A PICTURE OF THE TRAVELLER 287 



Ferns and Rhododendrons, brought in by another man, are 

 on the ground close to me. 



My dress was the puzzle, but it was finally agreed I should 

 be as I was when in my best, a Thibetan in the main, with 

 just so much of English peeping out as should proclaim me 

 no Bhotea, and as much of the latter as should vouchsafe my 

 being a person of rank in the character. So I have on a 

 large, loose, worsted Bhotea cloak, with very loose sleeves ; 

 it is all stripes of blue, green, white, and red, and lined with 

 scarlet. Enough is thrown back to show English pantaloons, 

 and my lower extremities cased in Bhotea boots. My shirt 

 collar is romantically loose and open, with a blue neckerchief, 

 which and my projecting shirt wrists, show the Englishman. 

 My cap is also Thibetan, and only to be described thus : 

 it is of pale gray felt, the upturned border stiff and bound 

 with thin, black silk ribbon. On the top is a silver-mounted 

 pebble, and a peacock's feather floats down my back. The 

 latter are marks of rank. (April 25, 1849.) 



The sketch, begun in February and finished during April 

 on Tayler's later visit to Darjiling, was sent to England that 

 Fitch might make a copy for Sir William. The copyist's prac- 

 tised hand improved to some extent on the workmanship ; but 

 in the interests of accuracy Hooker was constrained to write 

 home (January 30, 1850) : ' The stream of water and fruits 

 of Hodgsonia which Fitch has brought into the foreground are 

 doubtless improvements, though the latter are anachronisms 

 when coupled with Ehododendron flowers, the one being the 

 offspring of May and the other of September.' Later, a 

 third version of the scene, more successful both in composition 

 and in technique, was made from Fitch's water-colour by Mr. 

 Frank Stone. From the former, which is in the possession 

 of Dr. Charles Hooker, of Cirencester, the accompanying 

 illustration has been reproduced. 1 



The big dog introduced into the picture was Hooker's faithful 

 companion during his second journey to the snows till the 

 unhappy day when, owing to his incorrigible habit of running 

 on to the slippery bamboo bridges, he fell into a torrent and 



1 Mr. Stone's version belongs to Lady Hooker, Fitch's copy to Capt. J. S. 

 Hooker. 



