKING, AND HIS DEATH. PROJECT OF MR. BOGLE FOR MEETING THE LAMA AT PEKING
- JOURNEY OF MR. THOMAS MANNING TO LHASA (1811–12)
- APPENDIX
- INDEX
- Plate section
Summary
In ancient times this hilly country was parcelled out among a number of independent chieftains. A lama from the north united them under one government, and introduced his religion among them. His death gave birth to three lamas. His body fell to the share of one; his heart to another; and his mouth or word to a third. Upon the death of these holy men, their souls pass into the bodies of children, who, after a strict examination into their identity, are recognized; and thus a succession of saints under various forms, but animated by the same spirit, have continued, at different intervals, to enlighten this corner of the world. The periodical return of the lamas to the earth is undeterminate. At present there are only two, viz. the body and the heart. The word died about twelve years ago, and having never since appeared, it is uncertain whether his soul may not be swallowed up in that ineffable spirit, of which it is only an emanation.
The lamas are first in rank, and nominally first in power. They enjoy a joint and coequal authority; and in all their deliberations are assisted by the clergy.
The apparent wisdom of this system is evident. In other governments, to qualify a person for the supreme administration requires a course of study and observation too long for human life; and after all, the waywardness of subjects will dispute his commands; but in Bhutan the chief magistrate is instructed by the experience of ages, and his orders carry with them all the weight which on this account they deserve.
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- Narratives of the Mission of George Bogle to Tibetand of the Journey of Thomas Manning to Lhasa, pp. 33 - 41Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1881