190 EAST NEPAL. Chap. VIIT. 



clothes, while my books and writing materials were placed 

 under the table. The barometer hung in the most out-of- 

 the-way corner, and my other instruments all around. A 

 small candle was burning in a glass shade, to keep the 

 draught and insects from the light, and I had the comfort 

 of seeing the knife, fork, and spoon laid on a white napkin, 

 as I entered my snug little house, and flung myself on the 

 elastic couch to ruminate on the proceedings of the day, and 

 speculate on those of the morrow, while waiting for my meal, 

 which usually consisted of stewed meat and rice, with bis- 

 cuits and tea. My thermometers (wet and dry bulb, and 

 minimum) hung under a temporary canopy made of thickly 

 plaited bamboo and leaves close to the tent, and the cooking 

 was performed by my servant under a tree. 



After dinner my occupations were to ticket and put away 

 the plants collected during the day, write up journals, plot- 

 maps, and take observations till 10 p.m. As soon as I was 

 in bed, one of the Nepal soldiers was accustomed to enter, 

 spread his blanket on the ground, and sleep there as my 

 guard. In the morning the collectors were set to change 

 the plant-papers, while I explored the neighbourhood, and 

 having taken observations and breakfasted, we were ready 

 to start at 10 a.m. 



Following the same ridge, after a few miles of ascent over 

 much broken gneiss rock, the Ghorkas led me aside to 

 the top of a knoll, 9,300 feet high, covered with stunted 

 bushes, and commanding a splendid view to the west, of the 

 broad, low, well cultivated valley of the Tambur, and the 

 extensive town of Dunkotah on its banks, about twenty-five 

 miles off ; the capital of this part of Nepal, and famous for 

 its manufactory of paper from the bark of the Daphne. 

 Hence too I gained a fine view of the plains of India, in- 

 cluding the course of the Cosi river, which, receiving the 



