2 
report on a botanical tour in SIKKIM, 1892. 
Cholamoo, I decided to devote the remainder of the allotted time to 
exploring the Lachung Valley with its ramifications, the Lachen 
Valley and the Chola Range from Tumloong to the Zeylap La, from 
whence I could return to Darjeeling by the Gnatong road. 
In anticipation of the meeting with Mr. White, I considered that 
the first month of deputation would be most usefully spent in travers- 
ing the Singalelah Range to Kinchinjunga, from which I could march 
to Guntok by way of Yoksun. 
As I was requested to confine my attention as much as possible 
to the collection and observation of temperate and alpiuc vcgetation> 
that of low elevations being already well understood, 1 must omit 
anything but casual mention of the tract between Yoksun and Turn- 
long, and also the valley of the Teesta to the junction of the 
Lachen and Lachung. This restriction divides my narrative into 
three parts — the first dealing with the vegetation of the exceedingly 
moist mountains forming the western boundary of Sikkim, the 
second with that of the temperate and drier territory north of the 
junction of the Lachen and Lachung, and the third with that of the 
Chola Range. 
First Tour. Journey along the Singalelah Range to the tracts on 
the southern flank of Kinchinjunga, and the march across the valleys 
of the Ranjit and Teesta to Tumlong. 
This excursion lasted from the 7th June to the 7th July. The 
rainy monsoon broke with almost unparalelled severity on the day of 
my departure, and the most interesting portion of the journey, 
namely, that at high elevations, was accomplished through inces- 
sant fogs and storms of wind and rain. I thus enjoyed few oppor- 
tunities of viewing the surrounding scenery, and had perforce to 
confine my observations to the vegetation within access to practic- 
able paths. 
The Singalelah Range is an elevated mountain mass, springing 
from the face of Kinchinjunga, and extending southwards to the 
plains of India, Owing to the facilities of travelling afforded by the 
Nepal frontier road to Phalut, the range so far is much frequented 
by general travellers, and is in consequence too well explored to 
induce one to linger on the way in search of novelties. Some Yew 
trees {Taxus baccatd) grow close to the road beyond Tonglu, and 
Abies Webbiana is first seen on the last ridge between Tonglu 
and Sandakphu, from whence onwards it exists in profusion up to 
1 3,000 feet in elevation, covering mountain sides with dense and 
sombre forests. There are trees of Tsuga Brunoniana below Pha- 
lut, and Juniperus pseudo-sabina abounds near the path to Chea- 
bhanjan, but the other species of Conifers, so characteristic of drier 
