IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE GLOBE. 17 



mountain), which had been cleared from jungle only eight months 

 before, was already fast getting choked with bamboo and various 

 trees. 



Upon the very top, though only about 500 feet above the flat, 

 the number of additional species was great, and all betokened a 

 rapid approach to the alpine region of the Himalaya, though 

 large forest trees still abounded. In order of prevalence the 

 trees are, — Rhododendrons of three species. (1.) i?. arboreum, 

 var. roseum, in large bushy trees, 40 feet high. These ramify 

 from the ground, the lower branches being long and spreading, 

 and the apices of all loaded with a superb scarlet inflorescence. 

 (2.) H. barbatum, a tree of nearly the same height, but not so 

 spreading ; flowers as copious and beautiful, but foliage brighter, 

 more luxuriant and handsomer. (3.) R. Falconeri, in point of 

 foliage the most superb of all the Himalayan species ; trunks in- 

 clined, 30 feet high, branching but little, bark very smooth and 

 papery. Branches naked, except at the apices, where clusters of 

 white flowers are borne ; the corollas are 10 cleft, and the stamens 

 numerous. Leaves 18 inches long, very thick, above deep green, 

 underneath wrinkled and covered with a rich, deep chesnut-brown 

 tonientum. Next in abundance to Rhododendrons are shrubs 

 of Limonia, Symplocos, and Hydrangea, forming small trees ; 

 there are still a few Magnolias, ^ery large Pyri, of three 

 species, and yew,* the latter 18 feet in circumference ; besides 

 these, Buddleia, not in flower, Picris, Andromeda, Olea, 

 Celastrus, Cerasus, and Daphne cannabina. A white flowered 

 rose, R. sericea,^ was very abundant, growing erect, its nu- 

 merous inodorous flowers pendent, apparently as a protection 

 from the dashing rair). Sphcerostemyna, Sabia, Stauntonia, and 

 Clematis montana ^ were the prevailing climbers. I met with 

 a cucurbitaceous plant at this great elevation, a Smilax and 

 Asclepiadeous geims. A currant was common, always grow- 

 ing epiphytically on the trunks of large trees. Two or tliree 

 species of Berberis and maple, I think, nearly complete the 

 list of woody plants. Amongst the herbaceous and smaller 

 shrubby plants were many of great interest, as a rhubarb, 

 and Aconitum i)almahim,\ a very pretty species, which, as well 



* The red bark of the yew is used as a dye, and for staining the fore- 

 heads of the Brahman Ghorkhas in Nepal. 



t This is the only species of rose occurring in Southern Sikkim. 



j Probably Bikh is yielded by various Aconita. The name of both the 

 Sikkim Aconites is Bikh-gniong, by Lepchas and Bhoteas, who do not dis- 

 tinguish the two species by the roots. Another far more powerful Bikh is 

 yielded by a plant of the order Composita, which I have gathered abun- 

 dantly at 10,000 and 9000 feet ; and it requires care to distinguish its root 

 from that of the Aconites. When mixed, the Bhoteas could not separate 

 them. 



VOL. VII. C , 



