Dec. 1848. KULHAIT VALLEY. 281 



sitely beautiful glass ornaments, or mosses frosted with 

 silver. 



A few stones marked the boundary between Nepal and 

 Sikkim, where I halted for half an hour, and hung up my 

 instruments : the temperature was 32°. 



We descended rapidly, proceeding eastward down the 

 broad valley of the Kulhait river, an affluent of the Great 

 Rungeet ; and as it had begun to sleet and snow hard, we 

 continued until we reached 6,400 feet before camping. 



On the following day we proceeded down the valley, and 

 reached habitations at 4000 feet : passing many villages 

 and much cultivation, we crossed the river, and ascended 

 by 7 p.m., to the village of Lingcham, just below the con- 

 vent of Changachelling, very tired and hungry. Bad 

 weather had set in, and it was pitch dark and raining hard 

 when we arrived ; but the Kajee, or head man, had sent out 

 a party with torches to conduct us, and he gave us a most 

 hospitable reception, honoured us with a salute of musketry, 

 and brought abundance of milk, eggs, fowls, plantains, and 

 Murwa beer. Plenty of news was awaiting me here, and 

 a messenger with letters was three marches further north, 

 at Yoksun, waiting my expected return over the Kangla- 

 namo pass. Dr. Campbell, I was told, had left Dorjiling, 

 and was en route to meet the Rajah at Bhomsong on the 

 Teesta river, where no European had ever yet been ; and 

 as the Sikkim authorities had for sixteen years steadily 

 rejected every overture for a friendly interview, and 

 even refused to allow the agent of the Govern or- General 

 to enter their dominions, it was evident that grave doings 

 were pending. I knew that ©r. Campbell had long 

 used every exertion to bring the Sikkim Rajah to a 

 friendly conference, without having to force his way into 

 the country for the purpose, but in vain. It will hardly 



