414 A Journey through Sikim. [No. 5. 



vation of 1800 feet. It has a most extensive range, and the supply 

 might be rendered unlimited, if there was a demand for it in India 

 or in Europe. Sir William Hooker has recently informed me that he 

 has caused a trial of its qualities to be made in London, Dr. Hooker 

 having sent him some of the prepared Hemp from Darjeeling. Sir 

 William instances the successful cultivation of the Indian Jute as an 

 incentive to further trials of the Pooah. 



The Jute was not many years ago unknown in England. Now 

 36300,000 worth of it are imported annually !* 



The Peepsas are very indefatigable here, and very numerous. I am 

 encamped at the measuring stone (see Journal of 1848) ; there is no 

 water within a mile, but my ground is, I hope, above the level of 

 malaria. 



The road to-day swarmed with leeches, the people's feet stream- 

 ing with blood, and it was so slippery in the long descent from Temi 

 that I could not walk with shoes on, and I was obliged to move be- 

 tween two Lepcha supporters, whose bare feet give them a great ad- 

 vantage. The airs, and underwood teem with insect life ; innumerable 

 butterflies of brilliant hues sport in the sunshine ; and thousands of 

 other less attractive creatures are on the wing. The night is as busy 

 a time as the day with the insect world. The roof of my tent is 

 literally covered with the most beautiful little moths, and the air re- 

 sounds with the discord proceeding from innumerable throats. 



Thermometer at 8 p. m. 76°. 



Padom, below Kedong, 28th. 



Left Neh at 6 a. m. and arrived here at 3 p. m. I was anxious to 

 reach Kedong as it is certainly beyond the limit of malaria, but I 

 could not accomplish it ; I hope we are safe here ; it is, I reckon 5 or 

 600 feet above the Teesta and said to be healthy. 



Thermometer at 5 p. m. 75°. I am pitched near a small stream of 

 water among bamboos, high reed grass and Acacias ; there are some 

 Oaks, however, lower down, and at the cane bridge over the Rumphup 

 there are three large and handsome " Boreh" Palms. Pandani, Peepsas, 

 musquitoes, and a black venomous ant abound here. My feet are swollen 

 and sore from leech and peepsa bites ; my face and hands equally so 



* The Pooah has been very favourably reported on for cordage, by Captain 

 Thomson of Calcutta, see Proc. Agricultural Society for 1848. 



