1852.] A Journey through Sikim. 575 



1,000 feet above, are still covered with them. Considerable descent 

 this far ; insects now numerous, and it is getting warm. Cross the 

 Lachoong to east bank by a wooden bridge, ascend and cross a thickly 

 wooded spur, whence descend to a torrent from the east, cross and 

 ascend to Kedoom, the elevation of which is 7,000 feet. Ther. at 6 

 p. m. 60°, fell at night to 50° — a village of six or eight houses inha- 

 bited by Bhotias, who were very civil and cheerful : a good deal of 

 cultivation. The maize, kodu, kowni and amaranthus not yet ripe. 

 The muwwa has been cut. Plantains not good ; peaches do not ripen, 

 but are pulled and stored. They are soft and shrivelled. 



October 27th. 



Chongtam. Reached this to-day at noon, in three hours from 

 Kedoom, which terminates our exploration of the Lachen and La- 

 choong rivers which unite here. We have followed the former to its 

 sources in Thibet, and taking up the latter at its origin on the Sikim 

 side of the Donkiah Pass have come along it downwards. This has 

 occupied twenty-two days. Rode our ponies for 2 miles after leaving 

 Kedoom, and sent them back to Lachoong as the road was quite 

 impracticable. At 4 miles crossed to west bank of the Lachoong by 

 a cane suspension-bridge, and kept this side the remainder of the way. 

 Total distance about 7 miles. Two fine cascades fall into the Lachoong 

 at the bridge — W. bank. Heavy forest of birch, alder, oaks, hydran- 

 gea, Bucklandia, &c, with under jungle of small bamboo all the way, 

 one Bucklandia measured twenty-one feet in circumference. The 

 mountains above Chongtam are grassy to their summits — say to 8,000 

 feet. The ghoral and thar antelopes with the wild goat — jharal — are 

 numerous. Elevation of Chongtam 5,000 feet. Temp, at noon 74° . 



The Lachoong Phipun, a very good natured Bhotia, but rather eccen- 

 tric, took great care of me all the way to-day, helping me over every 

 bad place, and exclaiming at each : " I have but the size of my thumb 

 to do for the Sahib now. Thank God we are near the end of the 

 journey ; if any thing should happen him in my district, I would cut 

 my throat :" and then he would give me half dried unripe peaches out 

 of the breast of his greasy Bukoo-Cloak, and expected me to eat them. 

 His district extends from Choongtam to Donkiah, comprising the whole 

 of the Lachoong valley. He rarely leaves Lachoong except to go to 

 Thibet. He felt the heat very much ; I enjoyed the genial warmth 

 after our recent freezing. 



(To be continued.) 



