488 Journal of a trip to Sikim. [May, 



to the N. and N. West, the monastery of Pemiongchi, the ridge of 

 Rinchinpoong, with the valleys of the Kullait, Roho, Ratong and Rum- 

 man. The Kullait, rising in Singalelah, runs in an easterly direction to 

 the great Rungeet, and south of the Pemiongchi ridge. The Roho, 

 nearly parallel, runs south of Rinchinpoong. I have noted bearings of 

 these places. The only cultivation at Namgialachi is wheat, which is 

 just now springing above ground. The Meboo, or local officer of the 

 Raja stationed here, and 8 or 10 other Bhotiah families have rather 

 extensive fields well tilled and fenced in round their respective houses, 

 which are of wood on raised posts and thatched with split bamboo. 

 The land is fertile. A light loam, and with manure of cow-dung, yields 

 an annual crop of wheat ; rice is grown a little lower down. There are 

 some good turnips here, and the light yellow hill plantain ripens also. 

 A plant named " Moon," the grain of which is like millet, is grown for 

 the oil of its seed. The whole of the cultivated ground is overrun 

 with rank wormwood. The Meboo Lama, and others, have fine herds 

 of cows, and butter is procurable at 3 seers, (6 ifes.) per rupee. A littls 

 rice is also procurable from the neighbouring hamlets at 18 seers per 

 rupee. I heard nothing of the Raja's officers all day, nor did any of 

 them come near me. As they had stopped my advanced supplies here 

 for 6 days, thereby putting me to heavy charges for the hire of 40 coolies 

 who are setting idle, and had thus done my journey all the harm in 

 their power, I had no wish to have more to do with them. After 

 dark they sent to say they would visit me, but I declined on account 

 of the lateness of the hour, and as they had left me all day to shift for 

 myself, I preferred doing so for the night also. If an answer to my 

 letter to the Raja announcing my visit had reached them, it would have 

 been announced. From them therefore I anticipated no offers of civi- 

 lity, and I avoided proffered incivility, with a good excuse for putting 

 off their visit. 



The Lama of Silukfoke is the most polite man I have yet met with, 

 although I have fallen in with but one saucy fellow ; and more than a 

 hundred Sikimites met us yesterday en route to Darjeeling. A string 

 of 50 stout Meches returning from Namgialachi having deposited loads 

 of rice, sugar, tabacco, and other produce of the Morung there in transit 

 to the Raja ; and about 20 or more Lepchas loaded with oranges from 

 Temi Burmeok and other places near the Teesta, proceeding to Darjeel- 



