APPENDIX I
THE LAWS OF BHUTAN
A Brief Outline of the Laws and Rules laid down for the Government of Bhutan
The form of government is twofold, viz., spiritual and temporal.
1. The spiritual laws are said to resemble a silken knot—i.e., easy and light at first, but gradually becoming tighter and tighter.
2. The temporal or monarchical laws resemble a golden yoke—i.e., growing heavier and heavier by degrees.
This twofold law was composed by a spirit of perfect disinterestedness.
This twofold system of government established in Bhutan rendered the country happy and prosperous, taking for example the system of the great Saint-King of Tibet, whose very first prohibition was against the taking of life, a crime punished by the realisation of blood-money in case of homicide, and damages or fine in case of attempted homicide. A penalty of hundredfold repayment was realisable in cases of robbery or theft of church or monastic property, eightyfold repayment in cases of stealing the king’s property, eightfold repayment in cases of theft amongst subjects. Adultery was punishable by fines. Falsehood was punishable by the offender being put to oath in a temple, and the invocation of tutelar deities and gods. Over and above the prevention of the ten impious acts, all were required to regard parents with filial respect and affection, and elders with reverence, to receive with gratitude any kind action done by others to themselves, and, lastly, to avoid dishonesty and the use of false measures, which constitute the sixteen acts of social piety.
Although Bhutan had been once effectually brought under the beneficent influence of strict law and justice, it subsequently, on
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