India and Tibet : vol.1 / Page 40 (Color Image)

0040	India and Tibet : vol.1

14 BOGLE'S MISSION, 1774

that the Bhutanese, encouraged by their successes in

Kuch Behar to-day, and undeterred by so slight a

boundary as a small stream, might invade the British

provinces to-morrow. Bogle continued that Warren

Hastings, on the people of Kuch Behar applying to him

for assistance, immediately despatched a battalion of sepoys

to repel the invaders, but was extremely glad, on receipt

of the Tashi Lama's letter, to suspend hostilities and

subsequently to conclude a peace with the Bhutanese and

restore them their country. In conclusion, he said that

Warren Hastings, being happy to cultivate the friendship

of a man whose fame was so well known, and whose

character was held in veneration by so many nations, had

sent him to the Lama's presence with the letter and tokens

of friendship which he had laid before him.

The Lama said that the Deb Judhur did not manage

his country properly, and had been turned out. Bogle

replied that the English had no concern with his expulsion ;

it was brought about by his own people : the Company

only wished the Bhutanese to continue in their own

country, and not to encroach upon Bengal, or raise

disturbances upon its frontier. The Governor," said the

Lama, " had reason for going to war, but, as I am averse

from bloodshed, and the Bhutanese are my vassals, I am

glad it is brought to a conclusion."

The point, then, that it was an act of aggression on the

part of a vassal of the Tibetans which was the initial

cause of our relationship with the Tibetans ; that that act

was considered unjustifiable by the then ruler of Tibet, and it

that our own action was approved of and appreciated 11

by him, is established by this conversation. Except for

the unjustifiable aggression of the Bhutanese upon our

neighbours, we would never have been brought into I

conflict with these vassals of Tibet ; and but for the

intervention of the Tibetan Regent on their behalf, we

should not then have thought of any relationship with the

Tibetans. The initiation of our intercourse did not rest

with us. We were not the interferers. It was the

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