554 Notes upon a Tour in the Sihkim Himalayah Mountains. [No. 6. 



boughs over his head, and with the greatest activity cling to the shoe 

 or foot, although only on the ground during the short period requir- 

 ed to make a step. We tried tobacco leaves, dried snuff, of which 

 we carried mulls full ; we tried having a man behind to watch our 

 naked legs, for it is impossible to keep the calves of the legs covered, 

 otherwise every leech that managed to get upon your person would 

 have a feast ; but all to no purpose. The bites were as numerous as 

 ever ; although from the effects of the tobacco, I have turned out 

 from my shoes at the end of a day's journey, thirty or forty dead 

 and completely dried up leeches. If the leg is thoroughly protected 

 with leather gaiters, the leech will be driven to bite higher up, and 

 will insinuate itself up the sleeves or down the neck ; in fact there is 

 no remedy yet discovered that will keep them off your person. 

 They are not seen during the winter, nor during very heavy rain ; 

 between the showers of the rainy season is the period of their 

 greatest activity. 



At noon we were a few hundred feet above the Limboo village 

 Hee, having descended 3,000 feet, and now stood opposite to the 

 noble mountain on which are situated the monasteries of Pemionchi 

 and Chanachelling, on the northern side of the Kullait river. The 

 Thermometer stood at 75°, and the power of the sun was so great 

 as to necessitate the use of an umbrella. A pretty Bhootea woman 

 with a child on her back brought us from her house, where she and 

 her husband lived whilst tending a herd of cows, a large bamboo 

 of fresh milk probably holding a couple of quarts, and subsequently 

 she brought us two bamboos of the delicious chee, only to be enjoyed 

 where there is great heat. A present of a quantity of silver two* 

 anna pieces seemed to please her very much, for she ran for her hus* 

 band, a regular Mongolian with a goitre, who, she assured us, would 

 act as our guide for a short distance. 



As dysentery was raging at Hee, our people begged of us not to 

 go to the village, as they believe that the disease is infectious ; in- 

 deed not one of our Lepchas would have followed us had we insisted 

 upon proceeding in that direction ; so having enjoyed the view of 

 the magnificent mountain, and having taken the bearings of the 

 Goompas that were perched 4,000 feet over our heads, our guide 

 led us through the forest in a westerly direction. 





