338 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
far as the Frontier, which I knew to be two marches ahead, on a hill, 
called * Kongra Lama,’ and close to a Chinese guard. The Singtam 
Soubah behaved courteously to me; but, to draw me away from my 
purpose of entering Thibet, he represented the Rajah’s affection for me 
as boundless ;—nothing but extreme solicitude for my safety possessed 
his breast and actuated his conduct ;—if I were to be lost in a stream, 
—if evil of any kind befell me,—a shrine at Lhassa and annual worship 
were the least honours that would be decreed to my memory ; therefore 
he implored me to consult my own security and return to Darjeeling, 
e. The more civil he became, the more so was I. Still I declared 
that I was bound to say my instructions were so explicit, that I had no 
option but to remain where I was, waiting Dr.Campbell's (the Resident's) 
directions, which could not arrive sooner than twenty days. Tothis, my 
friend, well aware that our provisions had run short, grinned acqui- 
escence. He flattered himself that he should soon starve us out; but 
I knew, on my side, that the Rajah had allowed to the Soubah and his- 
coolies only six days’ food! My camp being pitched at an elevation 
of 11,500 feet, I had plenty of work,—lots of new plants to gather, 
observations to make, and I was as busy as possible all day long, for 
nine or ten days. The Soubah visited me every morning, and we had 
long conversations ; for he is an inteligent man, and has visited 
Lhassa, &e., and he told me frankly all he knew, and gave me much 
eurious information. Talking, one day, of the mountain chains, I 
asked him for a rude sketch of those bounding Sikkim. He called for 
a great sheet of paper and charcoal, and prepared to make his moun- 
tains with sand. I ordered RICE to be brought for the purpose, and 
though we had sore little, I strewed it carelessly about. The end 
was answered ; he stared at my unexpected abundance, and, after bid- 
ding him good-bye,—(it is the custom, as you are probably aware, to 
send your visitor away,)—I saw no more of my rice, —which looked omi- 
nous for the state of Ais granary. Soon after, he volunteered to take 
me a ride to Tungu, which everybody swore was across the border. I 
agreed, if my tent might go. ' He dared not allow it.’ Why? because 
it was in Cheen (Thibet); to which I replied, that having promised 
not to enter Cheen till the directions from Darjeeling arrived, I should 
wait till they came. Again he was nonplussed. Well, on the tenth 
day of my detention, it pleased Providence to afflict my tormentor with 
a fit of the colic, and he could not pay me his wonted daily visit; and 
