Oct. 1848. ARRANGEMENT OF PARTY. 17-0 



Hindoos, or other natives of low elevations, was out of the 

 question ; and no course appeared advisable but to engage 

 some of the Bhotan run-aways domiciled in Dorjiling, who 

 are accustomed to travel at all elevations, and fear nothing 

 but a return to the country which they have abandoned 

 as slaves, or as culprits : they are immensely powerful, and 

 though intractable to the last degree, are generally glad to 

 work and behave well for money. The choice, as will 

 hereafter be seen, was unfortunate, though at the time 

 unanimously approved. 



My party mustered fifty-six persons. These consisted 

 of myself, and one personal servant, a Portuguese half- 

 caste, who undertook all offices, and spared me the usual 

 train of Hindoo and Mahometan servants. My tent and 

 equipments (for which I was greatly indebted to Mr. 

 Hodgson), instruments, bed, box of clothes, books and 

 papers, required a man for each. Seven more carried my 

 papers for drying plants, and other scientific stores. The 

 Nepalese guard had two coolies of their own. My inter- 

 preter, the coolie Sirdar (or headman), and my chief plant 

 collector (a Lepcha), had a man each. Mr. Hodgson's 

 bird and animal shooter, collector, and stuffer, with their 

 ammunition and indispensables, had four more ; there were 

 besides, three Lepcha lads to climb trees and change the 

 plant-papers, who had long been in my service in that 

 capacity ; and the party was completed by fourteen Bhotan 

 coolies laden with food, consisting chiefly of rice with ghee, 

 oil, capsicums, salt, and flour. 



I carried myself a small barometer, a large knife and 

 digger for plants, note-book, telescope, compass, and other 

 instruments ; whilst two or three Lepcha lads who accom- 

 panied me as satellites, carried a botanising box, ther- 

 mometers, sextant and artificial horizon, measuring-tape, 



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