350 SIKKIM HIMALAYA. Chap. XV. 



them. To the north Gubroo rose in dismal grandeur, 

 backed by the dazzling snows of Kubra, which now 

 seemed quite near, its lofty top (alt. 24,005 feet) being 

 only eight miles distant. Much snow lay on the ground 

 in patches, and there were few remains of herbaceous 

 vegetation ; those I recognised were chiefly of poppy, 

 Potentitta, gentian, geranium, fritillary, Umbellifera, grass, 

 and sedges. 



On our arrival at the huts the weather was still fine, 

 with a strong north-west wind, which meeting the warm 

 moist current from the Ratong valley, caused much pre- 

 cipitation of vapour. As T hoped to be able to visit the 

 surrounding glaciers from this spot, I made arrangements 

 for a stay of some days: giving up the only habitable hut to 

 my people, I spread my blankets in a slope from its roof to 

 the ground, building a little stone dyke round the skirts of 

 my dwelling, and a fire-place in front. 



Hence to Yalloong in Nepal, by the Kanglanamo pass, 

 is two days' march : the route crosses the Singalelah range 

 at an elevation of about 15,000 feet, south of Kubra, and 

 north of a mountain that forms a conspicuous feature 

 south-west from Jongri, as a crest of black fingered peaks, 

 tipped with snow. 



It is difficult to conceive the amount of labour expended 

 upon every pound of salt imported into this part of Sikkim 

 from Tibet, and as an enumeration of the chief features of 

 the routes it must follow, will give some idea of what the 

 circuit of the loftiest mountain in the globe involves, I 

 shall briefly allude to them ; premising that the circuit of 

 Mont Blanc may be easily accomplished in four days. 

 The shortest route to Yoksun (the first village south of 

 Kinchin) from the nearest Tibetan village north of that 

 mountain, involves a detour of one-third of the circum- 



