On Tuesday of May, after ascending from the' deep hollow
in which Punugga is situated, our road to Chupka' lay winding, along
the sides of the mountains, which are richly clad with pines, the only
native trees ;of these lofty eminences. After travelling about eight
miles, we. passed by the river Hatchieu, leaving it to the left, near the
spot where it joins the Tehintchieu and the Patchie^jjjilled^b^-thd
Booteeas Jumtchieu, pr the junction of three rivers. At the footvflf
the Chupka mountain, we crossed a bridge, styled Russoo. Noombop,
and ascended by a very steep and tugged
castle of Chupka, or Kcpta, is built about half way up the mounts im,-
in a bleak, but beautifully romantic situation: the mountains .in its
neighbourhood, I judged to be the highest we had yet seen in Bootan.
The light clouds in some parts swiftly glided
they had assembled, and sat with deep and heavy shade upon: their
brows: and as they were continually shifting their position, they varied
and improved the views.. On the summit of Tomeela raoiinta.-in^Keay-
ing from hence to the east, and in direct- distance about, five miles,
there lay a great deal of unmelted snow : we fe^t the at
noon.
The ensuing day we were detained at Chupka by rain; but luckily
we were now beyond the region of leeches, and that pestiferous insect
with which we were particularly assailed at Murichom.
We crossed Chupka mountain on Thursday the. ^9&h of May, in
our way to Pauga, distant about eleven miles, .leaving Kelligym, a
village situated upon the ridge of a high mountain, on our left, and
Dokhottyghym on our right. Descending on the other side, we
B o O' $ a N. ■
bboured,over the sides of themountains, onwhioh there afe nothing now
but pines, and firs;. We}fa&4,proceeded about five:©# si$ miles,.wheni a#
a.small distance from the roads nay eye was/daught-tby abridge, for foot"
• passengers, of am exb® ordinary eoustmetionts ■ It ..wasrfcotnp^ed. of,two
chains, stretched parallel topeaseib othefc Across the river, distant four
feet frbm. each other, and omejihei}' sid© restimg;siapt®n a ,pHe; MMolies
raised, upon ,eateh bank abcjut faigfSj? they!worescatriedrdown
with an easy slope and buried; in thp,'roek^her^ bemg:%^t(g0|ed)rai5»d
aja^ge stone, they were confined by.a%te®dtyth^okeK tdek* lieaped
on them. A plank about eight inches1,*bioad, .£mng longitoduidil'y*'
Suspended across’ the-river with roots and ,ereepersf:wo(uhd-'dye^tlife
©barns with a? slackness/suffitient to'^aUdW-* the-a^mtre! tor sMc,4 to the
depth of foiir feet; below the chains. ' 'fhisibridgb;vcaifod.SeJ®ch&iiin,
measured'drom . one .side-of the water'to/the Othe©?^@verrlyi fedfcm The
.creepers, ard changed, annually: the planks are; all, looser so th ir d
'the-creepers give way id anypart^thejfe^fbetitmoved.l^d'-fet particular
part repaired withotit distUrbirigithe whole;. Aba distance! ffdfiif
hence We.passed Durbee castle,, built!upoibtle^crb wn bfi-a,My ste'ep
rock, which stand's’dn the road to Faro;, and within-its distrigfc.h'ii
cd'The foot of Ahe.rock is washed by theiTehmtchietivPatchieuy bV&r
.which', is thrOwnsa %ooden - bridge, constructed' afiflofig beams of fir,
reaching from side to side, with deals planks placed, crossways; on them!,
■ and bound down wit^bands of bamboo/-/ Although .these bridges atfc
strong, yet they are-of a' most-simple structure,;! 'anditHeit' is thjsspts-
culiar advantage insthem over heavy ^masses of mferonryf, that ih; rimes
ef commotion,,' they can be'very'quickly removed .on, dies slightest
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