274 TO DAEJILING : FIEST HIMALAYAN JOUENEY 



more importance to me) I shall lose the familiar landmarks 

 of mountains etc. by which I should easily map my route, 

 had I gone through Sikkim. I carry, however, a good time- 

 keeper of my own and another chronometer lent me by Major 

 Crommelin, by which I shall be able to take Longitudes 

 with accuracy sufficient to determine my position approxi- 

 mately. As the day closes at 6 P.M. there is plenty of time to 

 observe the stars, during the clear nights which I hope are 

 coming ; I say ' hope,' for October is called ' Darjeeling's 

 Heavenly Month ' ; though it has been so rainy and cloudy 

 up to the present time that I could not have started for the 

 mountains, if permission had been granted, 4 weeks ago. 

 Indeed the rains are not yet over : they are singularly late 

 this year, which would have caused me heavy disappoint- 

 ment if I had been allowed sooner to travel Northward. The 

 double evils of want of earlier permission, and of earlier 

 fine weather, thus mitigate one another, on the principle, 

 I suppose, that two Blacks do make a White, a neutral tint, 

 at any rate. 



On October 27 the party set out, fifty-six strong, including 

 body-servant, collectors, shooter, stuffer, boys to climb trees 

 and change the plant papers, and coolies, with Nimbo, the 

 sturdy headman, and a Havildar in command of the escort, 

 who carried additional weight of authority as being also tax- 

 gatherer of the district through which they were to pass ; 

 returning to Darjeeling on January 19. It is interesting to 

 note that the cost to Hooker was about 100. His friends 

 pressed every assistance upon him. Campbell superintended 

 the supplies for the men ; there were personal stores from 

 Hodgson, warm things from the Campbells ; while 



My friends, the Miillers, have rated my timekeepers, 

 overhauled all my Instruments, furnished me with some 

 capital tin boxes, and done more useful and necessary jobs 

 for me than I can remember. They have also kindly 

 promised to work out all my observations of Longitudes, 

 Latitude and elevations, as I shall send them to Darjeeling. 

 So you see I am admirably cared for, and have only the more 

 to dread failure when so much kindness and trouble have 

 been expended upon me. 



