This war resulted more happily for the attacking party than the earlier effort—probably because the Taiping rebellion interfered with the normal action of the Chinese Government. When the Tibetans were forced to make concessions of territory, they may well have deplored the increasing strength near their borders of that great power which had humiliated their Elder Brother a few years before, and which seemed to be supporting their younger, impulsive brother in his assault against their kingdom of snow. Following fast upon this came the Anglo-French war against China, terminated by a humiliating treaty, something of which would be known in Tibet. While China is still suffering from the effect of this blow, and by a chance which to the Tibetans might almost seem calculation, the British force a closer protectorate over Sikkim, following upon a quarrel between the Sikkimites and the Nepalese, already protected. The ruling family in the little mountain state had for centuries been of the Tibetan nobility and had recognised a sort of Tibetan suzerainty.
Then, again, in 1863, an occurrence at their very door must have further frightened these secluded people. Bhutan had admitted, years before, a British Resident ; otherwise its ruler tried to keep white men out. When some contentions arose between the Bhutan authority and neighbouring states more directly controlled by Calcutta, an envoy was sent to arrange the quarrel. To the discomfiture of those who sent him, this officer made a treaty by which most of the claims of Bhutan were recognised and certain territory was handed back to it. This is not
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