462 Journal of a trip in the SiJrfcim Himalaya. [No. 5, 
at Darjeeling to lay in a supply of rice for us, but bacl not been able 
to do so, as very little rice bad been cultivated, in consequence of the 
flight across the Rungeet of the majority of the cultivators during 
the recent disturbances. They could only supply one maund of rice, 
and three or four of Indian corn. But I soon found out that this 
was not the case, and that plenty of rice was forthcoming on making 
money advances for it, which I accordingly did, and had it sent after 
us, some as far as Jongli, and some placed in Caches at intermediate 
stations. 
From Pemioncliee, which is 7000 feet high, a fine view of the snow 
is obtained, also of the valley of the Ratong. The monastery of 
Chanacheeling is perched upon a high peak of the Pemionchee range 
to the westward, and at present is made the repository of all the books 
and other relics saved when the Pemionchee Goompa was burnt. 
Sinchul and Darjeeling are visible over the Kulloo Mendong twenty 
miles in direct distance. 
This morning the weather was again very fine ; the thermometer 
at sunrise stood 48° . Dr. Simpson photographed the snow, the 
Goompa and one of the Llama’s houses. Left Pemionchee at 8.45 
A. M. ; and after a steep descent and rapid walk of 45 minutes reached 
the village of Chonpoong, consisting of about fifteen well built houses 
very pleasantly situated at the foot of a tree forest, on a rather flat 
terrace on a spur of the Pemionchee hill. It commands good views 
on three sides to the north. Eksum is seen in the foreground, looking 
very flat and having a quantity of cultivation round it. The deep and 
thickly wooded valley of the Ratong is conspicuous winding to the 
west, across which are plainly visible the fine waterfalls of Lemgong, 
dashing headlong down perpendicular walls of gneiss rock, over which 
a near view of the Nursing and Junnoo mountains is obtained, but 
Kanchungingah is depressed behind the Baraborony hill. To the east 
a high mountain in Sikkim is striking, and the monasteries of Raking 
and Tassiding, the latter perched upon a conical hill standing apart 
from all others. To the west, the distant view of the Siimaleelah rano*e, 
seen across the valley of the Ringbi, is very grand. Altogether the 
view from Chonpoong is striking and beautiful, but that of the snow 
is limited, and far less grand than that obtained from Darjeeling. 
It was our intention to proceed direct to Eksum, which is the 
shortest road by several miles ; but understanding from the villagers 
