1862.] Journal of a trip in the SiJclrim Himalaya. 475 



seen Jongli to disadvantage clothed in its autumnal garb, .and 

 totally deserted, being too cold and bleak at this season of the year 

 for a residence ; but in the spring and summer months it is no doubt 

 a bright and cheerful spot. During our descent through the firs, we 

 saw our Gorilla Llama engaged in cutting timber near his winter 

 dwelling, and we turned aside to salute him. The largest fir met 

 with by the road side measured 21 feet in girth, and may have been 

 80 or 90 feet high. Reached Chuckachaine at 1 p. M. and found a 

 small herd of twelve yak bulls, cows and calves, on the feeding 

 ground at this place. Their colours were black, black and white, and 

 slate coloured. We purchased yak milk, and drank it mixed, with 

 brandy. After half an hour's rest we resumed our march, and de- 

 scending very rapidly, re-crossed the foaming Ratong by the three 

 crazy bridges, and arrived at Jongoo 2.30 p. M., a distance of about 

 fifteen miles. During the short interval since our upward passage 

 the dead leaves of the rhododendrons and other forest trees had fall- 

 en in such abundance as to render the steep descent very slippery 

 and difficult. Having descended nearly 5000 feet, we found the 

 change in the atmosphere most agreeable, and the ticks as numerous 

 and loathsome as before. Mon Lepcha spur is composed of fine 

 gneiss, intermixed with beautiful white quartz and mica schist. 

 From Mon Lepcha I made a series of magnetic observations to fixed 

 points, which enabled me to fix its exact position. 



Left Jongoo at 8.30 A. M. and after an hour's brisk walk crossed 

 the Barabarong by a very frail bridge formed by throwing a sapling 

 across the main stream between two large boulders. The bed is full 

 of large angular blocks of gneiss, the same as exists in situ. When 

 within a mile of Eksum, we met Mr. Long and Lieut. Bartley, of the 

 Queen's Bays, proceeding to Jongli on a similar visit. They were 

 scarcely prepared for the extreme cold they were about to encounter. 

 We assisted them with some spare rice and clothing. We have since 

 heard that they experienced very severe weather and were compelled 

 to return. Beached Eksum at noon and proceeded to the house of 

 our former host, who at our request made us baked cakes of the 

 flour of millet seed and buck wheat mixed. The flour is quite white, 

 but harsh to the touch. The cake is baked on a heated slab of stone, 

 and when cooked beeomes quite black, but is not disagreeable to the 

 taste. It must, however, became very unsavoury when eaten as the sole 



3 q 2 



