422 A Journey through Sihim. [No. 5. 



shoes on. With a stick in each hand and a Lepcha holding on by 

 each arm, slipping was not to be avoided. 



The opposite bank of the Teesta is extraordinarily precipitous, and 

 in many places the scarped rocks for 1000 feet descend almost perpen- 

 dicularly to the river. The course of the Teesta here is east and 

 west, which it takes from the Saklang ghaut south of this, and at 

 the foot of the Shem spur. It was by the Saklang ghaut that Hooker 

 crossed in May last, having kept the west bank of the river that far 

 from Goreh opposite Singtam. Bearing north is the Sufo mountain, 

 lower down Likla, and west of that is " Sakiong." 



The Kuloo mountain above last night's encampment is a favourite 

 site for devotees, who retire for a time into the jungles to do penance 

 and devote themselves to abstraction and religious contemplation. This 

 feature of Hinduism is in considerable repute aniQng the Buddhists in 

 Sikim, females as well as males of the religious order adopting it. 

 One of the present Raja's daughters is a Nun-Auni — and has in this 

 way segregated herself from the world for 11 years. While thus en- 

 gaged the individuals are objects of veneration, and perform religious 

 exercises and incantations for all applicants. 



There is a Goomba at Rungoon, the head Lama of which is a Lepcha. 

 It commands a noble view of the eastern flank and spurs of Kunchin- 

 jinga, but we were enveloped in thick clouds, and I saw nothing as we 



I found an Indian-rubber tree, called Yok-koong, close to the last 

 ground at Tugvia. Caoutchouc is made in Sikim, but the only use it 

 is applied to is for lining baskets to hold fermented murwa for making 

 beer. 



There is a crop grown here which I never met with before ; it is 

 called " Kundep," and is now in ear ; it is grown like rice, and is some- 

 thing like it, but taller and stronger in the stem, and the grains are 

 separate, on long pedicles, and twice the size of those of rice. It is 

 said to be nutritious, and to taste like Indian-corn. When eaten it is 

 boiled like rice and is previously husked in the same way. Three 

 climbing edible plants are cultivated hereabouts, the Botanical names 

 of which I do not know. 



1st. — " Kucho-pote," a round brown thing like a potatoe in form 

 and substance ; it is formed on the stem of the plant which is a slender 





