A GAME OF BLUFF 297 
he lingered there till the 23rd, alleging anew that this was 
the last point of Sikkim, and that Tungu; the next village, 
was in Tibet. All the villagers, down to the httle children, 
were instructed to tell the same story. Talium was the 
scene of the famous game of bluff, which convinced the 
Soubah that it was he, and not Hooker, who was being 
starved out. 
Now the Singtam Soubah's instructions I also saw were 
to be most civil and draw me away ; he represented the 
Eajah's affection for me as boundless ; should I be but in 
a stream or come to hurt, nothing short of a Chait at Lhassa 
and annual worship could be thought of. The Eajah's 
anxiety on my behalf alone induced him to pray my return 
to Darjeeling, &c. &c. The more civil he was the more so 
was I, but I felt bound to assure him that my instruc- 
tions were explicit, that I should wait where I was for 
orders from Campbell, which could not be before twenty 
days. He, knowing how short of food we were, grinned 
acquiescence, fancying he would soon starve me out. I 
in turn knew that the greedy old Kajah, by way of 
insuring his getting on with his duty, had allowed him 
and his coolies (sent to repair the road hach) only six days' 
food. 
Being camped at 11,500 feet, I had plenty to do, lots of 
new plants, and was as busy as possible every day and all 
day for nine or ten days. The Soubah visited me every 
morning and we had long chats ; he is a fine fellow and has 
been in Lhassa, Digarchi, &c., and told frankly and freely 
all he knew, giving me most curious information. Talking 
one morning of the mountain chains, I asked him for a rude 
sketch of those bounding Sikkim; he called for a great 
sheet of paper and charcoal and wanted to make his 
mountains of sand ; I ordered rice, of which we had sore 
little, and scattered it about wastefully ; it had its effect, 
he stared at my wealth and, after bidding him good-bye 
(the custom always is you have to send your visitor away), 
I saw no more of my rice, which was ominous for his granary. 
Not long afterwards he volunteered to take me a ride to 
Tungu, which all swore was across the border. I agreed if 
the tent should go ; he dare not let me. Why ? It was in 
