1839.] Capt. Pembertoris Mission to Bootan, 1837-33. 217 



we left the Monass, and ascended the former for a short distance, 

 when we crossed it by a wooden bridge. The remainder of the march 

 consisted of an uninterrupted ascent up a most barren mountain, 

 until we reached Kumna, a small and half-ruined village, 4300 feet 

 above the sea. 



Little of interest occurred : we passed a small village consisting of 

 two or three houses and a religious building, and two decent patches 

 of rice cultivation. The vegetation throughout was almost tropical, 

 with the exception of the long leaved fir, which descends frequently 

 as low as 1800 or 2000 feet. I observed two wretched bits of cotton 

 cultivation along the Monass, and some of an edible Labiata, one 

 of the numerous makeshifts ordinarily met with among Hill people. 



Feb. *Jth. Left for Phullung. We ascended at first a few hundred 

 feet, and then continued winding along at a great height above the 

 Koollong torrent, whose course we followed, ascending gradually 

 at the same time, until we reached our halting place. As high as 5000 

 feet the Kumna mountain retained its very barren appearance ; at 

 that elevation stunted oaks and rhododendrons commenced, and at 

 5300 feet the country was well covered with these trees, and the 

 vegetation became entirely northern. 



Throughout the march many detached houses were visible on the 

 opposite bank of the Koollong, and there appeared to be about them a 

 good deal of terrace cultivation. On the left side of the torrent two 

 villages were seen, both as usual in a ruinous state. 



8th, and 9t/i. — We were detained partly by snow, partly by the 

 non-arrival of our baggage. On the 9th I ascended to a wood of 

 Pinus excelsa, the first one I had noticed, and which occurred about 

 1000 feet above Phullung. The whole country at similar elevations 

 was covered with snow, particularly the downs which we passed after 

 leaving Bulphei. Tassgong was distinctly visible. The woods were 

 otherwise composed of oaks and rhododendrons. At Phullung they 

 were endeavouring to keep alive the wild indigo of Assam ; a species of 

 Ruellia, but its appearance shewed that it was unsuited to the climate. 



Feb. 10th. To Tassangsee. We continued through a similar coun- 

 try, and at a like elevation, with the exception of a trifling de- 

 scent to a small nullah, and an inconsiderable one to the Koollong, 

 on the right bank of which, and about 500 feet above its bed, 

 Tassangsee is situated. We crossed this torrent, which even here is of 

 considerable size and not fordable, by means of an ordinary wooden 

 bridge, and then ascended to the village. This is constituted almost 

 entirely by the Soobah's house, which is a large quadrangular build- 

 ing ; on the same side, but several hundred feet above the house, 



