Jan. 1849. VEGETATION" OF HIMALAYA. 349 



feet above the sea, and though fully fifty miles as the crow 

 flies (and perhaps 200 by the windings of the river) from 

 the plains of India, is only eight in a straight line (and forty 

 by the windings) from the snows which feed that river. 

 In other words, the descent is so rapid, that in eight miles 

 the Ratong waters every variety of vegetation, from the 

 lichen of the poles to the palm of the tropics ; whilst 

 throughout the remainder of its mountain course, it falls 

 from 4000 to 300 feet, flowing amongst tropical scenery, 

 through a valley whose flanks rise from 5000 to 12,000 

 feet above its bed. 



From Mon Lepcha we proceeded north-west towards 

 Jongri, along a very open rounded bare mountain, covered 

 with enormous boulders of gneiss, of which the subjacent 

 rock is also composed. The soil is a thick clay full of 

 angular stones, everywhere scooped out into little depres- 

 sions which are the dry beds of pools, and are often 

 strewed with a thin layer of pebbles. Black tufts of 

 alpine aromatic rhododendrons of two kinds (R. anthopogon 

 and setosum), with dwarf juniper, comprised all the con- 

 spicuous vegetation at this season. 



After a two hours' walk, keeping at 13,000 feet 

 elevation, we sighted Jongri.* There were two stone 

 huts on the bleak face of the spur, scarcely distinguishable 

 at the distance of half a mile from the great blocks around 



* I am assured by Capt. Sherwill, who, in 1852, proceeded along and surveyed 

 the Nepal frontier beyond this point to Gubroo, that this is not Jongri, but 

 Yangpoong. The difficulty of getting precise information, especially as to the 

 names of seldom-visited spots, is very great. I was often deceived myself, unde- 

 signedly, I am sure, on the part of my informants ; but in this case I have Dr. 

 Campbell's assurance, who has kindly investigated the subject, that there is no 

 mistake on my part. Captain Sherwill has also kindly communicated to me a 

 map of the head waters of the Rungbee, Yungya, and Yalloong rivers, of which, 

 being more correct than my own, I have gladly availed myself for my map. 

 Gubroo, he informs me, is 15,000 feet in altitude, and dips in a precipice 1000 feet 

 high, facing Kubra, which prevented his exploring further north. 



