28C THE SECOND HIMALAYAN JOUKNEY 
fine things (April 2). I have obtained, however, plenty of 
young plants, and will send a tin ease, direct, on my return 
to Darjiling (April 11). 
The cold weather gave opportunity of a trip with Hodgson 
to the Terai in order to complete the botanical chain from the 
plains to the snows. Six weeks were spent in sorting and 
packing the botanical spoil from Nepaul ; eighty coolie loads 
were sent down to Calcutta. 
The most notable event of these intermediate weeks was 
what I might call an A7igeVs visit from Mr. William Tayler,^ 
the Postmaster-General for India, brother to Frederick 
Tayler the artist ... a highly accomphshed man and a 
splendid sketcher ; and we became friends in a very few 
hours. . . . 
The botanist among the mountains suggested an admirable 
subject for his brush. 
He is pleased to desire my sitting in the foreground 
surrounded by my Lepchas and the romantic-looking Ghorka 
guard, inspecting the contents of a vasculum full of plants, 
which I have collected during the supposed day's march. 
My Lepcha Sirdar (which means Great man's Head man) 
is kneehng before me on the ground, taking the plants out of 
the box, that in his hand being a splendid bunch of Dendro- 
bium nohile. He is picturesquely attired in costume, w^ith a 
large pigtail. Another is behind me ; the Ghorka Havildar 
and Lepchas, in their picturesque uniforms, are looking on, 
and my big Bhotea dog lies at my feet. On one side two 
Lepchas are making my blanket tent house, cutting Bamboos, 
&c. I am in a forest, sitting on the stump of a tree, with the 
Snowy mountains in the background ; and a great mass of 
1 William Tayler (1808-92) was an Indian civilian who about this time was 
Postmaster-General of Bengal. His skill in portrait painting made him many 
friends; his caricatures some enemies. In 1855 he became Commissioner of 
Patna. His policy during the Mutiny had provoked great controversy, pro- 
longed for many years, and an open quarrel with the Lieuter ant-Governor led 
to his resigDction, when he practised as a lawyer in Bengal till his return to 
England in 1867. 
Kis brother Frederick (1802-89) was a water-colourist and etcher who enjoyed 
lifelong popularity in England, especiallj- for his sporting and pastoral scenes. 
He was President of the Old Water-colour Society, 1858-71. 
