REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR IN SIKKIM, 1892. 
9 
vegetation is composed of Mssm rugosa^ Edgeworthia Gardneri^ 
Dichroa febrifuga^ Camellia drupifera^ and a few other species. 
The villagers grow clumps of a Bambusa^ and a few plants of 
Arundinarid'Hookermnd have recently been planted near the lake. 
This beautiful bamboo abounds in Sikkim from 5 to 7,000 feet, and 
is the kind exclusively used for roofing temples and houses. For 
this purpose the culms are cut into short lengths, flattened out and 
laid on as shingles* I'hese are said to be very durable and to make 
perfectly watertight roofs. 
The cultivated crops are buckwheat, millet and a little make. 
After the grain is sown no care is taken to keep fields in proper 
cultivation. One enclosed plot w^as full of ganja plants [Cannabis 
indica) in splendid condition. 
From Yoksun I marched to Tumlong through tropical and sub- 
tropical vegetation similar in all respects to that of the Darjeeling 
district. 
By comparison with the drier regions of Upper Sikkim which I 
afterwards visited, I considered that the main characteristic of the 
vegetation along the Singalelah Range is its poverty in variety of 
forms and its superabundant wealth in individual species of Rhodo- 
dendrons, I only collected about 200 species of plants in flower and 
fruit. There was, however, evidence to prove that the floral harvest 
would have been more remunerative later in the season. Sir J, D. 
Hooker, in his appendix on the Physical Geography of Sikkim, 
stales the banks (of rivers) between 8,000 and 14,000 feet ase gene- 
rally corered with Rhododendrons, sooietimes to the total exclusion 
3f other ’wooded vegetation, especially near a snowy mountain, a cool 
temperature and great humidity being the most favourable conditions 
for the luxuriant giowth of this genus/’ Such conditions prevailing 
throughout the Singalelah Range, due to its proximity to Kinchin- 
junga account for the overwhelming abundance of Rhc dcdendfons, 
and may also be accepted as probable reasons for the comparative 
absence of herbaceous plants (in ordinal ard generic forms), which 
are unable to maintain a struggle for existence in such an adverse 
climate and against such formidable competitors. 
2nd Tour, The Lachung Valley arrived at Tumloong on the 
7th July, and was detained there until the 24th waiting for supplies 
which were delayed by the break of communications caused by the 
excessive rains. 
Immediately on their receipt I commenced my set:ond excursion 
and marched through the hot tropical valley of the Teesta, arriving 
at Choongtam, at the junction of the Lachen and Lachung rivers; on 
the 28th. Near Choongtam a remarkable transition from tropical 
