IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE GLOBE. 7 



the general prevalence of these and their allies, the nettles, is a 

 remarkable feature in the botany of the Sikkim Himalaya, up to 

 nearly 10,000 feet. Of figs there were here five species, some 

 bearing eatable and very palatable fruit of enormous size, others 

 with the fruit small and borne on prostrate leafless branches, which 

 spring from the root of the tree and creep along the ground. A 

 small wild mulberry tree is common in these situations, with 

 three species of nettle,* several of Bcehmeria,\ Procris, Trophis, 

 Celtis, and Conocephalus. Of shrubs there are Randia, Gar- 

 denia, Rondeletia, Citrus ; Rotlera, and other Euphorbiacece, 

 some Sapindacece and Terebinthaceee. ScitaminecB were not 

 above ground ; grasses are rare, as indeed are most monocotyle- 

 donous plants at this season. Of terrestrial OrchidecB there are 

 several species : in the valleys, Dendrobium takes the place of 

 Ccelogyne, the common epiphytical genus at Darjiling. 



A troublesome dipterous insect (the " Peepsa ") swarms on 

 the banks of the streams ; it is very small and black, floating like 

 a speck before the eye — its bite leaves a small spot of extravasated 

 blood under the cuticle, very irritating if not opened. 



We crossed the Little Rungeet river at 4 p.m., and found its 

 temperature 69°, and that of the air 75°. 



Thence we ascended another steep spur from the base of Tonglo, 

 and camped. The night was calm and clear, with faint cirrus, 

 but no dew. A thermometer sunk 2 feet in rich vegetable mould 

 stood at 78° two hours after it was lowered, and the same on the 

 following morning. This probably indicates the mean tempera- 

 ture of the month at that spot, where, however, the dark colour 

 of the exposed loose soil must raise the temperature considerably. 



May 20th. — Temperature at sunrise 67° ; morning bright, 

 clear over-head, but tlie mountains threatening. Darjiling, 

 perched on a ridge 5000 feet above us, had a singular appearance. 

 We descended from the spur to a narrow ravine, choked with 

 Calami, figs, and the WalUchia, and crossing a stream ascended 

 the Simonbong spur of Tonglo, so called from a small village 

 and Lama convent of that name on its summit. They cultivate 

 here rice, murwa {Eleusine), millet, yam, brindjal, Solanicni me- 

 longena, bhang, Cannabis saliva, buckwheat of two species, 

 fennel and cummin, &c. A white-flowered Rue, Ruta albifiora, 

 is wild at elevations of 3000 to 7000 feet, and is sometimes culti- 

 vated ; it is used for all diseases of fowls, mixed with their food. 

 Celastrus, Myrsine, Embelia, Ardisia, and M(Esa all occur 

 at 3000 to 6000 feet, and we passed through groves of a hand- 

 some shrubby purple Tephrosia in full flower. Near the top of 



* Of two of these cloth is made, and of a third cordage. The tops of 

 two are eaten, as are several species of Procris ? 

 t Two species yield a fibre : one is the " Poa." 



