208 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. IX, 



The fragrant spikenard (Nardostachys Jatamansi) is plentiful on Tankra, 

 and the Scrophularineous plant, Picrcrhiza Kurrooa, intensely bitter when 

 chewed, is abundant about 14,000 feet, and is held in much repute as a febri- 

 fuge and tonic. The only woody plant above 15,000 feet is the humble 

 Diplarche pauciflora. 



I returned to Lachung, where I halted for a week to dry the numerous 

 specimens collected during the excursion to Tankra La, and also to make pre- 

 parations for a journey to the Donkia Pass at the head of the Lachung Valley, 

 and the most northern point I could reach in Sikkim. 



"We started on the 13th August, and arrived at Yeumtong the same day. 

 The path runs close to the west bank of the Lachung Eiver the whole distance. 

 About half way we crossed an enormous landslip which had partly buried a 

 large forest of Abies Webbiana and Larch. 



The interesting feature of this day's journey was the extensive Pine woods 

 through which we travelled. On the western slopes they grew down to the 

 verge of the stream, and every tree was festooned with long gray streamers of 

 the Lichen, Usnea barbata. I was told that, when reduced to great straits, the 

 Tibetans made use of this unpromising plant as food ; when boiled it was said 

 to be gelatinous and palatable, and as nourishing and life -sustaining as beef. 



We saw many tailless rats, but I was prevented from procuring specimens 

 by my desire to respect the superstitious notions of the Tibetans and Lepchas 

 regarding them. I was told, with every appearance of belief on the part of 

 my informants, that the killing of one of these animals was certain to be fol- 

 lowed by storms of snow or rain according to the season of the year, and many 

 instances of personal experience were related to me in corroboration of the 

 fact. The Tibetans are reminded of the near approach of winter when they 

 observe these rats busy themselves in preparing their winter quarters. 



The valley is wide as far as Yakcha ; it there narrows for a considerable 

 distance broadening into large swampy flats intersected with streams towards 

 Yeumtono'. The spurs on the western flank are precipitous, rocky and sterile, 

 supporting vegetation only at their sheltered bases, but forests clothe the 

 opposite side with their verdure. Every mountain mass in this region facing a 

 southerly direction in the least degree is, in summer, exposed to the full force 

 of the damp southerly winds laden with mist which blow with increasing vio- 

 lence as the day advances, to die away only at night. These continuous currents 

 rapidly disintegrate the surface, washing down the superincumbent earth and 

 wearing away rocks which become precipices or crags of fantastic shapes. 

 Vegetation, therefore, cannot find permanent foot-hold under such circum- 

 stances, and its abundance is confined to the sheltered flanks where a copious 

 rainfall is absorbed by the deep and fertile soil. 



The increase of 3,000 feet in elevation between Lachung Village and 

 Yeumtong causes the appearance of many new plants along the route. Com- 

 posites become more numerous and gregarious. Inula Hookeri beautifies dry 

 knolls with its densely leafy stems and large heads of yellow flowers, Erigeron 



