220 Copt. Tembertoris Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. [March, 



Singe up to the 18th, at which time some coolies still remained behind, 

 Tli is village, which is 0330 feet above the sea, is of moderate size, 

 containing about twelve houses; in the best of these we were lodged, 

 and it really was a good house, and the best by far we were ac- 

 commodated with while in Bootan. 



On the night of the 17th snow fell all around, though not within 

 1000 feet of Singe. The comparative mildness of the climate here 

 was otherwise indicated by the abundance of rice cultivation about and 

 below it. It stands on the border of the wooded and grassy tracts 

 so well marked in the interior of Bootan, at least in this direction, and 

 about midway on the left side of a very deep ravine, drained by the 

 river Koosee. On both sides of this, villages were plentiful ; on the 

 opposite or western side alone I counted about twenty; about all there 

 is much cultivation of rice and wheat ; the surface of the earth 

 where untilled, being covered with grassy vegetation and low shrubs. 



Feb. I8//5. We commenced a steep descent, and continued it until 

 we came in sight of the river Koosee, which is not visible from Singe. 

 We then turned to the north, following the course of the river upwards, 

 the path running about 800 feet above its bed. Thence, after 

 descending another ravine, drained by a tributary to the Koosee, we 

 again ascended slightly, to re-descend to the Koosee, up the bed of 

 which we then kept until we came to the Khoomar, a considerable 

 torrent, which we crossed about 100 yards from its mouth by a 

 wooden bridge ; within a quarter of a mile of this we crossed the Koosee 

 itself by a similar bridge, and then ascended gradually along its right 

 bank until we reached Singlang, which place became visible after pass- 

 ing the Khoomar. 



After arriving at the Koosee the country became barren, resem- 

 bling much that about Tassgong ; and the only cultivation we passed 

 in this portion of the march was some rice along the bed of that river. 



The usual delays took place at Singlang, and as it was the resi- 

 dence of a Soobah, we suffered the usual inconveniences. We were 

 miserably lodged in a small open summer house, up a small ravine, 

 and at a short distance from the castle, which is a large and rather 

 irregular building. 



The village itself is a poor one, most of the inhabitants being quar- 

 tered in the castle. We had an interview with the Soobah in an 

 open place close to the village : it was conducted with much less 

 state than that at Tassgong. We found the Soobah to be very young, 

 in fact almost a boy ; he behaved civilly, and without any pretension. 

 None of his armed men were present, and the whole number of 

 Booteas collected to see the show could not have exceeded 100. We 



