1852.] A Journey through Si/dm. 569 



Lachoong running smoothly is re-crossed to the west bank by a good 

 wooden bridge. The village of Yeumtang has 25 houses built of 

 wooden walls with shingle roofs. They belong to the Bhotias of La- 

 choong, who are now at that place with their cattle, this being too cold 

 at this season. They migrate up and down the valley from Yeunkta — 

 5 miles above Samdong — to some miles below Lachoong, We reached 

 Yeumtang at 5 p. m. Ther. at 8 p. m. 40°, fell during the night to 

 34° . There is some good grazing here, and it is rather a fine place, 

 the valley being nearly two miles broad, with pine forests rising 1,500 

 or 2,000 feet up the mountains which, above the line of pines, exhibit 

 fine masses of rock topped with snow. 



Yeumtang, 22nd October, 



Halt here to-day. There are some hot springs a mile down the 

 valley, to which our coolies are gone to bathe their swollen faces and 

 sore eyes. Temp, of these springs 5° lower than the Samdong ones, 

 when Hooker visited them in September. There are some very bold 

 rocky peaks on the left bank of this valley above the village, which 

 rise probably 5,000 feet above the river. 



The pine forest extends to 1,500 or 2,000 feet. Excellent ponies 

 in this valley. The Phipun or manager trades a good deal with Thi- 

 bet, and into Sikim as low as Singtam only, whence he brings rice for 

 export to Thibet. The other exports are munjeet-madder, a leaf 

 yielding a yellow dye or symplocos, bamboos, rattans and planks for 

 flooring and shingle. 



The imports from Thibet are tea, salt, blankets, and some very good 

 pottery. Ther. at 8 p. m. 38° . Drizzling rain all the evening. 



October 23rd. 



March to Lachoong. A good deal of snow fell last night on the 

 neighbouring hills, and those to the south. " Black Rock" bears 159 a 

 S. S. E., Singikamoo Mountain, P. S. just over head bears E. N. E., 

 Singikama-looug P. S. N. E., Latoong Kamboo P. S. S. W. A very 

 fine bright day ; start at 9 a. m. by a good road for ponies through a 

 forest of the largest and handsomest trees of Pinus Webbiana I have 

 yet seen, with numerous species of rhododendron tree and shrub-roses, 

 birches, maple, &c. Descent gradual. At 3 miles down, found the 

 larch and willows along with Pinus Webbiana ; old lake-beds frequent, 

 the Lachoong running quietly through them and in rapids by turns. 



