OP SOUTH-EAST StKKtM. 
337 
In the alpine regions ferns were scarce. In the forests around Karpo- 
nang and Phadonchen they were abundant but my record of species from 
the sub-temperate area is anything but comi)lete. 
Seed-collecting in October. 
The native collectors returned to the area in October to collect seeds 
chiefly those of Rhododendrons for cultivation in Darjeeling and for 
exchange with botanic gardens in temperate regions. Towards the end 
of the month Mr. 0. H. Cave, Curator of the Lloyd Botanic Garden in 
Darjeeling, paid a visit to Changii, to inspect the work of the men and 
to obtain se»'ds of such species as are apt to be overlooked by the Lepcha 
collector. He traversed the same route but on arriving at the Chakiing 
Chu, it was found impossible to return by the same path, and an attempt 
which proved successful was made to reach Tong by descending the 
vallev to where the stream joins the Tista. The following notes 
furnished by Mr. Cave on the country and the aspect of the vegetation 
at the beginning of November will be of interest as showing the dilHcul- 
ties of seed-collecting in November on the high Himalaya : — 
“Arrived Lagyep October 26th, and after examining and packing 
the specimens collected by the men, left next morning for Chamnago. 
Hillmen on the Laghep rc^ad had reported that the passes, even the 
Kangralamo, were st ill unsnowed or with only light snow. At Chamnago 
a Chumbi yak-herd was making preparations for departure next morning. 
He was the last Inhabitant, all the others having already gone to winter 
quarters in the lower valleys. 
On the 28th, while the coolies marched towards the Chakiing Chu, 
I paid a visit with two men to the Cho La for seeds of Primula and 
then follo%ved the route taken by the coolies. Snow fell as we ascended 
the Doplandim Pass and on the other side it lay thick, making the 
descent difficult. We pitched on the same site as the August camp and 
experienced an exceedingly bitter night. Milk in a bottle and water 
in a glass both froze solid in the night inside the tent. We were snowed 
up at day break but the morning was fine and the snow melting rapidly 
we set off up the next pass, though going up and across the ridges was 
slow and difficuli work. We reached the pass about noon and (then 
the snow-clouds gathered thickly again and it became almost dark. 
Once over the pass it was worse. The snow lay waist deep and hid 
rocks and shrubs alike. In the steeper parts steps had to be dug for 
each .foothold of the coolies and help given with their loads. In places 
we formed a line and passed the tilings from hand to hand. A descent 
was made to the beginning of the trees (Pines and Rhododendrons) and 
