April, 1848. ORIGIN OF DORJILING. 115 



there was a furnished hotel in Dorjiling ; and I was, 

 therefore, not a little indebted to Mr. Barnes for his kind 

 invitation to join his mess. As he was an active moun- 

 taineer, we enjoyed many excursions together, in the two 

 months and a half during which we were companions. 



Dr. Campbell procured me several active native 

 (Lepcha) lads as collectors, at wages varying from eight 

 to twenty shillings a month ; these either accompanied 

 me on my excursions, or went by themselves into the 

 jungles to collect plants, which I occupied myself in 

 drawing, dissecting, and ticketing : while the preserving of 

 them fell to the Lepchas, who, after a little training, 

 became, with constant superintendence, good plant-driers. 

 Even at this season (four weeks before the setting in of the 

 rains) the weather was very uncertain, so that the papers 

 had generally to be dried by the fire. 



The hill-station or Sanatarium of Dorjiling owes its 

 origin (like Simla, Mussooree, &c.) to the necessity that 

 exists in India, of providing places where the health of 

 Europeans may be recruited by a more temperate climate. 

 Sikkim proved an eligible position for such an establish- 

 ment, owing to its proximity to Calcutta, which lies but 

 370 miles to the southward ; whereas the north-west 

 stations mentioned above are upwards of a thousand 

 miles from that city. Dorjiling ridge varies in height 

 from 6500 to 7500 feet above the level of the sea; 8000 

 feet being the elevation at which the mean temperature 

 most nearly coincides with that of London, viz., 50°. 



Sikkim was, further, the only available spot for a 

 Sanatarium throughout the whole range of the Himalaya, 

 east of the extreme western frontier of Nepal ; being a 

 protected state, and owing no allegiance, except to the 

 British government ; which, after the Rajah had been driven 



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