A LEVEE AGAINST OBSTBUCTION 273 



I never mention Bent ham, Harvey, Berkeley, &c., in 

 my letters, nor have written to them ; I still intend to, 

 but know that you freely communicate all such intelligence 

 as this is, and as from me. Also please send this to Darwin 

 whom, as not being a botanist, you may forget. Best love 

 to all. 



Your most affectionate Son, Jos. D. HOOKER. 



P.S. The Sikkim authorities object to the Goorkha 

 guard and are silenced by being told that they are my men 

 and that I won't leave them in the lurch. This shows what I 

 expected, that the presence of the Goorkhas is a grand check. 



Hooker did not mean to be deprived of this lever against 

 passive obstruction. Though more evasions followed, the 

 sequel appears in a letter to Miss Henslow, October 26, 1848. 



Whatever the Kajah's reasons may be for objecting to 

 let these Ghoorkas enter Sikkim (and his fear may have 

 some good foundation), he has acted with bad faith towards 

 me ; and he probably did so because he was aware that he 

 could throw no insurmountable obstacles in my way, so 'long 

 as I had a party of these Hill People in my interest. It is 

 highly likely that the myrmidons of his Sikkim Highness 

 had received orders to take me two or three days' marches 

 by a wrong road, perhaps to where the rivers were impass- 

 able ; then they would have shrugged their shoulders and 

 said, * We are as sorry as you can be, Sir, but what can 

 we do ? ' And the consequent delays would cost me the 

 season, etc. Meanwhile the Nepalese Guard came forward, 

 offering to undertake the responsibility of conducting me 

 to the Thibet Passes through their own country, if I chose ; 

 after which I might return by Sikkim, or by the way I went, 

 according to my pleasure. 



This offer was so handsome, and any intention of going 

 through Sikkim (even if it were desirable or feasible) without 

 this Nepalese Guard (which had been so promptly sent for 

 me) would have been to put such a slight upon them that I 

 instantly closed with the proposition, and am now all ready 

 for the journey. I go due West from hence to and across 

 the frontier of Nepaul, and then North to the Western shoulder 

 of Kinchinjunga, and the Thibetan Passes. By following 

 this course I shall occupy some days longer, and (what is of 



