396 W. T. Blanford — Journey through, Sikkim. [No. 4, 



Lachung valleys have two principal sources of livelihood: 1st. 

 Their yaks, of which they possess large herds. These, at the time of 

 our arrival at Lachung, were far away iu the mountains around 

 Momay Saindong and Yeomatong. 2nd. The sale of fir timber 

 and trade. The whole traffic between the upper Tista valley and 

 Tibet is carried on by these people, and they have an extensive 

 traffic in wood for building, which they supply to the treeless 

 regions of Tibet. Twice in the year they cross the Donkia and 

 Kongra Lama passes, and proceed to Kambajong or Jigatzi with 

 their bullocks and yaks, generally laden with timber, less frequently 

 with rice and other tropical products. At the Tibetan marts they 

 exchange these for salt, which, on their return, they again barter 

 with the Sikkim people for rice and other grains. South of Tamlung 

 the traffic with Tibet takes place by the various eastern passes 

 communicating with Chumbi, from which place a road, said to be 

 good, leads north-north-east towards Lhassa. 



8th to 10th. I halted for three days at Lachung. Elwes went off 

 to visit the Tankra pass on the second day, but I had been so much 

 punished by the leeches in the hot valleys that I thought it 

 advisable to rest a little. Meantime we purchased a yak from the 

 people, that is to say, the Phipun presented the yak to us, and we 

 presented him in return with sixteen rupees, which was, I believe, 

 rather more than its value. To save time in killing, I shot the 

 yak through the neck, its throat was immediately cut, and in less 

 than three hours it was distributed amongst the coolies, who divided 

 every portion, which could by any possibility be eaten, amongst 

 themselves. At the same time we reduced the ration of rice to 

 half a seer, so that our provisions might last the longer.* The 

 yak meat was slightly tough, but excellently flavoured. 



I occupied myself in collecting for a couple of days. Crows 

 (Corvus culminatus) abounded, and there were many red-billed 

 choughs, IPregilus graculus, both appearing at a decidedly lower 

 elevation than on the Chola range. In the pine forests were 

 nutcrackers, Nucifraga hemispila, numerous tits, Trochalopterum affine, 



* The ration usually given to coolies iu Sikkim, one seer of rice per diem, is 

 very large, and from the quantity of carriage required, a great impediment to 

 travelling. It would, I think, be a better plan to give the men only a small 

 load with additional pay and to make them provide their own food. 



