1852.] A Journey through Si/am. 411 



within a few hundred yards of the spot. The sun, not yet above the 

 horizon, tinged with deepest crimson long masses of clouds which 

 hung over the lower hills of Bootan. The great spur of the Sinchal 

 facing the Dell Corner to the South East, and lying between it and 

 the emblazoned clouds, was cloudless itself, and of a sapphire-blue. 

 In the valley of the Rungro reaching from the Saddle to the Great 

 Rungeet, and just below me, lay a six-mile bed of the laziest and 

 whitest clouds I ever saw. To the East the Peak of Tendong Arrarat 

 stood out so boldly and looked so near, that in the coming daylight I 

 did not at once recognise it ; and to complete the scene Kunchinginga 

 just then brushed off the clouds from its base to its summits, and 

 appeared in all the majesty of its coldest morning white. I stood in 

 great admiration until the sun arose, and then the whole scene 

 changed with magical rapidity. The crimson clouds dissolved at 

 once, and gave place to the clearest and brightest sky. The Bootan 

 Hills came out in peaks, and ridges, and all else was restored to its 

 usual aspect. 



At \ past 8, having ridden all the way, I crossed the Great 

 Rungeet by the Cane bridge. Thermometer in shade 85°, the heat 

 stifling, the river excessively turbid and swollen, — I here mounted a 

 fresh horse which had been ferried over the day before, and recom- 

 menced my journey. At 300 feet above the river I came on an open 

 expanse of long yellow grass, in which a dwarf palm (Cycas) and a 

 beautiful pale blue Iris abounded. This vegetation continued for at 

 least a mile, the contrast of colours was very beautiful, the whole 

 forming a variegated carpet under large trees of Saul and Pinus longi- 

 folia. Carried the Sauls and Pines with me to the ridge of Meksurrso, 

 where they at once ceased, and Oaks began. Probable elevation 3,000 

 feet. This ascent was an hour's work. Thermometer at \ past 9, 

 76° ; took a light breakfast, of cold tea with bread and butter, and 

 moved on riding slowly till half past 11, when in a narrow part of the 

 road a mile below Silukfoke the poney's hind foot slipped, I felt he 

 was giving way, and immediately slid out of the Saddle against the 

 inner bank which I had just touched when the poor beast capsized 

 backwards, and then rolled like a round black ball with the speed of 

 light down the precipice, the open umbrella which I had in my hand 

 following about 100 yards in his wake. 



