518 Journal of a trip to Si/cim. [May, 



rode astride on horseback, when he travelled in a doolie ; occasionally 

 riding a mile where the road admitted of it. Her women, and many- 

 others came during the day to the ghat to look at me, but none of 

 them crossed over. Many women from this side took the usual survey 

 of me, and all my chattels. 



"While walking out last evening, I came on a party of 8 fine young 

 Lepchas on the river-side near the cane bridge. They were engaged 

 at quoits, and after some talk they asked me if I would take a hand ; 

 I did so, but did not make much of it. The quoits are thick pieces 

 of slate weighing a seer or more, selected at the time, by the players. 

 The distance is about 30 feet, and they deliver the quoit with a rotatory 

 motion as we do. Each player has two quoits ; and the number of 

 players equally divided for a match. We played at the stump of a 

 small tree, at the root of which a peg was driven into the ground. If 

 a quoit rests on this peg it is equal to a ringer, but if an after one 

 rests on the first it alone counts, the first ringer being superseded and 

 cancelled. "We then had a turn at putting the stone, at which I beat 

 them, all easily, when I saw the best they could do. They practise 

 with "putting" a heavy and "drawing" a light stone, just as we do 

 in the highlands of Scotland. They attributed my victory to my 

 greater stature. There is something in that no doubt, but much more 

 in having the knack of the game from childhood. 



After the Raja arrived, I wrote to say I was glad to hear of his 

 safety and well-being from the Dewan, and that I had been hereabouts 

 for 8 days. Soon after the Dewan and Aden Cheboo Lama waited on 

 me with the Raja's compliments, and said that a propitious time was 

 sought for for my visit, and that as soon as it was known, I should be 

 informed. It was my extreme pleasure, I said, to await the Raja's 

 convenience, but should be glad of an early audience, if it so happened. 



We then had a great deal of talk on sundry subjects, and they took 

 their leave. 



19th. — The astrologers have made a very happy cast in my favor, 

 for it is announced that all is arranged for my visit to take place to-day 

 at noon. This a happy exercise of enlightenment in an occult science. 

 All is bustle and preparation over the way j the ferry is plying at 

 double tides, and I am getting a few attendants made as clean as possi- 

 ble to accompany me. This is not easy, for we have been a fortnight 

 out, and they have had no washings, 



