During our stay at this place he invited Pemberton and Blake to shoot pigeons; the poor man thought that they would not be able to hit them, on finding out his mistake, he put an end to the sport.

Atriplex is cultivated here, Mooreesa of Assam, Hempstee of the Booteas, though seeds are used as well as the leaves.

The loads of salt brought down by the Tibetans on asses are packed up neatly in coarse cloths, and weigh upwards of forty seers each.

[Gradient Bulphai to Roongdong:  g224.jpg]

February 1st.—­Our march commenced by descending gradually at first, then very rapidly to the Dimree nuddee:  crossing this at the junction of two streams, we ascended a little and then kept along the side of the ridge forming the right bank of the nuddee, until we came over the Monass:  thence proceeding about one and a half mile, we reached Tassgong or Benka which is situated on this river, and about 1,000 feet above it.  This we crossed by a suspension bridge.

But little interesting botany occurred to-day:  Chenopodium sp. occurs in fields at Roongdong.  The terrace cultivation here had just yielded a crop of rice, and was now planted with wheat.  Agriculture would appear to be at a low ebb, and if the country is populous, the people must be half-starved.

Water was abundant throughout the route:  the Monass is a large stream, but not generally very deep, although from its rapidity it must discharge even at this season a great body of water.  Composita penduliflora descends to the Dimree, the altitude of which is about 3,000 feet, so in fact did most of the plants found about Roongdong.  Pyrus continues half-way, Rhododendron to the bottom.  Hovenia at an altitude of 5,000 feet, Randia—­as also Tetranthera oleosa, and a new Flemingia.

At 4,900 feet, Jubrung occurs.—­Clematis Cana, Luculiae sp., Conyzoidea nivea, Kydia calycina, Mimosa arborea, began at 4,800 feet:  Gaultheria, arborea, Gordonia, descend to the bottom:  Crawfurdia speciosa, Oxyspora, Aspidium, Macrostomium, and Polypodioides, Saurauja hispida, Hypericum, Spiraea bella, Gillenioinis, Quercus, Rubus, and Viburnum caerulescens.  A tree yielding lac, which had lately been cut, and Meliaceae, Rhus triphyllum.  Hence some snow was visible on a lofty ridge above our heads, at least 9,500 feet, the snow descending a considerable way down ravines.  Of birds, Bulbuls and Bucco, were here observed.

At —–­ feet, Leguminosa arborea, Loranthus Scurrula, Kydia Wendlandia, Celtis, Osbeckia nepalensis, a Vitex, Grislea, Pteris aquilina, Indigofera!  Acanthacea caerulea.

At —–­ feet, Triumfetta mollis, Composita arborea, Pterospermum, fructibus 10-valvibus, valvis lobatibus, Sem. alatis.  Santalacea australasica, here a large shrub.