1830.1 
Visit to the Sic elm Mountains . 
121 
22d. On leaving Takdak, the road leads up the face of the Gardan-kattur range* 
and is steep, but not difficult. It occupied us three hours, not including halts. On 
this mountain is a fine field for a botanist, the whole of it being covered with thick 
forest, in which appears a great variety of productions. The top of the ridge is 
iroad a.nd quite flat : it would furnish an excellent site for an experimental garden ; 
and as it is connected with the mountain, over which the road to Darjiling would 
pass, a branch road could easily be made to it. The soil, as in all mountain forests, 
is a rich vegetable mould. Tbe elevation is 6600 feet, or about 600 feet lower 
than Darjiling. It the latter place should he found to be deficient in even ground, 
the top of this range, which extends several miles in length, and is upwards of 200 
y ards in width, would afford ample. A road might be easily cut along the top of 
this lidge to lead round the head of the glen to Darjiling ; and as the forest sce- 
nery on it is superb, such a road would afford a fine ride to the invalids at that 
place. It would extend several miles, and be almost level the whole way. 
From the summit we had an easy descent of 20 minutes to an open spot on the 
declivity of the range, whence we had a view of the plains, but dim and indistinct, 
ow/ng to the unfavourable state of the atmosphere. The stream of the Trsta was 
distinguished^ flowing to S. 40° E. Calidmpung, a fort in T£msang, a dis- 
J~“ utan » or l ^ e cou ntry of the Dherma Raja , was pointed out to us : it bore 
N. 9- L. We sat down here on a grassy bank, and idled away a half hour 
p easantly enough, gazing on the various features of the scene spread out before us, 
remarking particularly how very different a country it looked from that through 
which we found our way to Darjiling. An hour’s further descent brought us to a 
pait of the ridge where we observed some substantial huts, as well as various signs 
or a vigorous system of cleans being in operation. Here we expected to halt, but 
owing to some objection, which we could not very well understand, they took us 
on about half an hour’s farther walk, where, just below tbe crest of the ridge along 
which ernr descent had latterly lain, we found a most comfortable and substantial 
farm-house, the best halt of which was given up for our accommodation, while the 
family retired to the other. r lhe day was cloudy and bleak; and notwithstanding 
our warm clothing and the annoyance of the smoke, we were glad to light a fire in 
our room. The people of the house very sociably joined our fireside, and took 
the opportunity of contemplating us at their leisure. 
Here we began to fear our progress would terminate,— at least for some davs • the 
porters who had come on from Samdong positively refusing to proceed any farther. 
The delay threatened to involve us in very serious inconvenience, as we had been 
obliged to leave Samdong but ill provided either with clothes or food, and the ar- 
ticles left behind had not, as promised, been forwarded. After much discussion 
we at length agreed to give them a day to collect porters, and if not forthcoming 
by that time, that the remainder of the Samdong party must go on with, 
us. It was now we began to feel how little we were indebted to the Raja or his 
arrangements for the progress we had hitherto made ; and it began to be a subject 
of regret, that we had not furnished ourselves with some more pressing introduc- 
tion to him than that we had received. We had no idea that we should get away 
under several day’s detention, for we knew not where the new hands were to come 
from, the country appearing to us quite deserted ; and as to those who had accom- 
panied us, though they were well satisfied with the treatment they had received 
and though to induce them to exert themselves on the occasion, we told them they 
must go on, failing the relief, yet it is very doubtful I think if they would have 
stirred a step further. There was, however, no help for it, and we were obliged 
to content ourselves with repeated injunctions to have the new men ready for 
the 24th. 
The following day part of our difficulties were removed by the arrival of the bag- 
gage left behind at Sdtndong, and the gloom, for it was a miserable rainy day, was 
further dispelled by the arrival of a dawk. Upon the whole, our day passed off 
better than we had expected it would, and by the bustle of new arrivals towards 
evening, we guessed we should be able to move the following day. Two pigs were 
given by 'Mr. Grant to our host, or rather hostess, for it was a woman who appear- 
ed to be tbe head of the family and mistress of the mansion. I mention the cir- 
cumstance, for the purpose of noting their method of slaughtering animals. They 
were shot with an arrow, and so skilful was the archer, and so powerful his bow, 
that the same arrow sufficed for both. I could scarcely have believed that an arrow 
would pass through a pig’s body with sufficient force to kill a second animal stand- 
ing close to him. Some other good things were added, particularly a bottle 
or two of brandj r , of which these people are immoderately fond. 
