254 Visit to the Hills near the Soobanshiri River. [No. J 60. 



\Oth. Early this morning we emerged from this great glen, and 

 found the first of the great rapids at its mouth. The canoes were safe- 

 ly pulled up with the long cane ropes we had provided ; above this rapid 

 the stream widens, the valley expands, and more distant mountains ap- 

 pear in sight. Huge blocks of rock obstructing the river in its descent 

 render the navigation more and more difficult. We were obliged to 

 lighten our boats, and for some distance the baggage was all conveyed 

 by land, whilst the canoes were dragged through fields of hissing foam, 

 or over rocks nearly dry ; after surmounting several such rapids we 

 reached Siploo Mookh whence we are to proceed by land. 



Luckimpore, February 11M, 1845. 

 February 21s*. 



My dear Major, — This being a holiday, I shall devote it to giving 

 you some further account of my late excursion. 



I wrote you a few lines from Siploo Mookh, detailing briefly my pro- 

 ceedings up to the date of my letter. On the 15 th January all the 

 headmen of Tema's tribe made their appearance, together with the ladies 

 of Tema's family, who came expressly to welcome me — his two wives 

 and daughter. I held an assembly, and particularly explained to the 

 chiefs that if they had the smallest objection to my proceeding further 

 I was ready to return ; but they all assured me that such a proceeding 

 would cause them great pain. They would be delighted to shew me 

 all the lions of their country ; but only begged, that as the small-pox was 

 raging in the Pathalipam village, I would leave behind me all the Patha- 

 lipam men. This I readily consented to do, provided they procured me 

 a sufficiency of Meri coolies. Affairs having been so far amicably arranged, 

 a distribution of salt and rum concluded the conference ; and the Gaums 

 in high good humour disported themselves before me, shewing their agility 

 in racing over the rocks, and their prowess in throwing stones across the 

 river : mean time I gave the ladies who had come to greet me some gay 

 colored cotton cloths ; and here, alas, was cause for jealousy. The other 

 Gaums would know why Tema's family alone should be thus favored ; but 

 I told them that when their wives and daughters came to greet me (as 

 Tema's had done) and were neglected, they might take umbrage at my 



