80 Trip to the Bulcha and Oonta Dhoora Passes. [No. 134. 



lower down, and the sun was intensely hot, so that T was glad to find 

 myself back at the village at half-past twelve, after nearly- eight 

 and a quarter hours' exertion, seven and a quarter hours of which 

 were incessant travelling. The sun when it does shine out is very 

 powerful, or rather it feels so, and my face is now half raw, and the 

 colour of a beefsteak. The pain and annoyance of this is all the in- 

 convenience I have yet felt, and my health and strength are (thank 

 God) first rate, a state hardly to have been expected. 



After breakfast, I was much surprised to find that the Lama* had 

 suddenly made up his mind to start for Tooling, and had left with six 

 ponies and two servants shortly after I started in the morning ; no per- 

 son was acquainted with his intentions, or can give any explanation 

 for his sudden departure. The Lama's remaining two or three servants, 

 who were to have followed with some goats, &c, treated themselves to 

 a jollification upon the happy event of their master's return, and are 

 now all dead drunk. In the course of the afternoon, they came to 

 where I am living, and one man commenced singing by no means 

 unmelodious songs, accompanying himself with motions of the hands, 

 feet and body, exactly similar to those of nautch women at Almora, or 

 in the plains. Another fell down with an awful thump on the hard stones, 

 but was picked up unhurt and laughing. I was rather glad when they 

 were persuaded by me to go to sleep. These people started early 

 next morning. Nagoo describes them as wonderful travellers, and 

 says, they think nothing of ascending Oonta Dhura with a heavy 

 load. 



27th May. — Had a long sleep after yesterday's fag, and did not get 

 up till 6h. 30m. a. m. Though if my heel had not been galled and 

 face so very painful, I should probably have tried the burral again. 

 Morning very mild and pleasant. Ther. 55 c and no wind, but about 10 

 a. m. an East wind sprung up. Seven or eight jooboos reported present, 

 and the remainder faithfully promised by evening, so that I may start 

 to-morrow morning. Busied myself during the day in selecting clothes, 

 &c. for the trip, and in making a plan of the country beyond the Pass, 

 according to Nagoo's information. Ther, in the sun at noon, 80° ; 



* The Lama of Tooling, a refugee to Almora during the invasion of Thibet by 

 Zorawur Sing and the Sikhs, and after the spoliation of his temple bv there.— 

 J. H. B. 



