20 
REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR IN SIKKIM, lSg2, 
neath these bushes, is an equal luxuriance of herbs, such as Aconites^ 
Senecios^ Saxifrages^ Primulas^ PoSentillas^ Polygonums and 
Thistles, Cnicus eriophoroi(i%$^ which is i^oderately common inmost 
valleys, is so abundant ^here as to be a perfect pest. 
From Sebu (12,500 feet) the next march was to a yak grazing- 
station named Sethang^, at an elevation of about 15,000 feet Up to 
14.000 feet the floor of the valley is very steep, but about 1,000 feet 
below the.level of Sethang we emerged on a swampy flat, through 
which the Sebu flows in several channel Its surface is covered 
with grass, and its borders are cumbered Wilh Rhododendron Anthopo- 
gon* A tributary from the west pours ever the hollow of a precipice 
in a magnificlent waterfall. Aboye the plain is a steep rocky barrier 
thrown transversely across the valley. On reaching its summit we 
arrived at the camping' ground. The .coolies took up their quarters 
ir che. deserted huts, and my tent was pitched near an accumulation 
ot enormous boulders. A small muddy pond lies at the upper end of 
the flat. 
Here the two branches of the river Sebu unite— one rising in 
Donkia, the other m the nameiess snowy mass south of Ghora La. 
The former is seen flowing in a deep and narrow gorge ; the latter 
rushes down a steep rocky transverse slope similar to that which we 
ascended below Sethang. These slopes run parallel to each other, and 
are probably the terminal moraines of the glacier, which is now con- 
fined to the head of the valley. Rhododendron companulatum is the 
common shrub. Primula Stuartn^ Meconopsis nepalensis^ Geranium 
eollintf^^ all in fruit, abound on the flat. 
On tbe following morning 1 W'alked to Ghora La, elevation 
17.000 feet. The path descended into the stream from the Donkia, 
the ascent beyond winding amongst gigantic boulders on the western 
side of the slope. At the top is another small plain, and the remain- 
ing portion of the valley becomes broader and ascends by a long 
easy gradient to 16,500 feet. 
The valley from this point onwards to near its head is bounded 
by even ridges and unbroken slopes which are possibly the lateral 
moraines of the ancient glacier terminating below Sethang. 
both seemed to be elevated 500 feet above the river, A broad 
terrace runs along the base of the eastern one for some distance. 
Higher l^p, the valley expands and the stream again divides. The 
eye follewing the course of the western branch, is carried tc the 
snowy mountain of Forked Donkia from w^hose feet a glacier spreads 
out over a large area. 
There is an accumulation of rocks and sand at the eastern termi- 
nation of the glacier, and its waters teed a lake wnite with suspended 
