A BOTANICAL TOUR IN S1KKIM. 203 



but had been introduced by them from Nepal. The mountain top of Jongri, 

 which is admirably described by Sir J. D. Hooker, is formed of alternating 

 knolls and hollows ranging from 13 to 14,000 feet. Much of its surface is 

 covered with Rhododendron Anthopogon to the exclusion of other vegetation. 

 To the east of the camping ground is a wood of Rhododendrons, mostly 

 R. lanatum and R. campanulatum. About 12,500 feet Primula pulchra nourishes 

 on the rocks. 



After staying a few days at Jongri I marched down to Yoksun. For about 

 a mile the path runs eastward along Jongri, and then descends steeply for 

 7,000 fset, enabling one to pass in review the gradation of vegetation from 

 Alpine regions to the sub-tropical zone. A few gigantic Yew trees grow a 

 little above the Ratong. After crossing the Ratong, we travelled along the 

 slopes on its left bank by one of the most difficult and dangerous paths in 

 Sikkim to Yoksun. This place is unique from its peculiar formation amidst 

 such precipitous surroundings. The copse-wood which once enhanced the 

 beauty of the flat is now reduced to a gaunt gathering of pollarded and 

 charred trunks, but the beautiful little lake is still surrounded by forest trees. 

 Here, and everywhere in Sikkim at the same elevation, there are large areas 

 covered with Edgeworthia Gardneri. 



I halted for two days to allow my men to recuperate in such a congenial 

 climate. Polypodium rostratum, so rare in the Darjeeling district, is the 

 commonest fern here. As Mr. Gamble once told me that Mr. Levinge had 

 found it growing on the same rhizome with Drymoglossum carnosum, I 

 searched carefully for a confirmation of the fact, but I failed to find an 

 instance of it : indeed I did not perceive one plant of the latter species. 



Variety of ferns is a notable feature of Yoksun. The commonest are 

 Polypodium rostratum, P. memhranaoeum, P. lineare, P. Boothii, P. fissum, 

 P. amcenum, P. lachnopus, P. argutum, Nephrodium hirtipes, various varieties 

 of N. Filix-Mas, two forms of Aspidium aculeatum, one of A. auriculatum, 

 Oleandra neriiformis , Pteris aquilina, P. Wnllichiana. Of orchids I observed 

 Malaxu sikkimensis, Microstylis biloba, Ccelogyne ochracea, C. cristata, Otochilus 

 sp., Eria alba, Cymhidium Hoo^cerianum, Dendrobium chrysanthum, Saccolobium 

 calceolare and a species of Calanthe in leaf. Remusatia vivipa^a, Amorpho- 

 phallus sp., Ariscema speoiosum, Hedychium coronarium and Piper nepalensis 

 were common on the rocks. The principal trees are Erythrina ariorescens, 

 Castanopsis tribuloides, Pieris ovalifolia, and two species of Aralia. The 

 shrubby vegetation is composed of Mcesa rugosa, Edgeviorthia Gardneri, 

 Dichroa febrifuga, Camellia drupifera, and a few other species. The villagers 

 grow clumps of a Bambusa, and a few plants of Arundinaria Hookeriani have 

 recently been planted near the lake. This beautiful bamboo abounds in 

 Sikkim from 5 to 7,000 feet, and is the kind exclusively used for roofing 

 temples and houses. For this purpose the culms are cut into short lengths, 

 flattened out and laid on as shingles. These are said to be very durable and 

 to make perfectly watertight roofs. 



