1849.] Journal of a trip to Si/dm. 523 



get it, but the Chinese have put many persons there to death for using 

 it. Nevertheless it is to be had ; and I have known as much as 30 

 Rupees paid for one pipe of it." " Is there any sent from Nipal ?" " Yes, 

 a good deal, but it is at a tremendous risk to the smugglers." I put 

 this question, as I knew that our opium agents in Sarun and Tirhoot 

 used some years ago, and do so now probably, to make opium advances 

 in the Nipal tarai, which yields superb poppy. If the Goorkhas took 

 to smuggling into Thibet as our traders do along the coasts of the 

 Flowery Land, we might have successful rivals for the Sycee,* but 

 they have not a taste for this sort of dangerous traffic, nor for outraging 

 the a laws of China on its own soil. 



2lst. — I had purposed leaving this to-day on my return to Darjeel- 

 ing, but I wait for Hooker. He will like to see these Sikimites at 

 head-quarters, and will have no other chance of doing so. The people 

 still continue to flock in from the westward to make their obeisances to 

 the Raja and present their little offerings. These consist entirely of 

 articles of food — in pork, kids, rice, fowls, eggs, milk, Murwa for beer, 

 butter, spirits, plantains. At their departure they are honoured with 

 presents of salt, tea, and blankets ; all Thibetan articles are highly valued 

 in Sikim. 



I came this evening in my walk on an invalid taking the warm bath, 

 which is such a favorite remedy in Sikim, (the Sachoo,) and before say- 

 ing more about it, I wish to guard other travellers against mistaking 

 these baths, when the Lepchas describe them for warm springs which 

 have the same denomination. f It was close to this on the river-side. 

 The bath is hollowed out of a rough log, and is 7 feet long, about 3 

 deep, and 2 wide. The water is warmed by throwing in hot stones 

 until it is of the desired temperature. The patient was in the bath 

 when I came up to it ; at the foot of the tub was a large log fire, in 

 which were a number of stones about 4 ibs. weight each ; hot and 

 ready for use. An attendant kept the fire going, and every now 

 and then as the water cooled, and at the patient's bidding, he put in a 

 stone extracted from the fire with a pair of bamboo tongs. I felt the 

 water and thought it rather hot, so I sent for the Thermometer. It was, 

 110° of Farenheat, and just then a stone was put in which raised it to 

 114°, and this was the point the patient kept it at while I staid. He 

 * Ingots of China silver. t Sa, hot — choo, water. 



3 Y 



