CHAPTER XXVI.
Dr. Campbell is ordered to appear at Durbar—Lamas called to council—»
Threats—Scarcity of food—Arrival of Dewan—Our jailor, Thoba-sing
—Temperature, &c., at Tumloong—Services of Goompas—Lepcba girl
—Jews’-harp—Terror of servants—Ilam-sing’s family—Interview
with Dewan—Remonstrances—Dewan feigns sickness—Lord Dalhou-
sie’s letter to Rajah—Treatment of Indo-Chinese—Concourse of Lamas
—Visit of Tchebn Lama—Close confinement—Dr. Campbell’s illness
—Conference with Amlah—Relaxation of confinement-—Pemiongchi
Lama’s intercession—Escape of Nimbo—Presents from Rajah, Ranee
and people—Protestations of friendship—Mr. Lushington sent to
Dorjiling—Leave Tumloong—Cordial farewell—Dewan’s merchandise
— Gangtok Kajee-—Dewan’s pomp— Governor-General’s letter—
Dikkeeling—Suspicion of poison—Dinner and pills—Tobacco—Bho-
tanese colony—Katong-ghat on Teesta—Wild lemons—Sepoy’s insolence—
Dewan alarmed—View of Dorjiling— Threats of a rescue—
Fears of our escape—-Tibet flutes—Negociate our release—Arrival at
Dorjiling—Dr. Thomson joins me—Movement of troops at Dorjiling—
Seizure of Rajah’s Terai property.
S in c e his confinement, Dr. Campbell had been
desired to attend the Durbar for the purpose of transacting
business, but had refused to go, except by
compulsion, considering that in the excited state of the
authorities, amongst whom there was not one person
of responsibility or judgment, his presence would not
only be useless, but he might be exposed to further
insult, or possibly violence.
On the 15th of November we were infprmed that the
Dewan was on his way from T ib e t: of this we were
glad, for knave as he was, we had hitherto considered
him to possess sense and understanding. His agents
were beginning to find out their mistake, and summoned
to council the principal Lamas and Kajees of
the country, who, to a man, repudiated the proceedings,
and refused to attend. Our captors were extremely
anxious to induce us to write letters to Dorjiling,
and sent spies of all kinds to offer us facilities for
secret correspondence. The simplicity and clumsiness
with which these artifices were attempted would have
been ludicrous under other circumstances; while the
threat of murdering Campbell only alarmed us inasmuch
as it came from people too stupid to be trusted.
We made out that all Sikkim people were excluded
from Dorjiling, and the officials consequently could not
conceal their anxiety to know what had befallen their
letters to government.
Meanwhile we were but scantily fed, and our imprisoned
coolies got nothing at all. Our guards were
supplied with a handful of rice or meal as the day s
allowance ; they were consequently grumbling * and
were daily reduced in number. The supplies of rice
* Tbe Rajab bas no standing army ; not even a body-guard, and tbese
men were summoned to Tumloong before our arrival; tbey bad no arms
and received no pay, but were fed wben called out on duty. Tbere is no
store for grain, no bazaar: or market, in any part of tbe country, eacb
family growing barely enough for its own wants; consequently Sikkim
could not stand on the defensive for a week. Tbe Rajab receives his
supply of grain in annual contributions from tbe peasantry, who thus
pay a rent in kind, which varies from little to nothing, according to tbe
year, &c. He bad also property of bis own in tbe Terai, but tbe slender
proceeds only enabled him to trade with Tibet for tea, &c.