476 Journal of a trip in tlie Silckim Himalaya. [No. 5, 



article of food, as is the practice with the hospitable inhabitants of 

 this wild and sequestered spot. After purchasing fowls, murwa, eggs 

 and milk, and presenting the members of the family with some arti- 

 cles of warm clothing, we resumed our journey at 2.30 p. M., much 

 against the wishes of our coolies, some of whose families reside here, 

 and all of whom wanted to remain for the night. After a long de- 

 scent along the Eksum stream, at 3.30 p. M. we passed the Parmarong 

 stream a little below the water-falls, where some of the party had a 

 refreshing bathe in its crystal-like waters amidst blocks of beautiful- 

 ly stratified gneiss. Continuing our course without either much as- 

 cent or descent, at 4.30 p. M. we reached Bibbing or Bootong, a small 

 clearance consisting of one Limboo and one Lepcha family, the mem- 

 bers of which appeared very poor and destitute of clothing. We 

 put up in the hut of the former, and our Bhooteea cook boy profess- 

 ed not to understand a word of their language, and made signs for any 

 thing he required. 



Thermometer at 7 a. m. 50 . Left Ribbing at 9.30, and after a 

 steep and rugged descent reached the Eaton g and crossed by an old 

 bridge constructed of bamboos and trees, which had just been repair- 

 ed for our use ; about a mile further on, we crossed the Ringbi by a 

 very dilapidated suspension bridge made of bamboos. The jungle 

 creepers forming the suspenders of the roadway were all rotten, and 

 the whole fabric bore the appearance of great insecurity. The scenery 

 here and also at the Ratong is very wild and picturesque, and it was 

 matter of regret that " our artist" was not prepared for taking pho- 

 tographs. Observed mica schist in large quantities in situ, and in 

 the beds of both the rivers. From the Ringbi we made a steep 

 ascent to Chongpoong, passing through tree forest and ferns. Our 

 Chongpoong friends did not come out to meet us on this occasion, so 

 we sent to the headman, and purchased some murwa, fowls and eggs, 

 and after an hour's rest started again at 1 p. it., and passing through 

 the umbrageous tree forest below Pemionchee, we reached the Goom- 

 pa at 2.10 p. m. 



The Llamas were not so civil as on our first visit, and on this occa- 

 sion the head Llama did not make his appearance. On being ques- 

 tioned as to our despatches and stores, they informed us that none 

 had arrived from Darjeeling. This we knew to be false. On closely 

 questioning one of them, he indicated the place where I could find 



