213 
Extracts from the private Letters of Dr. J. D. Hooxer, written during a 
Botanical Mission to INDIA. 
DARJEELING TO THE BORDERS OF BHOTAN. 
(Continued from p. 173.) 
Descending from Ging, the road passes the village of Badamtam, simi- 
lar to Ging in its houses and agriculture, though the houses are better, and 
therefore far less picturesque. Hereabouts the Gordonia commences, with 
Cedrela Toona, and various tropical genera, such as abound near Punka- 
barrie. The rocks are still gneiss, but of much harder texture, and 
containing more numerous and broader seams of quartz than at a 
greater elevation: they are often slaty, much contorted, with various 
dips. The heat and hardness of the rocks cause the streams to dry 
up on these abrupt hills, especially on this, the eastern slope. The 
water is hence conveyed along the sides of the path, in conduits, in- 
geniously made of bamboo, either split in half, with the septa removed, 
or, what is better, whole, except at the septum, which is removed 
through a lateral hole. The steepness and closeness of this valley 
(of the Rungmo river) rendered the heat intense. The Oak of this 
level (3,000 feet) and Chestnut, are both different from those which 
grow above, as are the Brambles. The drums are replaced by Caladiums. 
Tree-ferns cease below 4,000 feet, and the large Bamboo abounds. The 
Banana, too, is a different species, larger, though still it is one of the 
small kinds. Its fruit is quite uneatable, but the natives assure me 
it may be improved by transplanting. 
At about 2,000 feet, and ten or eleven miles distant from Darjeeling, 
we arrived at a low long spur, dipping down to the bed of the Rungeet, 
at its junction with the Rungmo. This is the boundary of the British 
ground, and there is a guard-house and a Sepoy or two at it. Here 
we halted, and pitched a small hill-tent, kindly lent me by Major 
Crommelin,* of Darjeeling, and which, as being carried on one man's 
back, was admirably suited for such excursions. It took the Lepchas 
* I have received a great deal of kindness from Major C., both in the loan of 
this tent, of books, and in the collecting of plants. He has, also, given me several 
nice things for the Museum, and lent me a charming coloured sketch of the Snowy 
Range, drawn by himself. 
