May, 1849. DIFFICULTIES OF TRAVELLING. 31 



but which are wanting in the temperate regions of the 

 Sikkim Himalaya. 



At times we scrambled over rocks 1000 feet above the 

 river, or descended into gorges, through whose tributary 

 torrents we waded, or crossed swampy terraced flats of 

 unstratified shingle above the stream ; whilst it was some- 

 times necessary to round rocky promontories in the river, 

 stemming the foaming torrent that pressed heavily against 

 the chest as, one by one, we were dragged along by powerful 

 Lepchas. Our halting-places were on flats close to the 

 river, covered with large trees, and carpeted with a most 

 luxuriant herbage, amongst which a wild buckwheat 

 (Polygonum*) was abundant, which formed an excellent 

 spinach : it is called " Pullop-bi " ; a name I shall here- 

 after have occasion to mention with gratitude. 



A few miles above Choongtam, we passed a few cottages 

 on a very extensive terrace at Tuinlong ; but between this 

 and Lamteng, the country is uninhabited, nor is it 

 frequented during the rains. We consequently found that 

 the roads had suffered, the little bridges and aids to climb 

 precipices and cross landslips had been carried away, 

 and at one place we were all but turned back. This was 

 at the Taktoong river, a tributary on the east bank, which 

 rushes down at an angle of 15°, in a sheet of silvery foam, 

 eighteen yards broad. It does not, where I crossed it, 

 flow in a deep gulley, having apparently raised its bed by 

 an accumulation of enormous boulders ; and a plank bridge 

 was thrown across it, against whose slippery and narrow 

 foot-boards the water dashed, loosening the supports on 

 either bank, and rushing between their foundation stones. 



My unwilling guide had gone ahead with some of the 



* Polygonum eymosum, Wall. This is a common Himalayan plant, and is also 

 found in the Khasia mountains. 



