Dec. 1848. TONGHEM. KHABANG. 275 



the course of one of theui, over slanting precipices, or trees 

 lashed to the rocks, and after a most winding course our 

 path conducted us to the village of Tarbu, high above a 

 feeder of the Khabili river, which flows west, joining the 

 Tambur three days' march lower down. Having no food, 

 we had made a very long and difficult march to this place, 

 but finding none here, proceeded on to Tonghem village on 

 the Khabili, descending through thickets of JRhod. arboreum 

 to the elevation of 5,560. 



This village, or spur, called " Tonghem " by the Limboos, 

 and " Yankutang " by the Bhoteeas, is the winter resort of 

 the inhabitants of the upper Yalloong valley : they received 

 us very kindly, sold us two fowls, and rice enough to last 

 for one or two days, which was all they could spare, and 

 gave me a good deal of information. I found that the 

 Kanglanamo pass had been disused since the Xepal war, 

 that it was very lofty, and always closed in October. 



The night was fine, clear, and warm, but the radiation 

 so powerful that the grass was coated with ice the following 

 morning, though the thermometer did not fall below 33°. 

 The next day the sun rose with great power, and the vege- 

 tation reeked and steamed with the heat. Crossing the 

 river, we first made a considerable descent, and then 

 ascended a ridge to 5,750 feet, through a thick jungle of 

 Camellia, Enri/a, and small oak : from the top I obtained 

 bearings of Yalloong and Choonjerma pass, and had also 

 glimpses of the Kinchin range through a tantalizing jungle ; 

 after which a very winding and fatiguing up-and-down 

 march southwards brought us to the village of Khabang, in 

 the magnificent valley of the Tawa, about 800 feet above 

 the river, and 5,500 feet above the sea. 



I halted here for a day, to refresh the people, and if pos- 

 sible to obtain some food. I hoped, too, to find a pass 



