1852.] A Journey through Sikim, 477 



Diary of a Journey through Sikim to the Frontiers of Thibet. — By 

 Dr. A. Campbell, Superintendent of Darjeeling—with a Map. 

 {Communicated by Sir James Colvile, Kt.) 

 (Continued from page 428.) 



Chateng, October 7th. 

 Elevation 8,500 feet, started from Latong at 7 a. m. and did not 

 reach our ground till 6 p. m. A mile from camp we crossed to the 

 left bank of the Lachen by a rickety cane-bridge : the river a continu- 

 ous sheet of foam ; which is the character of it, and of the Teesta all the 

 way from the junction of the Rumam ; below that the water is heaved 

 up in waves. The declension of the river's bed must be very uniform 

 in each division of it, viz. in the way and in the foamy parts. The 

 rate is very rapid ; Dr. Hooker estimated it at 1 1 knots an hour. Close 

 to the bridge there is a fine cascade of i 00 feet or more from an af- 

 fluent of which I could not learn the name. At \ past one we reached 

 the " Takchoong" feeder which is a deep and furious one, and found 

 the bridge at the proper crossing place had been swept away. Having 

 ascended some way we found a crossing in progress of being formed. 

 The operation presented a very animating scene. About 30 Lepchas 

 having laid long Alder saplings from rock to rock in the torrents 

 course, spread themselves across the roaring torrent, and by binding 

 3 or 4 of the saplings together for foot ways and running temporary 

 rails, we all passed, the foam beating against the foot ways and wetting 

 us all over. Keeping along the left bank for three hours we re-crossed 

 to the right bank of the Lachen, and ascending a short distance came 

 upon pines near the river's edge ; all the way from Chongtam the 

 mountain tops are clothed with them.* Our route now lay through 

 an open forest of lofty Pines. At about 500 feet above the river and 

 2000 feet below the crests of the mountains, we crossed a recent land- 

 slip of great extent, and further on we crossed a roaring torrent 

 running over a solid rocky bottom which terminated in a precipice 

 20 yards below the crossing, the water shooting in a cascade down to 

 the river with a fall of 400 feet ; one of our coolies slipped his footing 

 at the crossing, and was saved from being instantly shot over with the 

 torrent by a man who promptly seized him. From this crossing we 

 * Pinus Brunoniana, and Pinus Khutrow. 



3 p 



