1849.] Journal of a trip to Sikim. 50. > 



breeze came blowing right in our faces, the nearer hills on either bank 

 of the river rising from its bed from 6 to 7,000 feet, were bright in 

 sunshine; all around was indisputably grand, and I was perfectly 

 happy. 



The road from Kedong to this shoulder of Sungdam, which is pro- 

 bably from 5 to 6,000 ft. high, runs mostly on a narrow ledge of rock, 

 with the Teesta on the right, and perpendicularly below you ; the peaks 

 of Sungdam overhead and of bare rock, a variety of long grasses 

 occupy the soily portions of the mountain side ; and at the shoulder 

 there are some stunted trees of the scarlet Rhododendron, Alders, and 

 the handsome yellow Daphur now in full flower. The bark of this 

 plant is as tough as that of the real paper plant ;* but it is not used, 

 I believe for that purpose. It abounds all the way to Tukbrum, where 

 it is a good sized tree. 



From Sungdam shoulder, the road descends very steeply to the Rett 

 or Ronglo, a rapid stream running east to the Teesta, crosses it, and 

 ascends precipitously to Gorrh, we come through barley and wheat 

 fields just above ground, and then along more rocky precipices to this 

 place. I believe that my route to Lachoong,t which gives the road 

 as descending to the Teesta at Gorrh, is quite correct, but there is 

 evidently a great jealousy with the Sikim officials of our crossing the 

 Teesta, and as I satisfied myself at Gorrh, that the snow may be 

 reached or nearly so by the left bank, I did not press hard questions 

 about the ferry, and came on. 



The Runkoom, an eastern feeder of the Teesta, joins it opposite the 

 foot of the Sungdam shoulder ; and the Rungmon from the E. by N. 

 coming from the snowy peak, noted yesterday as Powhunny, joins it 

 nearly at the same place. At Tukbrum is a feeder of the same name, 

 which comes down in a cataract over the rocky valley of its bed, and 

 roars as loudly as the Teesta itself at Bangsong. On the east bank, 

 and north of this is the Rhato ; and from the west, and between 

 Tukbrum and Rahlang Ghat, is the Nukdung, and some other feeders 

 of which I have not the names. At Rahlang the Teesta takes a turn 

 to the eastward, and it is the Rieng which comes due south from the 

 snows, and appears to be the north source of the river. To the north- 

 east of the junction of the Rieng it is joined by the united streams of 

 * Daphne also. f Jour. As. Soc. for November, 1848. 



