1839.] Capt. Pemberton's Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. 239 



wooded country. Before ascending finally to Murichom, we descended 

 twice to cross torrents. We reached Murichom late in the evening, 

 the distance being eighteen miles. 



No villages were seen until we came in sight of Murichom. The 

 mountains were much decreased in height, and clothed with dense 

 black jungle. We passed two water-falls, both on the left bank of the 

 Teemboo, the one most to the south being the Minza peeya of Turner. 

 Neither of them appeared particularly worthy of notice. The vegeta- 

 tion had almost completely changed, it partook largely of the sub- 

 tropical characters, scarcely a single European form being met with. 

 The road was absolutely villainous,* it was very narrow, frequently 

 reduced to a mere ledge, and painful owing to the sharp projections 

 of the limestone, the prevailing rock of this part of the country. 

 Murichom is a small village, rather more than 4000 feet above the sea ; 

 the houses, which are about eight or ten in number are thatched : it is 

 prettily situated : there is a little cultivation of wheat and maize 

 about it. Although at so considerable an elevation, most of the plants 

 were similar to those of Assam. 



Y]th. Leaving Murichom we descended rapidly to a small tor- 

 rent, from which we re-ascended until we had regained the level 

 of Murichom. The path then wound along through heavily wooded 

 country at an elevation of 4000 or 4200 feet : we continued thus 

 throughout the day. At 5 p. m. finding that the coolies were com- 

 mencing to stop behind, and failing in getting any information of my 

 companions, I returned about 1 \ mile to the small village of Gygoogoo, 

 which is about 300 feet below the path, and not visible from it. It is a 

 miserable village of three or four bamboo huts. We had previously 

 passed another and much better village, but as this was only six miles 

 from Murichom, Capt. Pemberton determined to push on. 



\Wi. I proceeded to Buxa. The path was somewhat improved, and 

 the ascent gradual until an elevation of about 5500 feet was sur- 

 mounted, from which the descent to Buxa is steep and uninterrupted. 

 This place is seen from a ridge about 1200 feet above it. I reached 

 it between 9 and 10 a. m., and found that my companions had 

 arrived late on the preceding evening, having accomplished a march 

 of twenty miles in one day. Scarcely any coolies had arrived, however, 

 before me. The features of the country remained the same, the 

 whole face being covered with dense black looking forest. Even on 



* Such is the nature of the path from Chuka to the plains, although it is the great 

 thoroughfare between both capitals and Rungpore, that either the trade of Bootan with 

 that place must be much exaggerated, or some other road must exist between these two 

 points. 



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