March, 1849. THE STKKIM FRONTIER. 381 



short, poor pasture-grass. The bungalow stands close to 

 the Mahanuddy, on a low hill, cut into an escarpment 

 twenty feet high, which exposes a section of river-laid sand 

 and gravel, alternating with thick beds of rounded pebbles. 



Shortly after Dr. Campbell's arrival, the meadows about 

 the bungalow presented a singular appearance, being 

 dotted over with elephants, brought for purchase by 

 Government. It was curious to watch the arrival of these 

 enormous animals, which were visible nearly two miles 

 across the flat plains ; nor less interesting was it to observe 

 the wonderful docility of these giants of the animal 

 kingdom, often only guided by naked boys, perched on 

 their necks, scolding, swearing, and enforcing their orders 

 with the iron goad. There appeared as many tricks in 

 elephant-dealers as in horse-jockeys, and of many animals 

 brought, but few were purchased. Government limits the 

 price to about 75/., and the height to the shoulder must not 

 be under seven feet, which, incredible as it appears, may 

 be estimated within a fraction as being three times the 

 circumference of the forefoot. The pedigree is closely 

 inquired into, the hoofs are examined for cracks, the teeth 

 for age, and many other points attended to. 



The Sikkim frontier, from the Mahanuddy westward to 

 the Mechi, is marked out by a row of tall posts. The 

 country is undulating ; and though fully 400 miles from 

 the ocean, and not sixty from the top of the loftiest 

 mountain on the globe, its average level is not 300 feet 

 above that of the sea. The upper levels are gravelly, and 

 loosely covered with scattered thorny jujube bushes, 

 occasionally tenanted by the Florican, which scours these 

 downs like a bustard. Sometimes a solitary fig, or a 

 thorny acacia, breaks the horizon, and there are a few 

 gnarled trees of the scarlet Butea frondosa. 



