272 TO DAEJILING : FIRST HIMALAYAN JOURNJEY 
I have no fear of managing one and all when the Eajah's 
own myrmidons are out of sight, for the natives like us and 
profit by our advance. 
The present plan was to go five marches due north, to 
Jongri, then strike westwards over the spurs of Kinchinjunga, 
and thence north-west to the Kepaulese passes into Tibet. 
I cannot tell you how comfortable I feel at the prospect 
of realizing the fondest dream I ever harbored as a traveller 
and botanist after all my toils with Lord D., tickling Camp- 
bell, bullying the Eajah. I have been pooh-poohed by one 
party, looked on as a visionary by another, and a very useful 
tool by a third, who say, you have not a ghost of a chance 
yourself of getting Government or the Eajah's permission, 
but you will prepare the way for a future. Lord Auckland, 
Campbell, Falconer, Hodgson, worst of all Sir Herbert 
Maddock whom Hodgson tried all his friendship (and they 
are most intimate) to move, all looked on with no hope and 
some of them giving me the comfortable assurance that 
my efforts would do good, though not to myself. Sir H. 
Maddock luckily went to Ceylon ; had he got Lord D.'s 
ear it would have been all up ; he has now returned to be 
President in Council in Lord D.'s absence. 
Campbell has certainly wTOught the battle well, with 
great forbearance and firmness, and is now as thoroughly 
devoted to me as it is possible to be. Mrs. Campbell is 
rummaging her larder and store-room for my comfort, 
making a veil for my face, providing me with fleecy hosiery, 
&c. Certainly Campbell has fought behind the Ajacian 
shield of the Governor- General, the tone of whose letters 
shows as kind an interest in me as determination to forward 
my aims, and C. has also had a heavy rowel in the shape 
of your teasing son himself. However I take youi' good 
motto and ' never look the gift horse in the mouth.' 
Now I have wTitten a famously egotistical letter ; we 
bargained for unreserved correspondence and you see I 
fulfil my promise. I only beg that you will make no public 
use of this which holds out such bright prospects of success 
towards the snow in which, if I am disappointed, much 
chagrin will accompany my reverting to the contents of 
this same letter. 
