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



unconscionably, and I thought that the list would never come to an 

 end ; and he was obliging enough to say, that any thing he might 

 think of subsequently would be announced in writing. He was very 

 facetious, and evidently rejoiced at the idea of securing so many good 

 things at such trifling expense as he had incurred in merely asking 

 for them. Nothing could well exceed the discomfort we had to 

 undergo during our tedious stay at this place. Our difficulties were 

 increased subsequently to our arrival by the occurrence of unsettled 

 weather, during which we had ample proofs that Bootan houses are 

 not always water-proof; we were besides incessantly annoyed with 

 a profusion of rats, bugs, and fleas; nor was there a single thing to 

 counterbalance all these inconveniences, and we consequently left the 

 place without the shadow of a feeling of regret. 



On the 23rd of March we resumed our journey ; and having 

 traversed the court yard of the castle, we struck down at once to the 

 river Mateesum by a very steep path. Having crossed this by a 

 bridge, we gradually ascended, winding round the various ridges on 

 the right flank of the ravine of this river. We left it when it turned 

 to the southward, in which direction Bagoa-Dooar was visible, and 

 continued ascending gradually until we reached Taseeling, seven 

 miles from Tongsa, and 7230 feet above the sea. 



Taseeling consists of a large house, principally used as a halting- 

 place for chiefs going to and from Punukka and Tongsa. The sur- 

 rounding mountains are rather bare, as indeed is the country between 

 it and Tongsa. There is some cultivation to be seen around it, and 

 several villages. As we approached Taseeling open oak and rhodo- 

 dendron woods recurred. The vegetation near the Mateesum was sub- 

 tropical ; the road was good, and in one place was built in zigzag up 

 the face of a cliff. 



March 24th. To Tchinjipjee. We commenced by ascending until 

 we had surmounted a ridge about 800 feet above Taseeling ; during the 

 remainder of the march we traversed undulating ground at nearly 

 tin 1 same altitude, at first through an open country, afterward through 

 beautiful oak and magnolia woods, until we came on the torrent 

 above which we had been ascending since leaving the Mateesum ; a 

 little farther on we came on the finest temple we had seen, and 

 situated in a most romantic spot. It stood on a fine patch of sward, 

 in a gorge of the ravine, the sides of which were covered with beauti- 

 ful cedar-looking pines ; the back ground was formed by lofty moun- 

 tains covered with heavy snow. 



Following the river upwards for about a mile and a half, we reach- 

 ed Tchinjipjee, which is situated on the right bank of the torrent. 



