START OF THE SECOND JOURNEY 291 



immediate leave to Dr. Thomas Thomson, Hooker's old friend 

 and fellow-student, the explorer of the North-western Hima- 

 layas, to join in this Sikkim expedition. He had, indeed, 

 three months' sick leave which he was about to take at Simla, 

 but his regular six months' leave was not due till the autumn. 

 This he planned to claim immediately after rejoining his 

 regiment in the Punjaub, and so share the final trip to Assam 

 and the Khasia Hills. 



A start was made on May 3, with a larger travelling camp 

 than originally expected. 



They are 42 in all ; 10 are soldiers, 5 are Hodgson's 

 shooters, &c., 10 are Lepchas of my own, the rest Sikkim 

 Bhoteas. Only two or three have ever been to the Snows, 

 but all seem active, willing, and cheerful. 



From his second camp he writes further : 



Everything promises happily for the success of this 

 my present expedition, thanks to Hodgson and Campbell, 

 whose kindness exceeds all I can describe. How far I may 

 be able to proceed is very problematical, for the best 

 collection of charts and routes will not reveal to me whither 

 I am going. The soldiers inspire confidence in my people, 

 and that is all I want. My own followers appear excellent 

 fellows. To-day they accompanied me in a march which 

 tii*ed even my unloaded self, and though the weather is 

 terribly hot, they uttered not a murmur. 



The villagers everywhere showed themselves kind and civil. 



I have just been accosted by an enormously fat Lama, 

 with a grand present of eggs, &c. The kindness of these 

 simple mountaineers is very grateful, and their civil speeches 

 quite graceful. They hope you will not fall ill, are sorry 

 their roads are so indifferent, apologise for not bringing 

 fowls (the priests say this) ' because they must not take 

 life ' — say they will hear of your progress in safety with 

 pleasure, and hope to see you en route home again, to stay 

 with them. A small joke convulses them with laughter, 

 and the expected ' backsheesh ' is always received with many 

 thanks. 



