The Pemberton Mission to Bhutan (1837 – 1838)
The
Pemberton Mission to Bhutan (1837 – 1838)
British realized that all
communications from the British Government were withheld by the Bhutanese
frontier officers. Now they wanted to send a special Mission to Bhutan to find
out the true information about Bhutan.
The Mission has four main
objectives to be achieved. They are given below:[1]
1. - To
establish diplomatic relation with the Bhutan Government
2. - To
resolve the problems of tribute payment for the duars to further reduce the
border conflict in the area.
3. - To
persuade the Bhutan to make over the management of the Assam Duars in lieu of
our payment
4. - To
settle the terms of the commercial treaty of 1774 which was remained suspended
so far.
The Mission was headed by Captain
R. Boileau Pemberton. Other members of the Mission include Ensign M.T. Blake as
a surveyor and Dr. W.M. Griffit, as an assistant surgeon and about 50 men of
escort of the Assam Sebundy Corps.They decided to trek the route from eastern
Bhutan unlike the past Missionaries. East India Company communicated to the
Bhutan Government about the captain Pemberton’s Mission to Bhutan.
The Mission started from Calcutta
by water to Gauhati in Assam. The Mission was delayed at Gauhati from 8th to
21st December. The reason for the delay was that they were waiting for the
communication from the Deb Raja of Bhutan.
Although there was no welcoming
note from the Dewangiri, the Mission started on 21st December 1837. The Mission
reached Dewangiri on 23rd January 1838. They were delayed there nearly a month
at Dewangiri as there was no information from Punakha to welcome them.
Moreover, when the Mission was at
Dewangiri, a rebellion by the Daga Penlop Dorji Norbu against the 35th Desi Choki
Gyaltshen was broke out.[2]
But the Bhutanese source says that it was Zhongar Dzongpon Chagpa Sangye
removed the Desi from the throne and enthroned his brother Daga Penlop Dorji
Norbu.
In the meantime, they were asked
to return back and told to go from the Buxa Duar route where the past
missionaries followed. Finally, after receiving the permission from the Trongsa
penlop, they started their journey from Dewangiri. The permission to proceed to
Punakha was given with condition that they were not allowed to talk or interview
any Bhutanese People.[3]
From Kheri Gonpa, present day
Pemagatshel, there was a direct route to go to Punakha via
Zhongar. This was the main route
people followed in those days while travelling to Dewangiri to Punakha. Near
the Kheri Gonpa, at a place called Shalikhar, there was a small dzong which
served as an office of Jadrung.
From Kheri Gonpa, Pemagatshel,
the Mission was asked to go from Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Lhuntse, Jakar,
Trongsa and then to Punakha. This was because the Dzongpon of Zhongar Chagpa
Sangye was the brother of the Daga Penlop who revolted against the Desi. To
support his brother’s forces, Zhongar Dzongpon was gathering the militia from villages
under his jurisdiction.[4]
Route followed by Captain
Pemberton and his team
Note: The route is not to the
scale.
Zhongar Dzongpon was the subordinate of the Trongsa
Penlop. But there was no mentioned of the Trongsa Penlop’s involvement in the
revolt. Did Dzongpon independently carry out the rebellion against the Desi?
Captain R. Boileau Pemberton was
accompanied by Ensign M.T. Blake as a surveyor and Dr. W.M. Griffit, as an
assistant surgeon. Dr. Griffit also maintained a journal during the mission’s
visit to Bhutan. He mentioned that Kheri Gonpa was a good place. At Kheri Gonpa
he observed many rhododrondon trees but he was not happy at Trongsa and
Punakha.
After the arrival at Punakha, the members of the Mission were given audience by the new Desi Dorji Norbu. Former Zhonger Dzongpon Chagpa Sangye was the Deb Zimpon and acted as the interpreter between the Desi and members of Mission.[5] Bhutanese source says that after appointing his brother Dorji Norbu Desi, he took the post of Wangdu Phodrang Dzongpon.The following day, members of the mission also had a meeting with the young Dharma Raja. Griffith observed that the throne room of the Dharma Raja was not as decorated as the throne room of the Desi. Captain Boileau Pemberton was given the draft treaty to make Bhutanese Government sign the treaty but unfortunately he counld not make the Bhutanese Government sign the treaty. The reasons for the failure of the Mission are mentioned in the following pages.
Captain Pemberton found the
situations at Punakha not settled well, when he reached there. Captain
Pemberton had to be cautious while dealings with the Bhutanese
authorities. He had to do in such way
that he should not hurt the sentiments of the both reigning Desi Dorji Norbu
and the ex-Desi Choki Gyaltshen. The other members of the Council expressed
their helpless to talk to the Mission.[6]
While the Desi and some council members agreed to the proposal of the
Pemberton, Trongsa Penlop did not approve it.[7]
Trongsa Penlop was powerful Governor who controls whole eastern region of
Bhutan.The then Trongsa Penlop was the Ugyen Phuntsho who later became the
father in-law of Gongsa Jigme Namgyal.[8]
But Pemberton’s report mentions that the Trongsa Penlop was Chogyal Tenzin, the
father of Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu.
The Pemberton’s Mission failed to achieve
anything. So the Mission went back through Buxa Duar route. The failure of the
Pemberton’s Mission was attributed to the civil strife being fought in the
country. In addition, the East India Company wanted Bhutanese to pay in Company’s
rupees instead of Deba/Deb rupees (Bhutanese coins) which was circulating in
Bhutan. [9]
Moreover, the company’s rupees
were not procurable in Bhutan or not a legal tender. A Bhutanese envoy accompanied captain
Pemberton to Calcutta to carry on negotiations but the Bengal Government
authority rejected as the company’s mission was failed due to the non-cooperation
provided by the Bhutanese leaders. [10]
Bhutan’s Deba coin[11]
½ Rupee - Narendra Narayan[12]
The Situation inside Bhutan
During this time of the year,
Choki Gyaltshen (2nd time) was the Desi of Bhutan. The Zhongar Dzongpon Chagpa
Sangye attacked the Punakha Dzong and removed the incumbent Desi Choki
Gyaltshen from the throne. Then he enthroned his elder brother Dorji Norbu as
the next Desi from Daga Penlop. This was the main reason behind why Bhutanese
authority did not allow the Pemberton and his team to proceed from Kengkhar to
Zhongar route to go to Punakha. Zhongar was his area and there was risk or
danger to travel from this route. For their safety, they were made to travel
from trouble free places. The trouble arose immediately after the departure of
the Pemberton’s Mission. The supporters of the previous Desi Choki Gyaltshen enthroned
Thimphu Dzongpon Tashi Dorji as their Desi. Desi Tashi Dorji ruled from Thimphu
while Desi Dorji Norbu ruled from Punkha.
Zhadrung Jigme Norbu from Dratmetse of Mongar was enthroned as the Dharma Raja at Punakha. He was around nine year of age. He received learning and training from his tutor Yongzin Pema Zangpo. His father Tenzin Chogyal, the then Trongsa Ponlop could not leave his son at Punakha in the midst of trouble. Tenzin Chogyal wanted to take away his son because he could foresee risk and danger for the life of his son. So they planned in such a way that nobody knows that the young Zhabdrung was being taken away from the Dzong area. First they made the Zhabdrung’s tutor Yongzin Pema Zangpo to go as if to do ritual. The Young Zhabdrung was put into a leather bag as if vegetables and being taken out from the Dzong premises.
While negotiating the peace
between the two factions, as Trongsa Penlop Tenzin Chogyal sided with the Desi
Tashi Dorji, he was assassinated by the Desi Dorji Norbu’s men. The Young
Zhabdrung Rinpoche went to Thimphu and lived in the Tashichhodzong.
The outrages continued by
Bhutanese. In 1839, Bhutanese carried off eleven British subjects. With an
offer to farm the Deb Raja’s right in the duars, captain F. Jenkins sent a
native messenger to Bhutan through his own initiative. But the messenger was
detained by Bhutanese. The local Bhutanese authorities in the duars also
stopped paying tributes altogether.
Therefore, the two duars of
Kalling and Boori Guma were taken possession by the British.[13]
But Mackenzie and Lahiri write three duars of Kalling, Boori Guma and Ghaukolla
were taken by British. In 1841 British received a letter each from the Bhutan
Deb Raja and Dharma Raja. Deb Raja in his letter expressed surprise at the poor
quality of articles reported to have been sent by his officers as tribute. He
could not understand "why these were not rejected and returned. However, he
assured the British Government that he had given strict orders to his agents in
the duars to be more careful in future in the selection of the articles of
tribute. In this letter, the Deb Raja also promised to pay the arrears by
installments.
The Dharma Raja also wrote in the
same tone and requested the British Government to release the attached duars.
The Deb Raja also sent two messengers at this time instructing them to pay the
arrears accumulated and also to settle the pending boundary dispute. In his
letter he apologized that owing to the confusion prevailing in the hills, His
Highness failed to send the messenger earlier as requested by the British Government.
The agent of the Governor General
of the North East Captain F. Jenkins suggested to the Governor General Lord Auckland
that British may send another Mission to Bhutan to resolve the dispute
peacefully. But the Governor General Lord Auckland did not accept the
recommendation of the agent saying that there would be no use of sending
Mission to Bhutan because the situation was still not settled. The Governor
General gave warning that anarchy situation in Bhutan is affecting the British.
If such situations continued indefinitely, British would compel to occupy the
duars without reference to the Deb Raja.
As the situations did not
improve, the Bengal Government ordered the agent to annex the whole Assam duars
permanently. British gave the reason that the annexation of the Duars was to
maintain peace and order. There was no action of any sort from Bhutan. British
Government paid Rs. 10,000/- annually as the compensation for the loss of
Revenue.
Bhutan got Assam duars from the
Ahom Kings and in return Bhutan gave tribute in kinds to the Ahom Kings. This
system functioned well between Bhutan and Ahom Kings. The conflicts arose in
Assam duars after the annexation of Assam by the Company only. The company
blamed the Bhutanese for the situations in Assam Duars. The Bhutanese actions
in the Assam Duars were taken as pretext by the company to take over the Assam
Duars from Bhutanese. William Bentinck, the then Governor General sent Jenkins
in 1832 to Assam to examine and report on the resources of the Assam after its
annexation of Assam in 1826.[14]
Jenkins reported that Assam was suitable for the plantation of tea, where
commercial tea plantation could be carried out in Assam. Then Tea Committee was
formed to carry out the tea cultivation in Assam and by 1859, about 4000 acres
of land were under the cultivation of tea and outputs of 76000 pounds of tea
were produced.[15] The
Company found the land in the Duars was fertile to cultivate any crops and
found a great potential to generate revenue for the Company.
At the same time, in the west,
there was conflict between Gorkha and Sikkim over a track of land. Sikkim
approached the company for help. William Bentinck took opportunity and sent
Captain Herbert the deputy Surveyor General for a further survey of the area.
The report of Captain Herbert was favourable and William Bentinck imagined that
the Company would get considerable political benefit from the acquisition of
the hill territory. So, in 1830 William Bentinck sent Captain Lloyd to open
negotiations with the Chogyal Tsurphu Namgyal of Sikkim for the transfer of
Darjeeling to the Company.[16]
It was very clear that the company under the Governorship of William Bentinck
followed the forward policy to take over Assam from Bhutan and Darjeeling from
Sikkim.
There were two Desis in the
country. Dorji Norbu ruled from Punakha while Tashi Dorji ruled from Thimphu.
When Dorji Norbu passed away in 1847, Tashi Dorji became the next full fledge
Desi of Bhutan. His reign lasted till 1850.
The next Desi was Wangchug
Gyalpo. After few months of Wangchug
Gyalpo became Desi, there was conflict in Paro between the former Paro Ponlop
Agay Haap and Paro Ponlop Yonten Rinchen or Tazi Dronma. Desi Wangchug Gyalpo
was found impartial in dealings with the two Ponlops. Therefore, he was
assassinated by the Thinphu Dzongpon Tshewang and Lamai zimpon Sonam Dendup.
Then the Wangdu Dzongpon Chagpa
Sangye challenged the Thimphu Dzongpon. A battle was fought at Luntenphu.
Thimphu Dzongpon was killed in the battle at Lungtenphu. Wangdu Dzongpon Chagpa
Sangye attempted to ascend on the throne as the next Desi but his candidature
was rejected by the central monk body. The supporters of the Zhabdrung Jigme
Norbu were enthroned as the next Desi in 1850. He served as Desi till 1852. When Desi
Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu retired due to illness, Chagpa Sangye seized the throne
and became next Desi himself. Then the supporters of Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu and
the central monk body requested assistance from Trongsa Ponlop Tshokey Dorji.
Trongsa Ponlop sent his forces led by Dronyer Jigme Namgyal. Trongsa Dronyer
Jigme Namgyal killed the Desi’s champion fighter Mikthoem at Norbugang. After
this event, Jigme Namgyal left to Trongsa leaving the Desi on the throne. But
shortly afterwards Desi was killed by his staunch enemy the former Paro Ponlop
Agay Haap by offering the contaminated small pox silk gho to Desi in 1852.
In 1854, the Forty Second Desi
Jamgon Trulku Jamyang Tenzin (reign: 1854-1855) sent intimation that the
compensation paid was insufficient and demanded the increase of the amount. The
Bhutanese officials include the Dewangiri Dzongpon and the brother of the
Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu. He was Sonam Dendup. He served as the Zimpon of the
Zhabdrung. When British refused to comply, Bhutan carried out raids on Assam.
The British Government reported
to the Zhabdrung and Desi on the outrages committed by the Bhutanese officials.
Zhabdrung and Desi sent an order to the Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal to pay
double the estimated value of the property looted by the Dewangiri Dzongpon and
his associates. Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal also wrote a letter to the British
Government Agent in Assam. Trongsa Penlop informed the Agent of the Bengal
Government in Assam that since Dewangiri Dzongpon was responsible for the
atrocities committed in the British territory, he was removed from his office.
Further Trongsa Penlop also wrote that British Government in Assam also bears
half of the fine imposed to Dewangiri Dzongpon.[17]
In 1856, Lord Dalhousie, the
Governor General replied to the Trongsa Penlop that if the compensation for the
plundered properties carried out by Dewangiri Dzongpon was not paid to British,
the amount would be deducted from the annual compensation owed to the Bhutanese
Government.[18]
Governor General further warned
Bhutan that any further outrages would lead to the permanent annexation of the
duars on the Bengal side also.[19]
There was no effect on Bhutan. Year after year fresh violations and incidents
took place. For example, Arun Singh the Zamindar of Guma Duar was forcibly
carried off into Bhutan. The British Governor requested the return of Arun
Singh and those culprits should be punished. Bhutan claimed that Arun Singh was
a Bhutanese but left Bhutan and resided in Assam for sometimes only. So, Desi
Jamgon Trulku Jamyang Tenzin replied that Arun Singh could not be sent back to
British Government.
During this time of the year, the
East India Company was facing revolt from the Indian native people. This was
called the Mutiny of 1857 which was considered by the Indain people as the
first war of independence. The company postponed their actions of sending
mission to Bhutan and attacking Bhutan.
After the Mutiny of 1857, the
administration of India was directly placed under the Queen’s rule. The East
India Company was replaced by the British India Government.The title of
Governor General was also replaced by Viceroy. The Lord Hasting was the first
Viceroy of British India Government. The Bengal Government would be headed by
Leiutenant Governor.
After the Desi Jamgon Trulku
Jamyang Tenzin passed away, Wangdi Phodrang Dzongpon Kuenga Palden became the
next Desi of Bhutan. The Thimphu Dzongpon Uma Dewa revolted against the Desi.
He asked help from Trongsa Ponlop Jigme Namgyal. The combined forces of Thimphu
Dzongpon and Trongsa Penlop defeated the Desi Kunega Palden. Then Uma Dewa
became the next Desi of Bhutan. But very soon, ex-Desi Kuenga Palden
assassinated the Desi Uma Dewa and he declared himself as the next Desi of
Bhutan.
In the same year, a battle was fought at
Samkhar in Bumthang between the Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal and Jakar Dzongpon
Tsondrue Gyaltshen. The real cause for the battle was that in 1853, when Jigme
Namgyal became Trongsa Penlop there was an understanding that after three years
Jigme Namgyal should vacate the post of Trongsa Penlop to Jakar Dzongpon
Tsondrue Gyaltshen who was the son of former Trongsa Ponlop Tshokey Dorji. After serving three years as Trongsa Penlop
Jigme Namgyal continued to be a Trongsa Penlop and there was no sign of
vacating the post of Trongsa penlop to Tsondrue Gyaltshen. Therefore, Tsondroe
Gyaltshen took to an arm rebellion against the Jigme Namgyal. The Je Khenpo and
monk body mediated between the two parties and peace was established in the
country.
After the completion of the
annexation of the Assam duars, British Indian Governemnt turned to the Bengal
Duars. In 1860, British annexed the Province of Fallacotta which belonged to
Bhutan. In 1862, Governor General Lord Eglin sent a messenger called Mokundo
Singh to the Bhutanese Court to inform the proposed Mission to Bhutan. The
messenger should ask the Bhutanese authorities that by which route and when the
Mission should enter into Bhutan. The Bhutanese Government should also arrange
the necessary protocol to receive the British Mission to Bhutan.
The messenger was delayed by the
frontier officers and he could return only in December 1862. He brought a
letter from the Desi. In the letter, Desi Nadzi Passang (reign: 1861-1863)
wrote that he would send two or three messengers who would settle the disputes
according to his order. However, no messengers came to Assam from Bhutan. This
was because of the internal strife going on between the Punakha Dzongpon
Darlung Tobgye’s party and Desi’s party.
Meanwhile, news reached to the
office of British India that Bhutanese were preparing to attack Ambari Falakata
and an attack on Darjeeling was apprehended. Therefore, troops were sent to the
Darjeeling and Jaipalguri frontiers. Troops included two companies of His
Majesty’s 38th foot and a wing of the 10th native infantry of Dinapore and a
wing of ireregular calvary of Oudh.[20]
This arrangement was done because in the previous year only Darjeeling was
annexed to British India from Sikkim Raja. Bhutan and Tibet objected and
accused Sikkim for selling the tract of Darjeeling to the East India Company.[21]
Tibetan were worried about the political development in Sikkim and Tibetan did
not allow the Sikkim Raja to use the traditional rights of grazing on the
Tibetan border and Bhutanese attempted to assassinate the Sikkim Raja on his
way to Tibet for pilgrimage.[22]
But Bhutanese source did not mention about the assassination of the Sikkim Raja
while confirmed the making of the preparations to attack Sikkim.[23]
The East India Company got rights
to cut timber from the forests in the Bengal Duars of Bhutan by the
Anglo-Bhutanese treaty of 1774. For sometimes, peace was prevailed in the
Bengal Duars with the exception of the conflict over Magahrat between Bhutan
and Cooch Behar Raja.
After the settlement of the
Magahrat issue in favour for Bhutan, a long period of peace was prevailed in
the region. But the conflicts started later in the boder areas of the Bengal
Duars. The conflicts included daicoty, kidnapping and outrages. British India
blamed Bhutan for the conflicts and looked for ways and means to punish
Bhutanese people. Actually border disputes were caused by both the Bhutanese
people as well as by the subjects of the British India. Some subjects of
British India stole cattle and sold to Bhutanese.[24]
The whole region of both Bengal
and Assam Duars were found to be fertile for the cultivation of tea, indigo,
cotton etc. As mentioned before, particularly Bengal Duars was the source of
timber extraction for the British India. At the end of the Duar war 1865, on
estimation of the value of the land in the Bengal and Assam Duars, British
India found out that the land could generate annual revenue of about a lakh and
a half of rupees or (£15000) per annum.[25]
Punakha Dzongpon Darlung Tobgye
was expected to be appointed as Wangdue Phodrang Dzongpon, when Nadzi Passang,
the former Wangdue Phodrang Dzongpon became Desi. The new Desi Nadzi Passang
appointed his nephew Sigyel who was Wangdue Phodrang Zimpon as the new Wangdue
Phodrang Dzongpon. Then the Punakha Dzongpon Darlung Tobgye revolted against
the Desi. He was aided by Zhung Kalyon Kawang Mangkhrel and Zhung Dronyer Drang
Tashi.
The Desi was supported by Wangdue
Phodrang Dzongpon Sigyel, Thimphu Dzongpon Karma Drugyel and the Paro Penlop
Nyima Dorji.
In the course of the war, Punakha
Dzongpon Darlung Tobgye requested helps from Jakar Ponlop Tsundru Gyaltshen and
Trongsa Ponlop Jigme Namgyal.
Both the Jakar and Trongsa penlop
marched towards the Thimphu after crossing Dochula fully prepared for war.
Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal
killed the Shar Drungpa Chudrag Gyamtsho who was leading the army of Wangdue
Phodrang Dzongpon. Then the Wangdue Phodrang Dzongpon Sigyel and Thimphu
Dzongpon requested Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal to pardon them and not to kill
them where Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal agreed on conditions that they should
not leave the country.
Meanwhile, the Monk Body mediated
and peace was established in the country. Nyima Dorji remained as Paro Penlop,
while Darlung Tobgye became the Wangdue Phodrang Dzongpon, Dronyer Drang Tashi
was appointed as Punakha Dzongpon and Zhung Tapon Khasar Tobgye who was a
distance relative of Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyal was made Thimphu Dzongpon.
The Desi Nadzi Passang retired in
1863 and succeeded by Tshewang Sithub (reign: 1863-64). There was a brief
trouble again in the country. Since Tshewang Sithub was from the lower Wang
valley, the people of the upper Wang valley were not happy with enthronement of
the Tshewang Sithub. The people of the upper Wang valley appointed Tshultrim
Yonten (reign: 1864-1864) as the new Desi. However, the Tshultrim Yonten passed
away. At the same time, Tshewang Sithub also retired from the throne.
Therefore, Kargyu Wangchug (reign: 1864-1864) became the next Desi of Bhutan. Desi
Kargyu Wangchug was briefly followed by Desi Tsondru Pekar (1864-1864).
Tshewang Sithub (reign: 1864- 1870) became Desi second time. It was during his
time that Bhutan received a letter mentioning the imminent coming of the Ashley
Eden Mission.
Since there were no messengers
being deployed either to Calcutta or Assam as per the promise made by the Desi,
British decided to send Ashley Eden as envoy to Bhutan in September 1863.
[1]
Singh (1988), Labh (1974)
[2]
Pemberton (1838)
[3]
Tshewang (1994)
[4]
Pemberton (1838)
[5]
Griffith (1838)
[6]
Lahiri (1954)
[8]
Tshewang (1994)
[9]
Rhodes, Nicholas ( ) Deba rupee is
lower than that of Narainee rupee.
[10]
Lahiri (1954)
[11]
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/
[12]
https://en.numista.com/catalogue.cooch_behar_princely-1.html
[13]
Tshewang (1994)
[14]
Bhuyan (1949)
[15]
Gait, 1906)
[16]
Singh (1988)
[17]
Tshewang (1994)
[18]
Tshewang (1994) and Mackenzie (1884)
[19]
Mackenzie (1884)
[20]
Buckland, (1901), Dash (1947)
[21]
Arora (2008)
[22]
Singh (1988)
[23]
Tshewang (1994)
[24]
Singh (1988)
[25]
Buckland (1901)
[26]
Tshewang (1994)
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