Rajah. A dispensation having previously been procured
from Lhassa, this marriage had been effected by
the Lamas, in order to counteract the efforts of the
Dewan, who sought to exercise an undue influence
over the Rajah and his family. The Tupgain Lama
having only spiritual authority, and being bound to
celibacy, the temporal authority had devolved on the
second son, who was heir-apparent; he, however,
having died, an illegitimate son of the Rajah had been
favoured by the Dewan as heir-apparent. The bride
was brought from Tibet, and the marriage party was
feasted for eighteen days at the Rajah’s expense. All
the Lamas whom I met were clad in red robes, with
girdles, and were shaven, with bare feet and heads,
or mitred; they wore rosaries of onyx, turquoise,
quartz, lapis-lazuli, coral, glass, amber, or wood: some
had staves, and one a trident on a long staff, an emblem
of the Hindoo Trinity, called Trisool Mahadeo, which
represents Brahma, Siva, and Vishnu, in Hindoo j and
Booddh, Dhurma, and Sunga, in Booddhist theology.
All were on foot, indeed ponies are seldom used in this
country; the Lamas, however, walked with becoming
gravity and indifference to all around them.
The Kajee waited upon me in the evening, full of
importance, having just received a letter from his
Rajah, which he wished to communicate to me in
private; so I accompanied him to a house close by,
where he was a guest, when the secret came out, that
his highness was dreadfully alarmed at my coming
with the two Nepalese soldiers, whom I accordingly
dismissed.
The house was of the usual Bhotean form, of wood,
built on posts, one-storied, containing a single apartment,
hung round with bows, quivers, shields, baskets
of rice, and cornucopias of Indian com. The whole
party were deep in a carouse on Murwa beer, and I
saw the operation of making it. The millet-seed is
moistened, and ferments for two days ; sufficient for a
day’s allowance is then put into a vessel of wickerwork,
lined with India-rubber to make it water-tight;
and boiling water is poured on with a ladle of gourd,
from a huge iron cauldron that stands all day over
the fire. The fluid, when quite fresh, tastes like negus
of Cape sherry, rather sour.
SIKKIM LAMAS WITH PRAYING CYLINDER AND DORJE J THE LATERAL FIGURES
ARE MONKS OR GYLONGS.