A BOTANICAL TOUR IN SIKKIM. 215 



same was a contracted form of Gorucknath ; afterwards it was explained that 

 the meaning was " winding " in allusion to the winding route to the pass. 



Yaks are grazed from 14 up to 17,000 feet in this valley during the summer, 

 and at Sebu I found a large herd of cattle. 



From Sethang I returned to Lachung in two marches, arriving on the 8th 

 September. 



The time until the 14th was devoted to arranging and packing my collections 

 and luggage. We returned to Tumlong by the Teesta Valley path and arrived 

 there on the 20th September. 



Third Tour.— The Chola Range.— I left Tumlong on the 22nd September for 

 my third and last excursion. The first march was to Rungpo, elevation 6,000 

 feet, a halting stage of the Sikkim Rajas during their journeys to and from the 

 Chumbi Valley, their favourite summer resort. The path descends through 

 cultivated fields to the beds of two arms of the Ryott River which unite a little 

 further down. They are crossed by cane suspension bridges. The succeeding 

 ascent is steep, and passes through many fields of dry-ground rice and millet. 

 An edible variety of Job's tears (Coix lachryma) is grown near water-courses. 

 The whole valley is thickly populated, and the inhabitants practise a careful 

 system of cultivation. 



An oak (Quercus semecarpifolia) is common at Rungpo, but the rest of the 

 vegetation is of the usual type at this elevation. 



Onwards to Chola Pass the marches were made eastwards up a continuously 

 steep ridge. The second day's journey brought us to Laghep (10,400 feet), a 

 small cattle station with a camping ground on a projecting knoll covered 

 thickly with Iris nepalensis. This locality is celebrated for its variety of 

 Rhododendrons, every species existing in Sikkim, excepting R. nivale, being 

 found within a distance of two days' short marches. It was too early in the 

 season to obtain seeds, as they do not ripen until November. 



The plants of Decaisnea insignis which Sir J. D. Hooker observed at 7,000 

 feet still grow abundantly there. 



The next day's march was a short one to Pheyeunggong, 12,400 feet, a large 

 flat-topped peak where the Abies Webbiana is first seen. Beyond Pheyeung- 

 gong we descended to the Rutto River, where we found quantities of Caihcartia 

 villosa in fruit. This plant is extremely local in its distribution, being found 

 only in this small valley and in one small area near the summit of Lingtu. 

 The ascent continues along the broad valley of Rutto, which becomes bleak 

 upwards. Abies Webbiana, however, attains an elevation of 12,600 feet at 

 Chamanako, where we halted. 



The first part of the ascent to the Chola Pass is very steep ; an easy path then 

 leads to the next ridge, beyond which is a small and pretty lake. A second slight 

 ascent brought us to another small lake, and a pond lies immediately beneath 

 the pass. The summit of the pass is rounded, and its surroundings are barren 

 rocks. On the Tibetan side a narrow gorge-like valley descends sharply. Snow 

 14 



