1839.] Capt. Pember ton's Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. 235 



the 9th May at noon we left Punukka, the most uninviting place 

 I have ever seen in a hilly country. On the morning of the same 

 day there was a demonstration in the palace of great boldness ; the 

 roof of the northern side was covered with troops, who shouted, fired, 

 and waved banners. 



We crossed both bridges of the palace without any interruption 

 or annoyance, at which I was most agreeably surprised ; and then 

 gradually ascended the right flank of the valley, following the course 

 of the united rivers, Patchien and Matchien. We proceeded in this di- 

 rection for sometime, until we came on a ravine affording an outlet to 

 a tributary of the Panukka river, which we then followed, gradually 

 descending through fir woods until we reached the torrent. Crossing 

 this, which is a small one, we commenced the ascent to Telajong, 

 which we soon reached. We were lodged in the castle, which is in 

 the hands of the old Deb's followers, and who threatened to fight 

 very hard. Its elevation is about 5600 feet, and it is situated towards 

 the base of very steep mountains, which we crossed next day. It is 

 somewhat ruinous, but might even in Bootea hands make a stout de- 

 fence against a Bootea force. 



The march was a moderate one ; up to the ravine the country had 

 the same barren aspect, but on changing our direction we came on fir 

 woods. About Telagong the country is well wooded, chiefly with 

 oaks, and the vegetation is considerably varied. Near the torrent 

 we met with a village or two, and a little cultivation, chiefly of buck 

 wheat. 



April \0th. We descended to a small nullah just below the castle, 

 and then commenced an ascent which lasted for three or four hours, 

 and which was generally moderately steep. On surmounting the ridge, 

 which was of an elevation of about 10,000 feet, we commenced a 

 long, and uninterrupted descent along the course of a small torrent 

 (the path being well diversified with wood and glade) until we reach- 

 ed Woollokha, distant fourteen and half miles from Telagong. 



About 1200 feet above this we came on rather fine wheat cultiva- 

 tion, among which two or three villages were situated. Above this 

 elevation we came on fine woods of oaks and yews, diversified with 

 swardy spots ; and on reaching the summit of the ridge an open sward 

 with beautiful rhododendron, birch, and juniper woods. Herbaceous 

 monocotyledons abounded here, in fact the vegetation altogether was 

 very rich, and the first spring vegetation we had yet met with. 

 Gooseberries and Currants were common from 9000 feet upwards : 

 Euphorbius, Primroses, Saxifragis, Clematises, Anemones, Ranuncu- 

 luses, &c. ; w r ere some among the many European forms that I met 



