A LEVEE AGAINST OBSTRUCTION 273 
I never mention Bentham, Harvey, Berkeley, &c., in 
my letters, nor have written to them ; I still intend to, 
but know that you freely communicate all such intelligence 
as this is, and as from me. Also please send this to Darwin 
whom, as not being a botanist, you may forget. Best love 
to all. 
Your most affectionate Son, Jos. D. Hooker. 
P.S. — The Sikkim authorities object to the Goorkha 
guard and are silenced by being told that they are my men 
and that I won't leave them in the lurch. This shows what I 
expected^ that the presence of the Goorkhas is a grand check. 
Hooker did not mean to be deprived of this lever against 
passive obstruction. Though more evasions followed, the 
sequel appears in a letter to Miss Henslow^ October 26, 1848. 
Whatever the Rajah's reasons may be for objecting to 
let these Ghoorkas enter Sikkim (and his fear may have 
some good foundation), he has acted with bad faith towards 
me ; and he probably did so because he was aware that he 
could throw no insurmountable obstacles in my way, so long 
as I had a party of these Hill People in my interest. It is 
highly likely that the myrmidons of his Sikkim Highness 
had received orders to take me two or tfcee days' marches 
by a wrong road, perhaps to where the rivers were impass- 
able ; then they would have shrugged their shoulders and 
said, ' We are as sorry as you can be. Sir, but what can 
we do ? ' And the consequent delays would cost me the 
season, etc. Meanwhile the Nepalese Guard came forward, 
offering to undertake the responsibility of conducting me 
to the Thibet Passes through their own country, if I chose ; 
after which I might return by Sikkim, or by the way I went, 
according to my pleasure. 
This offer was so handsome, and any intention of going 
through Sikkim (even if it were desirable or feasible) without 
this Nepalese Guard (which had been so promptly sent for 
me) would have been to put such a slight upon them that I 
instantly closed with the proposition, and am now all ready 
for the journey. I go due West from hence to and across 
the frontier of Nepaul, and then North to the Western shoulder 
of Kinchinjunga, and the Thibetan Passes. By following 
this course I shall occupy some days longer, and (what is of 
