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



would be cut off, (the assertion was accompanied by a conventional 

 gesture significative of decapitation), if any European crossed the 

 frontier. Expostulation was useless, at every remark, their hands 

 were drawn across their necks to typify their fate if we passed the 

 frontier. At the same time there was no threat of stopping us by 

 force ; the people only said " If you choose to go by force we cannot 

 stop you, but all our heads will be cut off." Finally we left them 

 and returned down the valley to Momay. A present of sheep, 

 flour, &c, had been brought for us, but we positively refused to 

 receive anything, as we could only consider people who prevented 

 us from passing a short distance over a tract of country already 

 traversed by our countrymen as enemies. 



September ISth and 19th. We remained at Momay endeavouring 

 through Kechu Lama to bribe the Tibetans to allow us to go by 

 Cholamu. At first there seemed every probability of success ; we 

 were told that the chief fear of the people was that we should 

 want to penetrate farther into the country. We explained that 

 this was not the case, our sole object was to go by an easy route 

 to the Kongra Lama pass and descend the Lachen. We had 

 examined the Sibu-la, and found it impassable for coolies, and to 

 go round by Chungtam was more than a week's journey. But, on 

 the 1 9th, we heard that a much higher official had arrived at the 

 pass, and we determined to try reasoning once more. 



During these two days we had collected several birds. Ravens 

 and choughs (F. graculus only, not Pyrrhocorax) abounded, there 

 were also pipits, short-toed larks, Chimarrhornis, a beautiful red- 

 start, Ruticilla erythrogastra, and flocks of young birds of Grandala 

 ccelicolor, of which we never saw a full plumaged male, except 

 near Donkia pass. A day or two after the yaks left, many birds 

 also took their departure. Lsemmergeyers appeared occasionally, 

 and amongst the migratory birds were kestrils and hoopoes 

 ( TJpupa epops). 



On the 18th there was an inch of snow in the morning over the 

 whole valley, and upon our tent it was still thicker, but we were 

 well protected by the blanket lining, and our people were warmly 

 clad and in good houses. We had to send down the valley for 

 firewood however. 



