67 
1891.] L. A. Waddell— Place and Biver-Names in Sikkim, Sfc . 
Jala pahar = H. Jala , burned -4- pahar, a hill. ‘ The burned hill.* 
This accounts in part for the presently bare condition of this 
hill. 
GIdha pahar = H. Gidh, a vulture -f pahar. ‘ The vulture’s hill. ’ 
Here great numbers of vultures infest the rocky cliffs over¬ 
looking the plains. 
THE PASS NAMES. 
The names of the mountain passes are all of Tibetan origin. The 
term la, or pass is often loosely applied to the mountain itself. Th e 
following list comprises most of the passes : — 
Dong-khya la ( Ang. Donkia) = /dbrong (pr. dong), the wild 
yak + 15*1 V khyagrs, frozen -4* Q] T la = ‘the frozen yak pass.* 
A herd of wild yaks, in attempting to spend the night in this 
pass (18,100 feet high), were frozen to death. 
cs 
Si-bu la = NO]’S’ siZ-bu, cold. ‘ The cold pass ’—the greater part 
of the way is under snow. 
Thang-kar la (Ang. Tanka) = 5]c; T tliang, a field + eZkar, 
white. This pass presents a field-like expanse of snow, all the 
year round. 
at 
Jo-la (Ang. Chola) = F’, lord. ‘ The lordly pass,’ said to be so 
called on account of its height and difficult approach. An 
alternative etymology is mtsho, a lake. Numerous lakes 
are in this pass. 
Ya k la = yyag, the yak ( Bos grunniens). The pass for 
herds of yaks into eastern Sikhim. 
Yum-tsho la = yum respectful title for ‘ mother ’ + mtsho. 
‘ The lake of our (holy) mother,’—a nymph who is worshipped 
here. 
Ri-SHiK la (Ang. Rishi) = ri, mountain -f shik, slipping or falling. 
The pass has appearance of a landslip. 
Yak chho la = yak + ychhor, tired. A steep pass — a stage 
for ‘ tired ’ laden yaks proceeding above Lachhung. 
Dse-lep (Ang. Jelep) = lovely + QJW, level. ‘ The lovely 
level pass ’, with reference to its ease and patency. 
Nak-po or Na-ko la = nagpo, black. An unsnowed pass. 
Ku-phu (Ang. Kupup) = kku, the body especially of a saint -f- 
phu, a summit. Tradition relates that the saint Guru Rim- 
bochlie (Padma Sambhava ) rested here, in passing to Tibet. 
