1849.] Journal of a trip to Sikim. 497 



or adventurous, but the reverse \ they shrink from violent measures, 

 and I believe, that however much they might bluster to deter a solitary 

 European unattended and unprotected, from travelling about the 

 country, his person would be perfectly safe and inviolate. This relates 

 to Sikim, and is a good deal. To me they are all perfectly polite and 

 very well bred at present. 



Bansong Ghat, on the west hank of the Teesta River 9th December. 

 —A very heavy march for loaded coolies and not an easy one by any 

 means for the traveller. The road runs all the way along the west 

 bank of the river over spurs, and across streams ; the general line of 

 it varying, I think or rather guess, from 1 to 3000 feet above it. We 

 started soon after day-light, and it was after 3 p. m., when the rear 

 guard came in. I adopt a very useful plan — Naik and 4 Sepoys go with 

 the fastest travelling coolies, and the Havildar with 4 more comes in 

 with the last men. No deviation from this is admitted. Shortly after 

 starting we crossed the Namfoke feeder of the Teesta ; its course is due 

 east to the river, and about a mile or more further on we came sud- 

 denly on a very grand, and also a most delightful prospect. It is the 

 basin-like valley of the Rungoom, a large and very rapid feeder of the 

 Teesta. I wish I could describe the impression it made upon me as I 

 first surveyed it : and it is not a whit less beautiful throughout its 3 

 sided circuit. On the North W. of it are the two peaks of Mainom- 

 choo, 11,000 feet, their sides of bare brown rock, the ridges having 

 numerous spikes of rock also. Forming the W. and S. W. margin of 

 the basin is " Yangang," which was above our stage of yesterday. 

 The bottom of the basin is a mass of the richest foliage, through which 

 3 or 4 perpendicular masses of rock protrude themselves. Mainom is 

 the first bare rocky-peaked mountain I have seen in Sikim. The effect 

 of this solitary change of character in the scenery is very striking. 



The view of Rungoom alone is well worth the pains of the journey 

 from Darjeeling. 



At the north margin of Rungoom our road is joined by one to 

 "Yangang,'' which leads via Baling Goomba to Islimbo, and also to 

 old Sikim. Although many of the trees in the Teesta valley are of 

 immense size, one we passed to-day surpassed them all. It measured 

 45 feet round, inclusive of 2 not large buttresses. It must be 35 feet 

 round the solid stem. 



