1849.] Journal of a trip to Sikim. 531 



The river is about 80 feet across here. The ascent to Tassiding is very 

 steep indeed ; it took an hour and a half. The summit is 2500 feet 

 above the river, and is entirely occupied by temples, chaityas, men- 

 dongs, and the dwelling houses of the Lamas ; a very remarkable place 

 indeed. The hill, which is rounded to the south, rises abruptly from 

 the Rungeet and Rotong rivers, which flow along 3 sides of it, and 

 unite their waters at its southern extremity ; it is well wooded to the 

 top. Darjeeling bears due south, Sinchul S. by W. ; our road lay through 

 all its buildings, whence we descended a short way to Suneek, as there is 

 no water nearer. 



. 31*/, Suneek.— We halted here to-day, and went up to Tassiding to 

 examine it more carefully. The buildings consist of 3 Goombas, two 

 large and a centre smaller one, which is painted red on the outside, with 

 a border along the top of the walls of white skulls with black teeth. 

 This is the Goomba now used for every day worship, but it was origi- 

 nally dedicated to the devil, and other deities of evil omen. All the 

 Goombas are built of stone, with very little mortar of whitish clay. 

 The masonry is admirable, and although the buildings at Pomiongchi 

 of the same sort are said to be from 3 to 400 years old, they are in per- 

 fect preservation. The northern and largest Goomba is a handsome 

 edifice, about 80 feet long, 40 broad, and 35 feet high. It tapers from 

 the foundation to the summit, and has a pitch-roof of bamboo thatch 

 rounded at the ends, and projecting about 10 feet beyond the top of 

 the wall, so as fully to protect the base. The only entrance to the lower 

 story of the temple is at the eastern end, it is 3 stories high, and in each 

 story are narrow windows of lattice-work. The body of the lower story 

 is divided into a vestibule, which runs the whole breadth of the build- 

 ing, and into the temple proper, which is 42 feet long by 33 feet wide* 

 It is equally divided into a centre aisle and two sides, by three pillars 

 on each side. The pillars are of wood, very handsomely painted in 

 vermilion and gold, and support 3 massive architraves, which extend 

 across the building and are beautifully painted in squares and diamonds 

 of bright vermilion and gold, with dragons in white, vermilion and 

 gold. Over each pillar is a gilded Lion with black terminal tail-brush. 

 The effect of the painting, as it is in very brilliant colours, is extremely 

 good. The centre aisle has a low bench on each side covered with yel- 

 low and purple felts, for the seats of the Lamas only, on great occasions 



3 z 



