-222 Capt. Pemberton's Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. [March, 



features of the country were precisely the same. At the elevation of 

 7300 feet the woods became finer, consisting of oaks and rhododen- 

 drons, rendered more picturesque from being covered with mosses, 

 and a grey pendulous lichen, a sure indication of considerable eleva- 

 tion. Various temples and monumental walls were passed, and 

 several average sized villages seen in various directions. A fine field 

 of peas in full blossom was noticed at 5500 feet, but otherwise little 

 cultivation occurred. Oonjar is a small village at an elevation of 

 6370 feet. 



Feb. 25th. Leaving this place, we continued winding along nearly at 

 the same altitude until we descended to the river Oonjar, which drains 

 the ravine, on the right flank of which the village is situated. This 

 river, which is of moderate size, is crossed twice within 200 yards. 

 From the second bridge one of the greatest ascents we had yet en- 

 countered commenced ; it was excessively steep at first, but subsequent- 

 ly became more gradual. It only terminated with our arrival at the 

 halting place, which we denominated " St. Gothard," but which is 

 known by the name Peemee. Its elevation is about 9700 feet, and 

 we had ascended from the bridge as much as 4350 feet. Snow 

 commenced at 7500 feet, and became heavy at 8500 feet ; Peemee 

 was half buried in it, and ornamented with large icicles : it consists of 

 one miserable hut. This hut would not have withstood the attacks of 

 another such party as ours, for the men made use of its bamboos for 

 firewood, and the horses and mules eat very large portions of it. Our 

 people were put considerably out from not considering it proper to use 

 snow water, the only fluid to be procured, as there is no spring near. 



Feb. 26th. We continued the ascent through heavy snow. For the 

 first 1000 feet it was easy enough, but after that increased much in dif- 

 ficulty. Great part of the path was built up faces of sheer precipices. 

 About noon we passed through the pass of Rodoola, which consists of 

 a gap between two rocks, barely wide enough to admit a loaded pony. 

 One of the rocks bore the usual slab with the mystic sentence " Ooni 

 mainee pa??iee 00m." There is nothing striking in the place, which 

 besides is not the highest part of the mountain traversed. The eleva- 

 tion was found to be 12,300 feet. 



The remainder of the ascent was very gradual, but continued for 

 about 1 \ miles ; and I consider the actual pass from which we com- 

 menced descending to be at least 12,600 feet. The descent was at first 

 very rapid, passing down the bold face of the mountain, which was 

 covered entirely with stout shrubby rhododendrons. We then descend- 

 ed gradually through a fine wood of the black fir. On recommen- 

 cing the steep descent we passed over swardy patches surrounded 



