110 LACH00NG VALLEY. Chap. XXII. 



be more different than the two slopes of this pass ; that by 

 which I had come presented a gentle snowy acclivity, 

 bounded by precipitous mountains ; while that which 

 opened before me was a steep, rocky, broad, grassy valley, 

 where not a particle of snow was to be seen, and yaks 

 were feeding near a small lake not 1000 feet down. Nor 

 were snowy mountains visible anywhere in this direction, 

 except far to the south-east, in Bhotan. This remarkable 

 difference of climate is due to the southerly wind which 

 ascends the Tibetan or Machoo valley being drained by 

 intervening mountains before reaching this pass, whilst the 

 Sikkim current brings abundant vapours up the Teesta 

 and Lachoong valleys. 



Chumulari lies to the E.N.E. of the Tunkra pass, and is 

 only twenty- six miles distant, but not seen ; Phari is two 

 marches off, in an easterly direction, and Choombi one to 

 the south-east. Choombi is the general name given to a 

 large Tibetan province that embraces the head of the 

 Machoo river, and includes Phari, Eusa, Choombi, and 

 about thirteen other villages, corresponding to as many 

 districts, that contain from under a dozen to 300 houses 

 each, varying with the season and state of trade. The 

 latter is considerable, Phari being, next to Dorjiling, the 

 greatest Tibetan, Bhotan, Sikkim, and Indian entrepot 

 along the whole Himalaya east of Nepal. The general 

 form of Choombi valley is triangular, the broader end 

 northwards : it is bounded by the Chola range on the 

 west from Donkia to Gipmoochi, and by the Kamphee 

 or Chakoong range to the east ; which is, I believe, 

 continuous with Chumulari. These meridional ranges 

 approximate to the southward, so as to form a natural 

 boundary to Choombi. The Machoo river, rising from 

 Chumulari, flows through the Choombi district, and enters 



