Sikkim
a native State in the Himalayas, between Nepal and Bhutan, in po litical connection with the government of Bengal; area 2,818 square miles. It is important as containing the most direct trade routes from India into Tibet, which have hitherto been kept closed by the jealous influence of the Chinese Government. The ruling family is Buddhist in religion and of Tibetan descent. In 1836 the sanitarium of Darjeeling was ceded to the British in consideration of a payment at first of $3,000, now of $6,000, per annum.
In recent years much has been done to develop the transit trade with Tibet. The lieutenant-governor of Bengal has had repeated interviews with the rajah and his minister. The capital is at Tumlung from November to May; for the rest of the year it is removed to Chumbi, on the are rice, Indian corn, millet, oranges, tea, and cotton cloth; the minerals are lime and copper. Pop. about 88,000.