272 TO DAKJILING : FIEST HIMALAYAN JOUENEY 



I have no fear of managing one and all when the Eajah's 

 own myrmidons are out of sight, for the natives like us and 

 profit by our advance. 



The present plan was to go five marches due north, to 

 Jongri, then strike westwards over the spurs of Kinchinjunga, 

 and thence north-west to the Nepaulese passes into Tibet. 



I cannot tell you how comfortable I feel at the prospect 

 of realizing the fondest dream I ever harbored as a traveller 

 and botanist after all my toils with Lord D., tickling Camp- 

 . bell, bullying the Eajah. I have been pooh-poohed by one 

 party, looked on as a visionary by another, and a very useful 

 tool by a third, who say, you have not a ghost of a chance 

 yourself of getting Government or the Eajah's permission, 

 but you will prepare the way for a future. Lord Auckland, 

 Campbell, Falconer, Hodgson, worst of all Sir Herbert 

 Maddock whom Hodgson tried all his friendship (and they 

 are most intimate) to move, all looked on with no hope and 

 some of them giving me the comfortable assurance that 

 my efforts would do good, though not to myself. Sir H. 

 Maddock luckily went to Ceylon ; had he got Lord D.'s 

 ear it would have been all up ; he has now returned to be 

 President in Council in Lord D.'s absence. 



Campbell has certainly wrought the battle well, with 

 great forbearance and firmness, and is now as thoroughly 

 devoted to me as it is possible to be. Mrs. Campbell is 

 rummaging her larder and store-room for my comfort, 

 making a veil for my face, providing me with fleecy hosiery, 

 &c. Certainly Campbell has fought behind the Ajacian 

 shield of the Governor-General, the tone of whose letters 

 shows as kind an interest in me as determination to forward 

 my aims, and C. has also had a heavy rowel in the shape 

 of your teasing son himself. However I take your good 

 motto and ' never look the gift horse in the mouth.' 



Now I have written a famously egotistical letter ; we 

 bargained for unreserved correspondence and you see I 

 fulfil my promise. I only beg that you will make no public 

 use of this which holds out such bright prospects of success 

 towards the snow in which, if I am disappointed, much 

 chagrin will accompany my reverting to the contents of 

 this same letter. 



