504 Journal of a trip to Sikim. [May, 



This question may be settled a little further on. There is no doubt, 

 I now think, that both these Passes are to the west ofWaugh's Pow- 

 hunny. There is a stream of good water at Kedong, and just enough 

 flattish ground to place my tent on ; around it are fine large rocks under 

 which the Lepchas sleep. 



" The Koor," " Borh," and " Oope Palms," are very abundant on 

 the Lingkeang ascent. No tree ferns, Oaks, and birches at Kedong; 

 Water boils at 200^°. Thermometer in shade at 2 p.m. 58°. Tem- 

 perature of stream 54°. 



Started at 7 a. m. and after hard work over such a road as 1 have 

 only heard described, but never travelled on, halted here at noon. All 

 hands up half an hour after, right glad to find that I had reached water, 

 and did not purpose passing it to make a longer march. Gorrh is the 

 usual halting place. We got there at 11 a. m. and the Raja's guides 

 in attendance tried to dictate a halt to me there, on which account I 

 mainly . pushed on to satisfy them that they were sent for my conve- 

 nience, not for their' s. They are very civil fellows on the whole, and 

 do my bidding cheerfully. If they tell a hundred lies during the day, 

 about the names of places, and other things which I have in my own 

 knowledge, and by means of those who are with me, the power of 

 correcting, it is the fault of their training, and I cannot help it. After 

 an hour's walking with a good deal of ascent, and along a perfect 

 precipice principally of solid rock, with loose stones here and there, we 

 rounded the N. E. shoulder of Sungdam, and suddenly turning north- 

 wards, I was rewarded with a torrent of delightful emotions such as 

 one but rarely experiences, and which form the sunny spots in the 

 book of life, when they do occur. When we started it was cloudy, 

 and threatening rain ; sudden gusts of S. W. wind came violently up 

 the course of the Teesta, and we were enveloped in dense mist. 

 Despairing of seeing any thing for this day, and expecting to have 

 to return to-morrow to the Dewan and the chiefs at the ghat, I 

 early rosolved to halt at Kedong. How glad I am that I did not, for 

 on turning to the north the horizon was quite clear ahead, and dis- 

 played a noble view of the snowy mountains. The Teesta valley 

 running due north, seemed to penetrate deep into the range, which 

 looked close to us, and semicircles of snowy mountains flanked it on 

 the east and west. It was more than beautiful, a fresh and bracing 



