480 A Journey through Sikim. [No. 6. 



Digarchi for a sum of money which he was unable to pay. The debt 

 of the capital sum was expunged : but the interest, secured by a 

 bond, was made payable to the Lama and his successors, with a pro- 

 viso that the obligation should be transferred to the Phipun's official 

 successors, all of whom on taking the office receive this bond from 

 their predecessors and discharge its conditions; The interest is paid 

 in shingles for roofing, a specified number of which are to be pre- 

 pared annually in the Lachen valley and forwarded to Digarchi. The 

 La Pun, or Deputy Phipun, is appointed by the Thibetan officers at 

 Kambajong. The Phipun holds his appointment from the Sikim 

 Raja. The Thibetan influence is further secured by the fact of all 

 the holders of stock in Lachen being indebted for advances of money 

 or goods to persons in Digarchi. The usual rate of interest paid on 

 such advances is 25 to 40 per cent, per annum. I look for further 

 particulars of the peculiarities of Lachen as we advance. 



At noon we crossed the Zemu, a large affluent of the Lachen from 

 the north-west by an excellent bridge, and ascended to our encamp- 

 ing ground. Elevation of Yeunga 10,000 feet. Thermometer fell 

 during the night to 44°. 



Tungu, October 9th. 



Elevation 13,000 feet. Ther. at 4 p. m. 42°. Started from our 

 last ground at 7 a. m., and reached this at 3 p. m. ; road good all the 

 way and the distance not above 12 miles. I rode the greater part of it, 

 the Lachen Phipun having sent us down three good ponies from Tungu. 

 Half a mile above Yeunga the Lachen valley opens out considerably ; 

 the stream runs in a quiet ripple, with the banks shelving to its edge, 

 and there is a good deal of level ground on both sides. The moun- 

 tains however are as precipitous on either side as they are lower down, 

 but do not, as there, form the immediate banks of the river. At Pan- 

 gri which we reached in an hour from Yeunga, the valley again nar- 

 rows, and the river becomes rapid and foaming. This alternation of 

 meanderings and rapid courses obtains all the way to n Tungu ;" yet 

 in no place is there any cataract, or even a sudden fall. At 10 o'clock 

 we crossed the Lachen — to its left bank — at Talom Samdong by an 

 excellent bridge. Here there is a flat terrace half a mile long and 20 

 feet above the river, with 20 houses belonging to the Lachen Bhotiahs, 

 who occupy them in their migrations up and down the valley. These 



