Shedding some light on the history, language and literature of the Lepchas

One of the main purposes of this book is to show, in facsimile, Lepcha texts from earlier periods. From these documents it is possible to see what changes have taken place in the shape of letters and also to draw attention to the artistry with which some of the texts have been written. A particularly fine example is Kazi Gorok's appeal to Capt. Lloyd. Another fine example, though less decorative, is that written by Dr. Hooker's Lepcha treasurer.

Two printed texts in Lepcha have been included. One of these dates back to 1849, a translation by Start and Niebel of Genesis and part of Exodus, printed by the Baptist Mission Press, in Calcutta. The other, also a translation passage from the Bible, was made in 1899, for the Linguistic Survey of India, by David Macdonald, an Anglo-Lepcha (see 'An Anglo-Lepcha').

The oldest texts are hand-written: two rather roughly written reports on the murder of most of the members of the Prime Minister Bolot's family and the beautiful appeal from Ilam by Kazi Gorok. These were discovered in the National Archive in Delhi by the late Dr. M.Aris, and copied for me, in spite of his extreme ill health. The 'murder' texts are of considerable historical interest for the Lepchas of Sikkim: they led to the claim for the occupation of Darjeeling by the East India Company, through Colonel Lloyd (see the 'Lepcha Text' supported by a Hindustani translation and also the Lepcha proclamation with translation into three other languages)

The three remaining essays are my own: they deal with Lepcha personalities and heroes, especially the two Lepchas who are recognized as having heroic status: Thikung Men Salong, for the Sikkimese Lepchas, and Gebu Achok for the Tamsangmu Lepchas.