284 KULHAIT VALLEY. Chap. XII. 



is necessary to look for some levelling cause. The action 

 of denudation is still progressing with astonishing rapidity, 

 under an annual fall of from 100 to 150 inches of rain ; 

 but its tendency is to obliterate all such phenomena, and 

 to give sharp, rugged outlines to these spurs, in spite of the 

 conservative effects of vegetation. 



The weather at Lingcham was gloomy, cold, and damp, 

 with much rain and fog, and the mean temperature (45J°) 

 was cold for the elevation (4,860 feet) : 52^° was the 

 highest temperature observed, and 39° the lowest. 



A letter from Dr. Campbell reached me three days 

 after my arrival, begging me to cross the country to 

 the Teesta river, and meet him at Bhomsong, on its 

 west bank, where he was awaiting my arrival. I 

 therefore left on the 20th of December, accompanied by 

 my friend the Kajee, who was going to pay his respects 

 to the Rajah. He was constantly followed by a lad, 

 carrying a bamboo of Murwa beer slung round his neck, 

 with which he kept himself always groggy. His dress 

 was thoroughly Lepcha, and highly picturesque, consisting 

 of a very broad-brimmed round-crowned bamboo-platted 

 hat, scarlet jacket, and blue-striped cloth shirt, bare feet, 

 long knife, bow and quiver, rings and earrings, and a long 

 pigtail. He spoke no Hindoostanee, but was very com- 

 municative through my interpreters. 



Leaving the Lingcham spur, we passed steep cliffs of 

 mica and schist, covered with brushwood and long grass, 

 about 1000 feet above which the Changachelling convent is 

 perched. Crossing a torrent, we came to the next village, 

 on the spur of Kurziuk, where I was met by a deputation 

 of women, sent by the Lamas of Changachelling, bearing 

 enormous loads of oranges, rice, milk, butter, ghee, and the 

 everflowing Murwa beer. 



