Gutenkarte

Leave Bhaugulpore -- Kunker -- Colgong -- Himalaya, distant view of -- Cosi, mouth of -- Difficult navigation -- Sand-storms -- Caragola-Ghat -- Purnea -- Ortolans -- Mahanuddy, transport of pebbles, etc. -- Betel-pepper, cultivation of -- Titalya -- Siligoree -- View of outer Himalaya -- Terai -- Mechis -- Punkabaree -- Foot of mountains -- Ascent to Dorjiling -- Cicadas -- Leeches -- Animals -- Kursiong, spring vegetation of -- Pacheem -- Arrive at Dorjiling -- Dorjiling, origin and settlement of -- Grant of land from Rajah -- Dr. Campbell appointed superintendent -- Dewan, late and present -- Aggressive conduct of the latter -- Increase of the station -- Trade -- Titalya fair -- Healthy climate for Europeans and children -- Invalids, diseases prejudicial to.

Leave Yoksun for Kinchinjunga -- Ascend Ratong valley -- Salt-smuggling over Ratong -- Landslips -- Plants -- Buckeem -- Blocks of gneiss -- Mon Lepcha -- View -- Weather -- View from Gubroo -- Kinchinjunga, tops of -- Pundimcliff -- Nursing -- Vegetation of Himalaya -- Coup d'oeil of Jongri -- Route to Yalloong -- Arduous route of salt-traders from Tibet -- Kinchin, ascent of -- Lichens -- Surfaces sculptured by snow and ice -- Weather at Jongri -- Snow -- Shades for eyes.

I was surprised to find the Botanical Gardens looked upon by many of the Indian public, and even by some of the better informed official men, as rather an extravagant establishment, more ornamental than useful. These persons seemed astonished to learn that its name was renowned throughout Europe, and that during the first twenty years especially of Dr. Wallich's superintendence, it had contributed more useful and ornamental tropical plants to the public and private gardens of the world than any other establishment before or since.* [As an illustration of this, I may refer to a Report presented to the government of Bengal, from which it appears that between January, 1836, and December, 1840, 189,932 plants were distributed gratis to nearly 2000 different gardens.] I speak from a personal knowledge of the contents of our English gardens, and our colonial ones at the Cape, and in Australia, and from an inspection of the ponderous volumes of distribution lists, to which Dr. Falconer is daily adding. The botanical public of Europe and India is no less indebted than the horticultural to the liberality of the Hon. East India Company, and to the energy of the several eminent men who have carried their views into execution.* [I here allude to the great Indian herbarium, chiefly formed by the staff of the Botanic Gardens under the direction of Dr. Wallich, and distributed in 1829 to the principal museums of Europe. This is the most valuable contribution of the kind ever made to science, and it is a lasting memorial: of the princely liberality of the enlightened men who ruled the counsels of India in those days. No botanical work of importance has been published since 1829, without recording its sense of the obligation, and I was once commissioned by a foreign government, to purchase for its national museum, at whatever cost, one set of these collections, which was brought to the hammer on the death of its possessor. I have heard it remarked that the expense attending the distribution was enormous, and I have reason to know that this erroneous impression has had an unfavourable influence upon the destination of scarcely less valuable collections, which have for years been lying untouched in the cellars of the India House. I may add that officers who have exposed their lives and impaired their health in forming similar ones at the orders and expense of the Indian government, are at home, and thrown upon their own resources, or the assistance of their scientific brethren, for the means of publishing and distributing the fruits of their labours.] The Indian government, itself, has already profited largely by these gardens, directly and indirectly, and might have done so still more, had its efforts been better seconded either by the European or native population of the country. Amongst its greatest triumphs may be considered the introduction of the tea-plant from China, a fact I allude to, as many of my English readers may not be aware that the establishment of the tea-trade in the Himalaya and Assam is almost entirely the work of the superintendents of the gardens of Calcutta and Seharunpore.