308 



is, in summer, exposed to the full force of the damp southerly winds, 

 laden with mist, which blow with increasing violence as the day advances, 

 to die away only at night. These continuous currents rapidly diflinte- 

 grate the surface, washing down the superincumbent earth, and wearing 

 away rocks which become precipices or crags of fantastic shapes. Vege- 

 tation, therefore, cannot find permanent foothold under such circum- 

 stances, and its abundance is confined to the sheltered flanks, where a 

 copious rainfall is absorbed by the deep and fertile soil. 

 ^ The increase of 3,000 feet in elevation I i tween Lachung village and 

 Yeumtong causes the appearance of many new plants along the route. 

 Composites become more numerous and gregarious. Inula Hooheri 

 beautifies dry knolls with its densely leafy stems and large heads of 

 yellow flowers. Erigeron multiradiatus, species of Scnecio, Ana/il/alis, 

 and Aster are e<piall\ plentiful. Various Thalictra and Halenia 

 clliptica, all with blue and white flowers, grow in the grass and low 

 thickets. Orchids are well represente.l by JTabenaria, Safyrium, 

 and the small purple Orchis C/iusna, allied to the common 0. la ti folia 

 of England. The monkshood was flowering and attained a height of 

 6 feet in flat grassy fields. Cattle and horses are allowed to graze at 

 large in places infested with this plant, but sheep and goats do not 

 possess the same instinctive knowledge of its poisonous properties, and 

 great care has to be exercised by the shepherds when driving them 

 through those localities. 



Mgricaria gcrrnanica, AW inn, Jfcroymjjsis <implicifoUa, whose 

 spikes, 3 foot in height, greatly excel the stunted specimens seen on 

 Knigalolah, the large wild Hose, ./.'• ith bright red 



fruits and shrubby Berberis, wore all common. 



The following day was Sunday, so I halted, at Yeumtong. The tents 

 were pitohed between the huts and the ri\ . r. whieh. flows 'trnnouilly in a 

 broad shallow bod down fho whole length of the lint. Opposite i"s the 

 snowy mountain with a glacier reaching n lower level than any other in 

 Sikkim, as Dr. Hooker mentions; a thick turf of grass covered the 

 surface of the flat. A yellow Anemone, A. oblnsiloba, with leaves 

 oppressed to the ground, a surcnloso Sa.vifrat/a, the Dandelion, 

 Taraxacum officinale, the aromatic yellow Els'lmltzitr eriostachya, and 

 groups of brilliantly yellow flowered Scncrin dircrxijolin* gave' colour 

 to the scene. A small swamp north of the camping ground was 

 brightened by the yellow flowers of Pedicularis tnbijlora and a small 

 floating Ranunculus, and beyond, in a small wood of silver fir, I found 

 many specimens of Mec<> \ V. iirpnlcnsis in fruit. 



I collected a large supply of seed from the former, but nearly ever? 

 capsule of the latter had been destroyed by -.. ^niall white caterpillar. 

 Both species never grow in the open, but prefer the shelter afforded by 

 rocks or small bushes on the skirts of thickets. The commonest plant 

 was Cnicas criophoroides, with strongly spinon' loaves, which penetrate 

 the thickest cloth, and cause a smarting sensation in the skin. Other 

 plants were Salvia ghttincsa. Lgchnis nutans, Ciaabalxs baccifcr, and 

 Asarvm himalaicvm. 



Aroids of the genus Aristema are common. Tn early summer their 

 tuberous roots are prepared and used for food, according" to the method 

 described by Dr. Hooker. I was presented with a few glutinous cakes, 

 made in the most approved style, but the taste was so peculiarly 

 disagreeable that I could not persuade myself to eat more than one 

 mouthful. 



Yeumtong is a large cattle 

 sports and i 



reacts and imports, 



