Navel of the Demoness : Tibetan Buddhism and Civil Religion in ...

98 the navel of the demoness
Thak court in March 1929 (the Nepalese date is Phagun BS 1985) to conclude a
bond of reconciliation with Tshug.
(13) The peace with Gelung has held, but Te and Tshug are soon at odds
again. Later in 1929 (BS 1986—the month is not given) a Tepa files a complaint
against four Tshugwas for beating him up, and stealing his turban, cash,
and jewellery while he was returning to his village (Karmacharya n.d. 3.29,
3.30).
(14) Either as a consequence or as a prelude to the last complaint, Tshug
formally accuses Te, in August 1929, of stealing dung to the value of 76 rupees
4 paise from Tshug’s pastures (Karmacharya n.d. 3.32, 3.33).
Boundary disputes have arisen on a number of occasions since the period
covered by these documents, but the records have not been preserved in the Te
archives.
A close understanding with the rest of the Shöyul was, as we saw in
chapter 2, essential in Te’s dealings with southern Baragaon and Lo, but it is
clear from the records examined here that the greatest threat has always been
presented by the people on Te’s very doorstep. Te was at times hard pressed by
its neighbours, and on at least one occasion its very existence was menaced
by those who were supposed to be its nearest allies. Now that we have blocked
in the historical and political environment surrounding Te, we are in a better
position to understand what lies within the territorial boundaries of the
community.