[[1]]
Extract from Dr Hooker's letter *1
Lachoong. Aug.24.1849
Since writing to you I have been continuing my journeys, and getting well on with my
collections, &c. I have however met with a terrible disaster in the loss of my dear dog
"Kinchin", who was drowned in the Lachoong river -- He had a bad habit of running
on before me, and getting into impossible places, of which I was in vain trying to cure
him. I generally follow the people of my camp, collecting plants, &c -- and do not
arrive at the camping ground till late -- Kinchin accompanies, & is carried by my
attendant over such places as dogs can't walk on -- Such are the cane bridges which
swing
[[2]] across the torrents, and form one of the most beautiful & picturesque features in
Sikkim -- I think I have described these before, but lest I did not, here is another
account of them -These rivers are of course ,unfordable, and the plank bridges annually thrown across
in the dry season are, though loaded with enormous stones, annually carried away in
the rains, where the suspension bridges which swing from rocks or trees on the
opposite precipitous banks of the rivers, forms the only means of getting across. -They are formed of rattan canes, of which two, parallel to one another, & 3 or 5 feet
apart are thrown across from these heavy loops of cane,
[[3]] and along the loops a Bamboo cane, or 2 or 3 side by side, are laid. To walk
across you foot the bamboo, & hold on by the canes as rails -- now poor Kinchin
would insist on running upon the bamboo footing; and no cat being able to cross, of
course he sticks fast a very few yards on -- It was only a week before that he did this,
and I rescued him from the most imminent peril, for my Servant, who was on the
bridge before me, shook it so that Kinchin was forced to lie all along on the bamboo
50 feet above a roaring torrent over which his legs hung - he had the sense to lie
quite still whilst I encouraged him to do so, as I crept along, and catching him by the
tail held him till my Servant
[[4]] came back -On the route up here, I stopped at the foot of some rocks below a very long cane
bridge (40 yards) botanizing; and Kinchin having scrambled up, ran on to the bridge -I could not see him, & was not thinking about the dog, when his short little barks of
terror rang above the roaring torrent -- before I could get up, he had lost his footing, &
was no more to be seen -- we went on to the middle of the bridge, and strained our
eyes down the boiling flood; but he had been carried under at once, & swept away
miles below -- I strained my eyes, till the bridge seemed to be swimming up the
valley, & the swift water to stand still; but alas! all to no purpose, and I
[[5]] went on my way sorrowing -- I cannot tell you how lonely I felt for 2 days with no
Kinchin to sit by my table & bed, to eat the bones, & keep watch at my tent--door -and still I look for him at my side on the mountain, & by my feet when in camp -- He
had grown a most beautiful dog, with glossy black hair, pendant triangular ears, a
high forehead and jet black eyes; bold and erect, with such a tail -- straight legs &
arched neck.
I did not expect to lose him so soon, though I had little idea of taking him to England - I would send for one of my other dogs, a great Bhotea mastiff at Darjeeling, who is
very fond of me; but he eats too much, & is dangerous too when strangers are
[[6]] near the tent. I am now on my way to another snowy pass in the N[orth].E[ast].
corner of Sikkim -- The roads are much better along this route, and we have no
difficulty in getting food -- Some of the places we camp at are extremely pretty, the
lofty snowy Mts. encircling deep valleys clothed with black Pine woods above, and
below opening out into grassy flats at or hills, covered with beautiful flowers,
Anemonies, Spiraea , Berberry, Clematis, & rose bushes, violets & Euphorbia -We have too plenty of Great Thistles, nettles, dock, and shepherd's purse -Groudsels, Strawberries, Potentilla, & bramble, willow, poplar, maples, Alder, birch
and oak; so that
[[7]] so that you might fancy yourself in an English copse -- red and green Orchis are
abundant, as are Pediculares, blue Gentian, dodder, teazle, & Artemisia, Epilobium,
beautiful Geraniums & I really think that there are very few English genera not found
at about 9000 feet on these Mts.
The woods are far more open, & there is less of the [1 word illeg.], deep, dripping
forest I have at Darjeeling -- I hence enjoy the climate and botany far more, but miss
Mr Hodgson's society & library sadly
ENDNOTES
1. This extract is a copy not written in the hand of the original author, JDH.
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