152 GREAT RUNGEET. Chap. VI. 



Cyprinoid, were abundant in the beautifully clear water of 

 the river. But by far the most striking feature consisted 

 in the amazing quantity of superb butterflies, large tropical 

 swallow-tails, black, with scarlet or yellow eyes on their 

 wings. They were seen everywhere, sailing majestically 

 through the still hot air, or fluttering from one scorching rock 

 to another, and especially loving to settle on the damp sand 

 of the river-edge ; where they sat by thousands, with erect 

 wings, balancing themselves with a rocking motion, as 

 their heavy sails inclined them to one side or the other ; 

 resembling a crowded fleet of yachts on a calm day. Such 

 an entomological display cannot be surpassed. CicindelcE 

 were very numerous, and incredibly active, as were Grylli ; 

 and the great Cicadece were everywhere lighting on the 

 ground, when they uttered a short sharp creaking sound, and 

 anon disappeared, as if by magic. Beautiful whip-snakes 

 were gleaming in the sun : they hold on by a few coils of 

 the tail round a twig, the greater part of their body 

 stretched out horizontally, occasionally retracting, and 

 darting an unerring aim at some insect. The narrowness of 

 the gorge, and the excessive steepness of the bounding hills, 

 prevented any view, except of the opposite mountain face, 

 which was one dense forest, in which the wild Banana 

 was conspicuous. 



Towards evening we arrived at another cane-bridge, still 

 more dilapidated than the former, but similar in structure. 

 For a few hundred yards before reaching it, we lost the 

 path, and followed the precipitous face of slate-rocks 

 overhanging the stream, which dashed with great 

 violence below. Though we could not walk comfortably, 

 even with our shoes off, the Lepchas, bearing their 

 enormous loads, proceeded with perfect indifference. 



Anxious to avoid sleeping at the bottom of the valley, 



