REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR IN SIKKIM, 1892. 
*3 
boulders which are constantly sliding down from the crags on either 
side. 
On the Tibetan side, a narrow grassed valley descends steeply. 
Fog effectually prevented a more extended view. Between the 
Kanko i.aand the barren glacier below Tankra La there was a multi- 
tude of bright-hued flowering plants. Browm and yellow Chrysos- 
plenium^ ytWow Saxifrages, blue and yellow forms oi Corydalis^Si, 
few species ''.f Pedicularis, beautiful small primroses — P. umflora^ P 
muscotdes : P. soldanelloides^ — Ligularia^ Rheum nobile^ some 
blue Gentians and the bladder headed Saussurea were the most 
notable. The plants I found on the pass are those enumerated by 
Sir J. D. Hooker. In addition to his list, I may state that Mecorupsis 
horridula^ a lovely plant affecting only the most inclement situations, 
was collected in fail bloom from under the shelter of rocks.* I stayed 
for two hours at the pass in the vain hope of the fog lifting to give 
me a better view. During this time the continuous winds were most 
variable, and the variability was rendered more obvious by the way 
in which vapour was deposited by different currents The wind which 
blew from the Tankra Valley on the south-west brought hail anc 
snow, that from the south-east in Tibet precipitated rain. 'I he same 
meteorological conditions prevailed during Sir J D. Hooker’s visit 
The Tankra La lies south of the summit of Tankra mountain, to tht 
east is a l^ng rocky ridge cleft by the minor pass of Kanko La ; and 
between this and the culminating peaks is a large, shallow basin 
with undulating surface through wdiich flow the headwaters of the 
Tankra river. Those on the north spring from many points under 
snow fields, that on the south-east rises below the pass and is imme- 
diately lost in the great central moraine, re- appearing at its lower 
end as a large and swiftly flowing torrent. It is joined near the 
Kanko La by the united streams from Tankra ; after effecting the 
junction, the river turns sharply to the west through the deep and 
narrow defile of the pass and hastens precipitately downwards for 
some miles until it debouches in the Lachung river a little south of 
the village of that name. From the Kanko spur to the limit of Fines 
at 13,000 feet, the valley is broad and shallow ; here it suddenly 
narrows and remains so to its termination. During the week 1 spent 
on this excursion, the weather was uniformly boisterous and wet, 
while those of my part)^ who remained below' at Lachung asserted 
that they had enjoyed calm sunny days and clear nights. 
The fragrant spikenard [Nardostadhys Jatamansi) is plentiful 
on Tankra, and the Scrophularlneous plant Picrorhtza Kurrooa 
intensely bitter when chewed, is abundant about 14.000 feet, and is 
field in much repute as a febrifuge and tonic. The only w-oody plant 
above 15,000 feet is the humble Diplarche paucif. ‘a 
