158 T0NGL0. Chap. VI. 



cirrus, but no dew. A thermometer sunk two feet in rich 

 vegetable mould stood at 78° two hours after it was lowered, 

 and the same on the following morning. This probably 

 indicates the mean temperature of the month at that spot, 

 where, however, the dark colour of the exposed loose soil 

 must raise the temperature considerably. 



May 20tk. — The temperature at sunrise was 67° ; the 

 morning bright, and clear over head, but the mountains 

 looked threatening. Dorjiling, perched on a ridge 5000 

 feet above us, had a singular appearance. We ascended 

 the Simonbong spur of Tonglo, so called from a small vil- 

 lage and Lama temple of that name on its summit ; where 

 we arrived at noon, and passing some chaits* gained the 

 Lama's residence. 



Two species of bamboo, the " Payong " and " Praong " of 

 the Lepchas, here replace the Pao of the lower regions. The 

 former was flowering abundantly, the whole of the culms 

 (which were 20 feet high) being a diffuse panicle of inflores- 

 cence. The " Praong " bears a round head of flowers at 

 the ends of the leafy branches. Wild strawberry, violet, 

 geranium, &c, announced our approach to the temperate 

 zone. Around the temple were potato crops and peach- 

 trees, rice, millet, yam, brinjal (egg-apple), fennel, hemp 

 (for smoking its narcotic leaves), and cummin, &c. The 

 potato thrives extremely well as a summer crop, at 7000 

 feet, in Sikkim, though I think the root (from the Dorjiling 

 stock) cultivated as a winter crop in the plains, is superior 

 both in size and flavour. Peaches never ripen in this part 

 of Sikkim, apparently from the want of sun ; the tree 



* The chait of Sikkim, borrowed from Tibet, is a square pedestal, surmounted 

 with a hemisphere, the convex end downwards, and on it is placed a cone, with a 

 crescent on the top. These are erected as tombs to Lamas, and as monuments to 

 illustrious persons, and are venerated accordingly, the people always passing them 

 from left to right, often repeating the invocation, " Om Mani Padmi om." 



