22 CHOONGTAM. Chap. XVIII. 



very steep, grassy, and rocky, without water. It is hence 

 quite unlike the forest-clad mountains further south, and indi- 

 cates a drier and more sunny climate. The scenery much 

 resembles that of Switzerland, and of the north-west Hima- 

 laya, especially in the great contrast between the southern 

 and northern exposures, the latter being always clothed 

 with a dense vegetation. At the foot of this very steep 

 mountain is a broad triangular flat, 5,270 feet above the 

 sea, and 300 feet above the river, to which it descends by 

 three level cultivated shelves. The village, consisting of a 

 temple and twenty houses, is placed on the slope of the 

 hill. I camped on the flat in May, before it became very 

 swampy, close to some great blocks of gneiss, of which 

 many lie on its surface : it was covered with tufts of sedge 

 (like Car ex stellulata), and fringed with scarlet rhododen- 

 dron, walnut, Andromeda, Elceagnus (now bearing pleasant 

 acid fruit), and small trees of a Photinia, a plant allied 

 to hawthorn, of the leaves of which the natives make 

 tea (as they do of Gualtheria, Andromeda, Vaccinium, and 

 other allied plants). Rice, cultivated* in pools surrounded 

 by low banks, was just peeping above ground ; and scanty 

 crops of millet, maize, and buckwheat flourished on the 

 slopes around. 



The inhabitants of Choongtam are of Tibetan origin; few 

 of them had seen an Englishman before, and they flocked 

 out, displaying the most eager curiosity : the Lama and 

 Phipun (or superior officer) of the Lachoong valley 

 came to pay their respects with a troop of followers, and 

 there was lolling out of tongues, and scratching of ears, at 

 every sentence spoken, and every object of admiration. 



* Choongtam is in position and products analogous to Lelyp, on the Tambur 

 (vol. i. p. 204). Rice cultivation advances thus high up each valley, and at either 

 place Bhoteeas replace the natives of the lower valleys. 



