Nov. 1848. ASCEND THE YANGMA RIVER. 229 



says," I am Osiris the Great : no man hath dared to lift 

 my veil." 



I had ascended behind the village, but returned down 

 the " via sacra," a steep paved path flanked by mendongs or 

 low stone dykes, into which were let rows of stone slabs, 

 inscribed with the sacred " Om Mani Padmi om." — " Hail 

 to him of the lotus and jewel ; " an invocation of Sakkya, 

 who is usually represented holding a lotus flower with 

 a jewel in it. 



On the following morning, a scanty supply of very dirty 

 rice was produced, at a very high price. I had, however, 

 so divided my party as not to require a great amount of 

 food, intending to send most of the people back by the 

 Tambur to Dorjiling. I kept nineteen persons in all, 

 selecting the most willing, as it was evident the journey 

 at this season would be one of great hardship : we took 

 seven days' food, which was as much as they could carry. 

 At noon, I left Wallanchoon, and mustered my party at 

 the junction of the Tambur and Yangma, whence I dis- 

 missed the party for Dorjiling, with my collections of plants, 

 minerals, &c, and proceeded with the chosen ones to 

 ascend the Yangma river. The scenery was wild and very 

 grand, our path lying through a narrow gorge, choked 

 with pine trees, down which the river roared in a furious 

 torrent ; while the mountains on each side were crested 

 with castellated masses of rock, and sprinkled with 

 snow. The road was very bad, often up ladders, and 

 along planks lashed to the faces of precipices, and over- 

 hanging the torrent, which it crossed several times by 

 plank bridges. By dark we arrived at Yangma Guola, 

 a collection of empty wood huts buried in the rocky 

 forest-clad valley, and took possession of a couple. They 

 were well built, raised on posts, with a stage and ladder 



