230 dipt. Pembcrton'8 Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. [March, 



Santagong is 6300 feet above the sea ; it is a small village, but the 

 houses are better than ordinary. The surrounding country, especially 

 to the north, is well cultivated, and the villages numerous. The 

 country is bare of trees ; almost the only ones to be seen are some 

 long leaved firs, a short distance below Santagong, close to a small 

 jheel abounding in water fowl. 



March 29th. From Santagong we proceeded to Phain, descending 

 immediately to the stream, which runs nearly 1800 feet below our 

 halting place. Crossing this, as well as a small tributary, we encoun- 

 tered a steep ascent of 1000 feet. Subsequently we wound along, 

 gradually ascending at the same time, until we reached an incon- 

 siderable ridge above Phain, to which place we descended slightly. 

 The distance was six miles. The country was bare in the extreme, 

 and after crossing the stream above mentioned, villages became rather 

 scanty. Towards Phain the soil became of a deep red colour. 



This place, which is 5280 feet above the sea, is a small village, con- 

 taining six or seven tolerable houses. The country is most uninterest- 

 ing and uninviting, scarce a tree is to be seen, the little vegetation that 

 does exist consisting of low shrubs. A few villages are scattered about 

 it, and there is some rice cultivation. 



We were detained here until the 1st of April, in order that we 

 might repose after our fatigues ; but in reality to enable the Punukka 

 people to get ready our accommodations. Wandipore, a well known 

 castle situated in the Chillong pass, is just visible from Phain, below 

 which it appears to be some 1200 feet, and about three miles to the 

 south west. Its Zoompoor, one of the leading men in Bootan, made 

 some ineffectual attempts to take us to Punukka via his own castle; 

 various were the artifices he resorted to for this purpose, but he failed 

 in all. Among others, he sent a messenger to inform us that the Deb 

 and Dhurma were both there, and very anxious to meet us, and that 

 after the meeting they would conduct us to Punukka. 



April 1st. To Punukka. We descended rather gradually towards 

 the Patchien, proceeding at first north-west, and then to the north. 

 On reaching the stream, which is of considerable size, we followed it 

 up, chiefly along its banks, until we arrived at the capital, no view of 

 which is obtained until it is approached very closely The valley of 

 the Patchien was throughout the march very narrow ; there was a good 

 deal of miserable wheat cultivation in it, and some villages, all of 

 moderate size. The country continued extremely bare. The distance 

 was about eleven miles. Punukka, the second capital in Bootan, the 

 summer residence of a long line of unconquered monarchs — Punukka 

 to which place we had been so long looking forward with feelings ofde- 



