Dec. 1848. MESSENGER FROM DR. CAMPBELL. Z95 



Descending, the rocks became more micaceous, with broad 

 seams of pipe-clay, originating in decomposed beds of 

 felspathic gneiss : the natives used this to whitewash and 

 mortar their temples. 



I passed the monastery of Neongong, the monks of 

 which were building a new temple ; and came to bring 

 me a large present. Below it is a pretty little lake, about 

 100 yards across, fringed with brushwood. We camped 

 at the village of Nampok, 4,370 feet above the sea ; all 

 thoroughly sodden with rain. 



During the night much snow had fallen at and above 

 9000 feet, but the weather cleared on the following 

 morning, and disclosed the top of Mainom, rising close 

 above my camp, in a series of rugged shivered peaks, crested 

 with pines, which looked like statues of snow : to all 

 other quarters this mountain presents a very gently sloping 

 outline. Up the Teesta valley there was a pretty peep of 

 snowy mountains, bearing north 35° east, of no great 

 height. 



I was met by a messenger from Dr. Campbell, who told 

 me he was waiting breakfast ; so I left my party, and, 

 accompanied by the Kajee and Meepo, hurried down to the 

 valley of the Kungoon (which flows east to the Teesta), 

 through a fine forest of tropical trees ; passing the villages 

 of Broom * and Lingo, to the spur of that name ; where I 

 was met by a servant of the Sikkim Dewan's, with a pony 

 for my use. I stared at the animal, and felt inclined to 

 ask what he had to do here, where it was difficult enough 



* On the top of the ridge above Broom, a tall stone is erected by the side of the 

 path, covered, with private marks, indicating the height of various individuals 

 who are accustomed, to measure themselves thus ; there was but one mark above 

 5 feet 7 inches, and that was 6 inches higher. It turned out to be Campbell's, 

 who had passed a few days before, and was thus proved to top the natives of 

 Sikkim by a long way. 



