1 7 ‘Trans. Roy. As.
2 Soc. 1824, p. 52.
3 8 Moorer. i, 332.
4 9 As. Jour. 1835,
5 Sept. Dec. 177.
6 ' i, 336,
7 12 LADAKH.
8 physics, mysticism, morality, juggling, and idolatry.” The
9 transmigration of souls is received as a prominent tenet. The
10 Deity is \orshipped in the character of a trinity, but adoration
11 is paid \ great number of inferior beings, represented by a
12 variety of curious idols. The general character of Lamaism
13 appears to be more gentle than that of many other superstitions,
14 and under its influence the terrific Moguls and other Tartars
15 have become a comparatively mild and peaceable race. In Tibet
16 all set aside for the service of religion profess celibacy, whether
17 they be Jamas, who may be considered the secular clergy, ge-
18 lums, or monks, or anis, or nuns. “The number of these persons
19 bears an enormous proportion to the bulk of the community,
20 perhaps because, in such a climate, the demand for food and
21 raiment countervails in a great many individuals the other animal
22 desires. Moorcroft” states that nearly two-thirds of the pro-
23 ductive lands are appropriated to the support of the priesthood.
24 Such a state of society may be supposed to operate as a powerful
25 preventive check to the rapid increase of population in the
26 narrow and barren territory of Ladakh.
27 Previously: to the conquest of this country by the Sikhs, the
28 government was a simple despotism, which, during Moorcroft’s
29 residence, was administered by the Khalum, or prime minister of
30 the Rajah, who was himself but a mere pageant: at all times
31 the sovereign was liable to be deposed by the intrigues of the
32 influential lamas, and his place supplied by the next in hereditary
33 succession. ‘The revenue was not paid in money, the people
34 being bound to support the Rajah and his officers, not only by fur-
35 nishing provisions and all other things requisite for subsistence,
36 but serving as domestic as well as agricultural labourers. They
37 were likewise bound to take the field in case of collision with
38 neighbouring states. Gholaum Hyder® says, the “ troops are
39 mostly horsemen, armed with a few matchlocks, bows and arrows,
40 and swords, and may amount in all to 2,000 men; the infantry
41 may be about 1,200 men, armed with matchlocks, bows and ar-
42 rows, and swords.” They are incredibly cowardly, and so ill
43 armed that, according to Moorcroft,! on occasion of @ war with
44 their neighbours of Bultistan, the infantry had but one match-
45 lock for ten men and one sword for six. It is not therefore sur-
46 prising that Ladakh made no resistance to the troops of Gulab