Dec. 1848. LEAVE BHOMSONG. HOT BATH. 305 



again at sunset for a few minutes, giving place to clear 

 starlight nights. 



A thermometer sunk two feet seven inches, stood at 

 64°. The temperature of the water was pretty constant 

 at 51° : from here to the plains of India the river has a 

 nearly uniform fall of 1000 feet in sixty -nine miles, or 

 sixteen feet to a mile : were its course straight for the 

 same distance, the fall would be 1000 feet in forty miles, 

 or twenty -five feet to a mile. 



Dr. Campbell's object being accomplished, he was 

 anxious to make the best use of the few days that remained 

 before his return to Dorjiling, and we therefore arranged to 

 ascend Mainom, and visit the principal convents in Sikkim 

 together, after which he was to return south, whilst I 

 should proceed north to explore the south flank of Kinchin - 

 junga. For the first day our route was that by which 

 I had arrived. We left on Christmas-day, accompanied 

 by two of the Rajah's, or rather Dewan's officers, of the 

 ranks of Dingpun and Soupun, answering to those of 

 captain and lieutenant ; the titles were, however, nominal, 

 the Rajah having no soldiers, and these men being pro- 

 foundly ignorant of the mysteries of war or drill. They 

 were splendid specimens of Sikkim Bhoteeas {i.e. Tibetans, 

 born in Sikkim, sometimes called Arrhats), tall, powerful, 

 and well built, but insolent and bullying : the Dingpun 

 wore the Lepcha knife, ornamented with turquoises, 

 together with Chinese chopsticks. Near Bhomsong, 

 Campbell pointed out a hot bath to me, which he had 

 seen employed : it consisted of a hollowed prostrate tree 

 trunk, the water in which was heated by throwing in hot 

 stones with bamboo tongs. The temperature is thus raised 

 to 114°, to which the patient submits at repeated intervals 

 for several days, never leaving till wholly exhausted. 



