AND LLONAKH VALLEYS OF SIKKIM. 
149 
productive. Umhellifercc, Composifa’, and Primulacece were meagre 
in number of species though certain individual species were abun- 
dant. This paucity is not to be accounted for by our visit being 
early in the season. Rhododendrons were plentiful but not dense 
compared with what they are lower in the valley. Primula sikkim- 
ensis was abundant, P. pusilla less so. Above 15,500 feet the 
slopes became bare and rocky with here and there plants of Rheum 
nobile and Cortia Hookeri. The 13th July was another beautiful 
day and we began to think the Zemu a much maligned region. 
Leaving camp soon after 7 a.m. we found 2^ miles up the valley 
the only surviving snow-bridge on the Zemu and crossed to the 
other side where there is a capital path — for these regions. This 
is part of the old track from The La via the Thangchung La and 
the Zemu glacier to the Yumchho La. At present it is in fair order 
but the new track lower down adready mentioned is safer and is al- 
most certain to replace it. The chief objection to the old route is 
the uncertainty of the crossing over the lower end of the glacier — 
if the snow-bridges disappear early it is almost impossible to get 
across the rivers at the upper end of the valley. 
The upper Zemu presents no great difficulties above 12,000 feet 
— the chief obstacles to the exploration of the valley being first the 
two days’ march from Lachen through the trying rhododendron 
forests and secondly want of bridges in the upper portion of the 
river. Any bridge put up in the upper region would be without 
doubt carried away by the ice and snow of the long winter months. 
We could see no place where it was possible to ford the river — it is 
a headlong cataract right up to the spot where it issues from below 
the glacier. Although it narrows somewhat at its source the lack 
of timber at that elevation prevents the traveller improvising a 
temporary bridge. It would seem as if the valley is much more 
used by the shepherds than it could have been in Hooker’s time 
and the occasional paths ‘ blazed ’ by these men render the place 
much less difficult of access. At the time of Hooker’s visit to this 
valley there was much uncertainty regarding the nomenclature of 
the various streams, and in his Himalayan Journals the upper Zemu 
goes under the name of Llonakh, while the Llonakh proper was 
looked upon by Hooker as the upper portion of the Zemu. 
Proceeding by the south side of the Zemu — that is the right 
bank — we found a track crossing several small streams which were 
easily forded in the morning, but when we were returning in the 
evening it was quite a difficult matter as the snow melting under 
a hot sun considerably increased the depth of the streams. There 
is no doubt about the daily periodicity of volume in the rivers here. 
