1862.] Journal of a trip in the SiJcJcim Himalaya. 475 
seen Jongli to disadvantage clothed in its autumnal garb, and 
totally deserted, being too cold and bleak at this season of the year 
for a residence ; but in the spring and summer months it is no doubt 
a bright and cheerful spot. During our descent through the firs, we 
saw our Gorilla Llama engaged in cutting timber near his winter 
dwelling, and we turned aside to salute him. The largest fir met 
with by the road side measured 21 feet in girth, and may have been 
80 or 90 feet high. Leached Chuckachaine at 1 P. m. and found a 
small herd of twelve yak bulls, cows and calves, on the feeding 
ground at this place. Their colours were black, black and white, and 
slate coloured. We purchased yak milk, and drank it mixed with 
brandy. After half an hour’s rest we resumed our march, and de¬ 
scending very rapidly, re-crossed the foaming Datong by the three 
crazy bridges, and arrived at Jongoo 2.30 p. m., a distance of about 
fifteen miles. During the short interval since our upward passage 
the dead leaves of the rhododendrons and other forest trees had fall¬ 
en in such abundance as to render the steep descent very slippery 
and difficult. Having descended nearly 5000 feet, we found the 
change in the atmosphere most agreeable, and the ticks as numerous 
and loathsome as before. Mon Lepcha spur is composed of fine 
gneiss, intermixed with beautiful white quartz and mica schist. 
From Mon Lepcha I made a series of magnetic observations to fixed 
points, which enabled me to fix its exact position. 
Left Jongoo at 8.30 A. M. and after an hour’s brisk walk crossed 
the Barabarong by a very frail bridge formed by throwing a sapling 
across the main stream between two large boulders. The bed is full 
of large angular blocks of gneiss, the same as exists in situ. When 
within a mile of Eksum, we met Mr. Long and Lieut. Bartley, of the 
Queen’s Bays, proceeding to Jongli on a similar visit. They were 
scarcely prepared for the extreme cold they were about to encounter. 
We assisted them with some spare rice and clothing. We have since 
heard that they experienced very severe weather and were compelled 
to return. Beached Eksum at noon and proceeded to the house of 
our former host, who at our request made us baked cakes of the 
flour of millet seed and buck wheat mixed. The flour is quite white, 
but harsh to the touch. The cake is baked on a heated slab of stone, 
and when cooked beeomes quite black, but is not disagreeable to the 
taste. It must, however, became very unsavoury when eaten as the sole 
3 q 2 
