ounces of preserved meats, occasionally “ splicing the
piain brace ” with weak rum-and-water.
At the highest point of the valley which I reached,
water boiled at 191‘3, indicating an elevation of 11,903
feet: here the temperature at 1 p .m . was nearly 70°.'
After boiling my thermometer on these occasions, I
generally made a little tea for the p a rty ; a refreshment
to which they looked forward with child-like eagerness.
The fairness with which these good-hearted people
used to divide the scanty allowance, and afterwards the
leaves, which are greatly relished, was an engaging
trait in their simple character: I have still vividly
before me their sleek swarthy faces and twinkling
Tartar eyes, as they lay stretched on the ground in
the sun, or crouched in the sleet and snow beneath
some sheltering rock ; each with his little polished
wooden cup of tea, watching my notes and instruments
with curious wonder, asking, “ How high are we ? ”
“ How cold is it? ” and comparing the results with those
of other stations, with much interest and intelligence.
On the 11th June, my active people completed a most
ingenious bridge of branches of trees, bound by withes
of willow; by which I crossed to the north bank, where
I camped on an immense flat terrace at the junction of
the rivers, and about fifty feet above their bed.
Our first discovery, after crossing, was of a good
bridge across the Zemu, above its junction, and of a
path leading down to Zemu Samdong; this was, how-*
ever, scarcely traceable up either stream. My men
were better housed here in sheds; and I made several
more ineffectual attempts to ascend the valley to the
glaciers. The path, gradually vanishing, ran alternately
through fir-woods, and over open grassy spots,
covered with vegetation, amongst which the gigantic
arum was plentiful, whose roots seemed to be the only
attraction in this wet and miserable valley.
On my return one day, I found my people in great
alarm, the Phipun having sent word that we were on
the Tibet side of the rivers, and that Tibetan troops
were coming to plunder my goods, and carry my men
into slavery. I assured them he only wanted to frighten
th em ; that the Cheen soldiers were civil orderly
people ; and that as long as Meepo was with us, there
was no cause for fear. Fortunately a young musk-deer
soon afterwards broke cover close to the tent, and its
flesh wonderfully restored their courage : still I was
constantly harassed by th re a ts; some of my people
were suffering from cold and bowel complaints, and I
from rheumatism; while one fine lad, who came from
Dorjiling, was delirious with a violent fever, contracted
in the lower valleys, which sadly dispirited my party.
Having been successful in finding a path, I took my
tent and a few active lads up the Zemu, camping on a
high rock above the forest region, hoping thence to
penetrate northwards. I left my collections in the
interim at the junction of the rivers, where the sheds
and an abundance of firewood were great advantages
for preserving the specimens. I repeatedly followed
the river for several miles, but though its valley
widened, the rhododendron thickets below, and the
cliffs above, defeated all endeavours to reach the drier
climate beyond, of which I had abundant evidence in
v o l . i i . a