161 
Extracts from the private Letters of Dr. J. D. HOOKER, written during a 
Botanical Mission to INDIA. 
DARJEELING TO ToNGLO. 
(Continued from p. 151.) 
The descent was slippery and uncomfortable, from the wetness of 
the clay-banks and the occasional showers. At about 6,000 feet we 
left the region of rain and clouds, and here found both Balanophora 
and Monotropa pushing through the soil: the former is a new 
moncecious species, with the scaly leaves forming a cyathiform in- 
voluere half-way up the peduncle. I need not say how vastly pleased 
I was, at coming unexpectedly, and at such an elevation, upon a 
genus which had long engaged my close attention at home. I have 
since found the same species at 8,000 feet, the B. dioica at 7,500, 
and B. polyandra, Griff., and typhigera, Wall., at lower levels, but all 
within the temperate region, i. e., above 4,000 feet. 
We arrived at Simonbong by dark, and, our little tent being very 
wet, we begged accommodation from the Lama. Considering how jea- - 
lous these people are, and how averse they have shown themselves to 
intercourse with Europeans, we were agreeably disappointed at re- 
ceiving a civil affirmative,—not an invitation to his house, though, 
which was too poor for the reception of the first Europeans he had 
ever seen, but to the temple itself, which he placed at our service, 
without even locking the sacristy. A better tribute could not well 
be paid to the honesty of my Lepcha followers. He only begged us 
not to disturb his people, nor to allow the Hindoos of our party to 
smoke inside. : 
The Lama's temple is of wood, raised on posts, opening on a short 
stage at one gable, and with windows having sliding wood-shutters 
on each side of the upper-end, where the altars, &c., are. A piece 
of stone served for a fire-place at the door-end. The roof was very 
low-pitched, and there were neither tables nor chairs, nor other fur- 
niture, except a little settee and some shelves near the altar. The 
Lama is of Thibetan origin, born in Sikkim, and consecrated by the- 
high Lama priest of Changachelling, one of the principal convents in 
Sikkim, and which is always itself consecrated from Lhassa. He lives 
VOL. II. Y 
