1852.] A Journey through Sikim. 485 



October \3th. 



6 a. m light clouds coming up from the south ; to the north it is 

 all clear. Ther. 40°, surrounding mountains snowed to 700 feet above 

 our camp. A portion of Chomiomo mountain in perpetual snow is 

 visible : bearing north-west. 



The Bhotias of the village are already assembled on the green, sit- 

 ting in a circle round the headman, all busily talking, and all smoking 

 their brass pipes, which every man carries at all times stuck in his 

 girdle. This mode of assembling is a daily practice, generally in the 

 morning and evening, but often at other times. It is an idle gather- 

 ing very often ; but at other times business matters are discussed and 

 settled. 



October \4th. 



At 7 a. m. yesterday it suddenly cleared, and we started on ponies 

 for Phaloong to get a view of Kanchanjhow, Chomiomo and the 

 Choongoo Kang mountains of perpetual snow, which respectively lie 

 to the north, north-west and east of Tungu, and the Lachen valley. 

 Our route lay east by north, and along the right bank of the Tongu- 

 choo, a stream which falls into the Lachen, below the village of 

 Tungu. Ascending about 1,000 feet, we came to a dozen of black 

 yak hair tents, in shape like those of the Israelites, occupied by as 

 many families of the Lachen Bhootias tending their yaks ; they had 

 come down the previous day from Phaloong in consequence of the fall 

 of snow, and told us that the Thibetans from Geeree and Kambajong, 

 who had been with them at Phaloong since July, had from the same 

 cause retired with all their yaks and sheep across the Kangra Lama 

 Pass into Thibet. The Lachen men will gradually descend their own 

 valley as the winter season advances to Deenga, grazing their cattle 

 on the way at Tungu, Talom, Samdong, Lachen or Lamtoug, Latong, 

 The Thibetans have retired to Zeumchoo, and will do so to Geeree and 

 Kambajong, where they rely principally on straw and hay for carrying 

 their cattle through the winter.* 



A mile beyond the black tents I got a glimpse of Kanchanjhow 

 with a few light clouds scouring over its summit. I was leading our 

 party ; the bridle path was good and I pushed on in a high state of 



* Geeree and Kambajong, although further in the interior of Thibet than Zeuua- 

 tro, are at a lower elevation and warmer. 



3 c* 



