1853.] Notes upon a Tour in the Sikkim Himalayah Mountains. 637 



August Vdth, 1852. — Left the banks of the Euttoo at 7 a. m. and 

 ascended Chakoong by a very steep path, reached the summit at 8 

 A. m., a rapid descent and ascent over several small spurs, brought 

 us at 11 a. m. to the Bummam river, which we crossed by a very 

 good cane-bridge. 



Upon the southern flank of Chakoong I saw several large blocks 

 of sandstone, black clay slate and gneiss. The jungle was too dense 

 to allow of any examination of the ground. In the Eummam, gneiss 

 veined with white quartz is the only rock to be seen. 



At 1 p. m. we reached the guard-house at Goke by an excellent 

 government road which commences at the Eummam river ; four sets 

 of zig-zags and many easy gradients, render the road accessible to 

 horses. The change from steep and narrow footpaths, to a broad 

 road was most delightful. There is much cultivation upon the spur 

 and many substantial Limboo houses. The most remarkable feature 

 upon the Goke spur is the large bamboo forest through which the 

 road has been cut ; bamboos ten inches in diameter and a hundred 

 feet in length may be had in any quantities. These bamboos, called 

 by the natives " Choongas," are used at Darjeeling, instead of the 

 common leather-bag (mussak), for holding water for domestic pur- 

 poses ; they are also used as milk-pails, also for holding chee, ghee 

 and other liquids. Amongst these bamboos, I saw the large black 

 squirrel, measuring about three feet six inches from the nose to the 

 tip of the tail. From Goke half an hour's descent brought us to 

 the little Eungeet where our friends had sent us ponies and some 

 bread ; a man having been sent on two days ahead to announce our 

 approach ; at 4.30 p. M. we reached Darjeeling by the Tuqvor spur, 

 having been away eighteen days, during which we had travelled 

 360 miles on foot or at the rate of twenty miles per diem ascending 

 36,000 feet and descending 31,000 feet, to reach an elevation of 

 14,500 feet distant in a direct line thirty-seven miles from the point 

 of departure. These figures may in a slight measure convey some 

 idea of the labour that has to be undergone by a traveller in the 

 Himalayahs. The longest march made during the trip in a direct 

 line was ten miles ; the average distance was only five miles, each 

 march occupying eight hours steady walking. 



Here I part with my Lepcha guide and Lepcha companions, testi- 



4 n 2 



