1849.] excursion from Barjiling to TongU. 423 



cast his eyes up the gorges of green on either hand. Firing the forest 

 is so easy in the drier months of the year, that a good deal of cultiva- 

 tion is met with on the spurs, at and below 5000 feet, the level most 

 aifected by the Lepchas, Limbos and Sikkim* Bhotheas. The moun- 

 tain slopes are so steep, that these spurs, or little shelves, are the only 

 sites for habitations between the very rare flats on the river banks, and 

 the mountain ridges, above 6000 feet, beyond which elevation cultiva- 

 tion is rarely if ever carried by the natives of Sikkim. The crops are 

 the usual ones of the plains, and the agriculture similar, with one im- 

 portant exception, that rice is hardly ever irrigated. This appears the 

 more remarkable, as on crossing the Singalelah range into Nepal, in 

 localities there as steep as those covered with rice-crops in Sikkim, irri- 

 gation is almost universally resorted to. The varieties of grain are 

 different, but as many as 8 or 10 kinds are grown without irrigation by 

 the Lepchas, and the produce is described as very good (80 fold). 

 Much of this success is due to the great dampness of the climate ; 

 were it not for this, the culture of the grain would probably be aban- 

 doned by the Lepchas, who never remain for more than three seasons 

 on one spot. 



At the bottom of the valley is a small village of Lepchas, Limbos 

 and Murmis, the tribe aggregated in groups, on one spur, and surround- 

 ed with small fields of the usual summer and winter crops of the plains. 

 The Lepcha house is far more roomy and comfortable than that of the 

 others ; it is generally square, built on posts, with a stage in front of the 

 door, and low-eaved thatch of bamboo stems, split and laid flat. The 

 walls are of bamboo wattle-work. In all respects it resembles the Bho- 

 teea house, but these are larger, better, and the framework is of strong 

 wooden beams, for it is not worth the Lepcha' s while to render his habi- 

 tation strong and durable. Both Limbus and Murmis build smaller 

 houses, often on the ground, but more frequently raised ; the roof is of 

 grass-thatch or occasionally of a piece of bamboo work matting. 



* I apply the term Sikkim Bhotheas to the more recent immigrants from Thibet, 

 who have settled in Sikkim, and are an industrious, well conducted people. The 

 Bhotheas again of Bhotan, to the eastward, rarely reside, except at Darjiling, and 

 bear the worst reputation (and most deservedly) of any of the numerous people 

 who flock to this station. These should not be confounded with any other Bhothean 

 tribes of Thibet, Sikkim or Nepal. 



