IU GREAT RUNGEET. Chap. VI. 



succeeds here admirably, and might be cultivated to great 

 profit, and be of advantage in furthering a trade with Tibet. 

 It has been tried on a large scale by Dr. Campbell at his 

 residence (alt. 7000 feet), but the frosts and snow of that 

 height injure it, as do the hailstorms in spring. 



Below Leebong is the village of Ging, surrounded by 

 steeps, cultivated with maize, rice, and millet. It is ren- 

 dered very picturesque by a long row of tall poles, each 

 bearing a narrow, vertically elongated banner, covered with 

 Boodhist inscriptions, and surmounted by coronet-like 

 ornaments, or spear-heads, rudely cut out of wood, or 

 formed of basket-work, and adorned with cotton fringe. 

 Ging is peopled by Bhotan emigrants, and when one dies, 

 if his relations can afford to pay for them, two additional 

 poles and flags are set up by the Lamas in honour of his 

 memory, and that of Sunga, the third member of the 

 Boodhist Trinity. 



Below this the Gordon la commences, with Cedrela 

 toona, and various tropical genera, such as abound near 

 Punkabaree. The heat and hardness of the rocks cause 

 the streams to dry up on these abrupt hills, especially on 

 the eastern slope, and the water is therefore conveyed along 

 the sides of the path, in conduits ingeniously made of 

 bamboo, either split in half, or, what is better, whole, 

 except at the septum, which is removed through a lateral 

 hole. The oak and chesnut of this level (3000 feet), are 

 both different from those which grow above, as are the 

 brambles. The Arums are replaced by Ccdadiums. Tree- 

 ferns cease below 4000 feet, and the large bamboo abounds. 



At about 2000 feet, and ten miles distant from Dorjiling, 

 we arrived at a low, long spur, dipping down to the bed of 

 the Rungeet, at its junction with the Rungino. This is 

 close to the boundary of the British ground, and there is a 



