150 GREAT RUNGEET. Chap. VI. 



the loops were laid one or two bamboo stems for flooring ; 

 cross pieces below this flooring, hung from the two upper 

 canes, which they thus served to keep apart. The traveller 

 grasps one of the canes in either hand, and walks along the 

 loose bamboos laid on the swinging loops : the motion is 

 great, and the rattling of the loose dry bamboos is neither 

 a musical sound, nor one calculated to inspire confidence ; 

 the whole structure seeming as if about to break down. 

 With shoes it is not easy to walk ; and even with bare feet 

 it is often difficult, there being frequently but one bamboo, 

 which, if the fastening is loose, tilts up, leaving the 

 pedestrian suspended over the torrent by the slender canes. 

 When properly and strongly made, with good fastenings, 

 and a floor of bamboos laid transversely y these bridges are 

 easy to cross. The canes are procured from a species of 

 Calamus ; they are as thick as the finger, and twenty or 

 thirty yards long, knotted together ; and the other pieces 

 are fastened to them by strips of the same plant. A 

 Lepcha, carrying one hundred and forty pounds on his 

 back, crosses without hesitation, slowly but steadily, and 

 with perfect confidence. 



A deep broad pool below the bridge was made available 

 for a ferry : the boat was a triangular raft of bamboo 

 stems, with a stage on the top, and it was secured on the 

 opposite side of the stream, having a cane reaching across 

 to that on which we were. A stout Lepcha leapt into the 

 boiling flood, and boldly swam across, holding on by the 

 cane, without which he would have been carried away. 

 He unfastened the raft, and we drew it over by the cane, 

 and, seated on the stage, up to our knees in water, we 

 were pulled across; the raft bobbing up and down over 

 the rippling stream. 



We were beyond British ground, on the opposite bank, 



