1849.] Journal of a trip to Sikim. 491 



ter on them. The others have various texts from the Thibetan scrip- 

 tures. On the flat top of the " Mundong" are five little Chaityas, of the 

 usual round shape ; at the east end of it are two large Chaityas, and 

 at the south another* 



So much for Namgialachi, which I purpose quitting to-morrow, and 

 which has turned out to be of greater interest than I had anticipated. 



Temi, December 7th— -Started from Namgialachi at 6 a. m., and hav- 

 ing gone over the top of Tendong and descended to the Temi road on 

 the N. "W. face of the mountain, arrived here at 4 p. m. I reckon the 

 distance by the regular road 12 to 14 miles. It is passable for ponies, 

 and one half of it may be ridden over easily enough. 



Two hours and a half of steep ascent brought us to the top of 

 Sundoopchi. This peak overhangs Namgialachi. The whole way is 

 finely wooded ; near the summit oaks, five species, are abundant. From 

 this the road runs along the ridge which connects Sundoopchi with Ten- 

 dong, it is an avenue of fine trees all the way to " Lamchook," and 

 may be 4 miles long ; total distance from Namchi about 6 miles. About 

 half way between Sundoopchi and Lamchook there is an immense mass 

 of quartz, about 30 feet high and twice that length. Its shelter is 

 used as a resting place, and called a " Lahup," or cave ; a mile nearer 

 Lamchook there is a fine flat spot on the ridge with water close by, 

 and well suited for encamping on. It is named Baktchin. 



At Lamchook, which the term implies, two roads diverge. That to 

 the left is the high road to Temi, the other leads right up Tendong 

 and over its summit to Burmeok, the residence of a Kaji, and above the 

 Tuksmapoo, or Tuk ghat of the Teesta. 



The top of Tendong, 8600 feet, is a spacious flat 100 yards square or 

 more, with fine swelling shoulders on all sides. There is a stone Chaitya 

 in the centre, about 20 feet high, and some remains of a Goomba which 

 was commenced a few years ago, but sunk in its foundations. A Lama 

 is stationed here for two months during the rains to perform religious 

 exercises. There is a spring of excellent water near the top, and the 

 forest, which is gigantic, is almost entirely composed of oaks, and 3 

 species of Rhododendron, viz : the scarlet, the large and the smaller 

 white. I have collected a large quantity of the seed of the two last in 

 fine order. The other striking plants are the Hally, a Penax, with large 

 plumes of purple seeds, Hypericum, the large-flowered species of a small 



3 s 



