1839.] Capt. Pemberton's Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. 221 



sat in the open air, while the Soobah was sheltered by a paltry silken 

 canopy. Nachnees more than ordinarily hideous were in attendance. 

 There is but little cultivation about this place, which is 4520 feet 

 above the sea, and the surrounding mountains are very barren. 

 About the village I noticed a few stunted sugar canes, some peach 

 and orange trees, the castor-oil plant, and a betel vine or two. The 

 only fine trees near the place were weeping cypresses ; the simul also 

 occurs. 



Feb. 23rd. After the usual annoyances about coolies and ponies, we 

 left Singlang without regret, for it was a most uninteresting place. We 

 commenced by an ascent of about 1000 feet, and then continued 

 following the course of the Koosee downwards. We continued re- 

 tracing our steps until we reached Tumashoo, to which place we 

 scarcely descended, and on arriving found ourselves opposite Singe, 

 and not more, as the crow flies, than three miles from it. We were 

 told subsequently that there was a direct road from Singe to this, 

 which is about the centre of the populous parts of the country I have 

 mentioned as being visible from Singe ; so that it was quite plain 

 that we had been taken so much out of our way in order to gratify 

 the Soobah by enabling him to return us some decayed plantains, 

 balls of ghee, and dirty salt. The road throughout was good, and 

 evidently well frequented. At an elevation of about GOOD feet we 

 came on open woods of somewhat stunted oaks and rhododendrons ; 

 the only well wooded parts we met with being such ravines as 

 afforded exit to water courses. We passed several villages in the 

 latter part of the march, some containing 20 and 30 houses, and met 

 with a good deal of cultivation as we traversed that tract, the im- 

 proved appearance of which struck us so much from Singe. 



Tumashoo is an ordinary sized village, about 5000 feet in elevation. 

 We were lodged in the Dhoompa's house. I observed that the cattle 

 here, which were Mithans, were kept in farm yards, better supplied 

 with straw than the poor beasts themselves. A few sheep were like- 

 wise seen. 



Feb. 24th. Left for Oonjar, ascending at first over sward or through 

 a fir wood for about 800 feet, when we crossed a ridge, and thence 

 descended until we came to a small torrent which we crossed ; 

 thence we ascended gradually, until we surmounted a ridge 7300 

 feet high ; descending thence very gradually until we came over 

 Oonjar, to which place we descended by a steep by-path for a few 

 hundred feet. The road was generally good, winding along at a 

 considerable height above the Koosee, until we finally left it on its 

 turning to the south. Singe was in sight nearly the whole day. The 



