152 



TUNGU. Chap. XXIII. 



phosphorescent wood into my tent, for the pleasure of 

 watching its soft undulating light, which appears to pale 

 and glow with every motion of the atmosphere ; but except 

 in this difference of intensity, it presents no change in 

 appearance night after night. Alcohol, heat, and dryness 

 soon dissipate it ; electricity I never tried. It has no odour, 

 and my dog, who had a fine sense of smell, paid no heed 

 when it was laid under his nose.* 



The weather continuing bad, and snow falling, the 

 country people began to leave for their winter-quarters at 

 Lamteng. In the evenings we enjoyed the company of the 

 Phipun and Tchebu Lama, who relished a cup of sugarless 

 tea more than any other refreshment we could offer. 

 Prom them we collected much Tibetan information :— the 

 former was an inveterate smoker, using a pale, mild tobacco, 

 mixed largely with leaves of the small wild Tibetan 

 Rhubarb, called " Chula." Snuff is little used, and is 

 principally procured from the plains of India. 



We visited Palung twice, chiefly in hopes that Dr. 

 Campbell might see the magnificent prospect of Kinchinjhow 

 from its plains : the first time we gained little beyond a 

 ducking, but on the second (October the 15th) the view 

 was superb j and I likewise caught a glimpse of Kinchin- 

 junga from the neighbouring heights, bearing south 60° 

 west and distant forty miles. I also measured barometrically 

 the elevation at the great chait on the plains, and found it 



* As far as my observations go, this phenomenon of light is confined to the 

 lower orders of vegetable life, to the fungi alone, and is not dependent on irrita- 

 bility I have never seen luminous flowers or roots, nor do I know of any 

 authenticated instance of such, which may not be explained by the presence of 

 mycelium or of animal life. In the animal kingdom, luminosity is confined, 1 

 believe, to the Invertebrata, and is especially common amongst the Eadiata and 

 Mollusca ; it is also frequent in the Entromostracous Crustacea, and in various 

 genera of most orders of insects. In all these, even in the Sertulariae, I have 

 invariably observed the light to be increased by irritation, in which respect the 

 luminosity of animal life differs from that of vegetable. 



