218 C apt. Vembertoiis Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. [March, 



there is a large tower ; also a small one on the same level, and some re- 

 ligious edifices. We were lodged over the stable. 



The country about Tassangsee is picturesque, with large woods 

 of Finns excelsa, which here has much the habit of a larch, a few vil- 

 lages are visible on the same side of the Koollong, and a little cul- 

 tivation. The Soobah was absent at Tongsa, to which place he 

 had been summoned owing to the disturbances, so that we were 

 relieved from undergoing the usual importunities and disagremens 

 between his followers and ours. The place is said to be famous for its 

 copper manufactures, such for instance as copper cauldrons of large 

 dimensions ; but I saw nothing indicating the existence of manufac- 

 turers, unless it were a small village below the castle, and on the same 

 side of the Koollong, which looked for all the world like the habitation 

 of charcoal burners. A little further up this stream a few small flour 

 mills occur. 



Snow was visible on the heights around, and especially on a lofty 

 ridge to the north. We found Tassangsee to be very cold owing to 

 the violent south or south-east winds; the thermometer however 

 did not fall below 34°. Its elevation is 5270 feet, the vegetation 

 entirely northern, consisting of primroses, violets, willows, oaks, rhodo- 

 dendrons, and pines ; very fine specimens of weeping cypress occur near 

 this place. 



Feb. Wth. Resumed our journey, interrupted as usual by the non- 

 arrival of our baggage, and scarcity of coolies— and proceeded to 

 Sanah. We descended at first to the torrent, which bounds one side of 

 the spur on which the castle is built, and which here falls into the 

 Koollong; the march subsequently became a gradual and continued 

 ascent, chiefly along its bed. We crossed two small torrents by means 

 of rude flat wooden bridges, and passed two or three deserted villages. 

 Snow became plentiful as we approached Sanah. This we found 

 to be a ruined village, only containing one habitable house. It is 

 situated on an open sward, surrounded with rich woods of oaks 

 and rhododendrons, yews, bamboos, &c. Its elevation is very nearly 

 8000 feet. 



Feb. 1 5th. We started at the break of day, as we had been told 

 that the march was a long and difficult one. We proceeded at first 

 over undulating ground, either with swardy spots, or through romantic 

 Janes ; we then ascended an open grassy knoll, after passing which 

 we came on rather deep snow. The ascent continued steep and 

 uninterrupted until we reached the summit of a ridge 11,000 feet 

 high. Although we had been told that each ascent was the last, 

 we found that another ridge was still before us, still steeper than the 



