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



at the frontier,* and found a guard sleeping around it, with walls 

 of loose stones built up to protect them from the wind. An attempt 

 was made by our head man and the Lama to induce us to salaam 

 to the chait, which is considered sacred, and moreover is a repre- 

 sentative of the rulers of Sikkim and Tibet, as it contains a board 

 with their seals impressed on it, one on each side. However, on 

 our objecting that it was not our custom, the matter was not press- 

 ed. 



There was no view across the frontier. Barren rounded hills 

 closed the landscape at a short distance. Barren and uninviting 

 as they were, I would have given much for a few hours upon them. 

 But we had promised not to cross the frontier and I could only 

 ramble about on the Sikkim side. I walked back towards 

 Tangu very leisurely, Elwes going by Phalung. I shot a num- 

 ber of Leucosticte and two birds of an apparently undescrib- 

 ed finch, which I at first took for a snow bunting, but it is, I 

 believe, a new Montifringilla. I saw a couple of slate coloured hares, 

 but failed to secure either, whilst Elwes picked up a fine fox's 

 brush. I also, on this occasion, came across the yellow billed al- 

 pine chough, which is far rarer than the red billed bird in Sikkim. 



Thus, in the upper Lachen valley we met with a lark, 2 finches, 

 an Accentor, and a chough which we had not previously obtained, 

 and had we had more time, the list might probably have been 

 increased. Leeinmergeyers were abundant, but again I failed in 

 obtaining a specimen. The fauna in this valley is more thorough- 

 ly Tibetan in the upper part than is that of the Lachung. 



The morning was fine, but about midday mist was blown up the 

 valley, and a little rain fell. I did not reach camp till late in the 

 afternoon. The Tibetan Suba had accompanied us, on the plea 

 of having business to transact with the Lachen Phipan in Tangu, 

 but really, I believe, from fear that we should in some way give 

 him the slip and cross the frontier. 



6th. "We halted at Tangu, and were busily engaged all day 

 in skinning, and preserving the Ovis amnion skins. I had intended 

 to go to Phaliing, but the weather was vile, misty and wet. The 



* The name of this place is Djokongtong. Kongra Lama is, I think, the 

 name used by the people of Sikkim proper, not by those of the Lachen valley. 



