252 Capt. Vembertoiis Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. [April, 



The boundaries of the country are, Thibet to the north ; the plains 

 of Assam and Bengal to the south ; Sikkira to the west ; and the Kam- 

 pa country to the east. Its greatest breadth will hence be about 90, and 

 its greatest length about 210 miles. 



The physical aspect of this country, so far as regards its most essen- 

 tial point — mountains, presents perhaps but little deviation from that 

 of other parts of the Great Himalayan chain ; but on this point I 

 am unable to give any information. Every variety of surface was 

 met with, from bluff-headed to peaked highly angular summits. In some 

 places the paths were built up the naked faces of precipices ; in others, 

 very considerable elevations might be attained by very gradual ascents, 

 over a sufficiently practicable country. The two most rugged and most 

 peaked were, as might be expected, the two highest — Dongdola and 

 Rodola: the others, which generally averaged 10,500 feet, were very 

 easy. Of the rivers, which are in all cases mere mountain torrents, 

 nothing need be said. The largest we saw was the Monass, which 

 forms the principal drain of the eastern portion of Bootan. No lakes 

 appear to occur: there is below Santagong a jheel of small extent, but 

 it is of no depth, and does not derive its presence from springs or 

 the embouchure of small tributaries. It abounded with water fowl, 

 and was choked up with sedges, and a plant belonging to the family 

 Hydropeltidce, hitherto not, I believe, found in India. Neither is 

 Bootan a country of valleys ; in fact, with the exception of those of 

 Bhoomlungtung, Byagur, and Jaisa, we saw none worthy of bear- 

 ing the name. That of Punukka owes its existence to the va- 

 garies of the river, as its only level part has obviously at some 

 previous time formed part of its bed. The three valleys otherwise 

 mentioned are, if viewed in comparison with other valleys situated in 

 similarly mountainous countries, perfectly insignificant, for they con- 

 sist of a gentle slope from the bases of the contiguous hills to the bed of 

 the draining stream. The valley of Tassisudon is probably of like 

 extent with that of Punukka, but Turner's accounts are so little to be 

 relied on, that even in a simple matter like this no just conclusion is to 

 be formed. I have only to add, that the three valleys are represented 

 as being close to some of the passes into Thibet : this alone is perhaps 

 sufficient to account for their great elevation. 



Hot springs occur one day's journey from Punukka, and appear to 

 be the resort of many invalids, victims to the most frequent disease, 

 lues venerea. From specimens procured by our guide, Chillong Soubah, 

 there must be at least two springs ; of one the water is of a yellowish 

 tint, and highly sulphureous ; that of the other is limpid, and 

 possesses no sensible properties. I did not hear of the existence of such 

 springs elsewhere. 



