JDH writes to his mother [Lady Maria Hooker] from Choongtam. He has been successful in his trip to the pass at Lachen & the plateau of Tibet. JDH discusses [Archibald] Campbell’s & [Brian Houghton] Hodgson’s attempts to get Lord Dalhousie & the Indian Government to defray JDH’s expenses. JDH declined the offer as he did not want to cause animosity with the E.I.C. [East Indian Company]. JDH talks of the successes of his Rhododendron book & jungle journal extracts which were printed in the Asiatic Society’s Journal. He would like WJH’s telescope sent out, & suggests sending it to Carey or Dolland for repair. He would like to be able to observe the eclipses of Jupiter’s satellites. JDH discusses the sale of Newman’s & Adie’s instruments in Calcutta [Kolkata]. He wants a Kater Azimuth Compass as his is borrowed from CaptainThuillier, Deputy Surgeon General.

[Marked as 'extract of a letter'] JDH writes of the loss of his dog Kinchin, who was drowned in the Lachung River. JDH describes the rattan & bamboo cane bridges that span the river & how his dog fell from one. He is now on his way to another pass in North East Sikkim. He describes the landscape & vegetation which reminds him of an English copse. It includes Great Thistles, nettles, dock, & shepherd's purse -- Groudsels, Strawberries, Potentilla, & bramble, willow, poplar, maples, Alder, birch & oak There is less of the deep forest than at Darjeeling, & he enjoys the climate & botany much more but misses [Brian Houghton] Hodgson and his library.

JDH has received WJH's letter & discusses the sale of [George] Gardner's herbarium & library. He thinks Thomas Thomson would be a large purchaser. If it were valued & put on sale, JDH, WJH, Bentham & Thomson might subscribe with Lindley & Brown to buy the Cingalore portion. JDH is anxious of Thwaites's success as a botanist. He is glad WJH passed Lord Carlisle's note to [Brian Houghton] Hodgson. JDH discusses the Rhododendron books Falconer wrote his opinion of Reeves. He thanks WJH for the copies of his Journal & the Admiralty Manual. Falconer reports that all 150 Rhododendron roots were dead on arrival at Calcutta [Kolkata]. JDH discusses sending more. He cannot get Cupressus funebris; Larch & Abies brunoniana are fruiting . He describes A. webbiana, A. spinulosa does not grow at the Lachoong [Lachung] valley. He has asked [Archibald] Campbell to let him visit Lachen again & talks of the results of his Tibetan cruise & of reaching the Tibetan plateau. He has recently returned from visiting a pass within 10 miles of Pari & Holy Mount Chumalari, which leads to Choombi [Chumbi], though only at the height of Kongra Lama [The end of this letter is missing but a copy of the complete letter can be found at JDH_1_10_201-203 (JHC No.91)].

[This is a more complete manuscript copy of the incomplete original letter found at JDH/1/10 f.200 (JHC90)]. JDH has received WJH's letter & discusses the sale of [George] Gardner's herbarium & library. He thinks Thomas Thomson [TT] would be a large purchaser. If it were valued & put on sale, JDH, WJH, Bentham & TT might subscribe with Lindley & Brown to buy the Cingalore portion. JDH is anxious of Thwaites's success as a botanist. He is glad WJH passed Lord Carlisle's note to [Brian Houghton] Hodgson. JDH discusses the Rhododendron books Falconer wrote & his opinion of Reeves. He thanks WJH for the copies of his Journal & the Admiralty Manual. Falconer reports that all 150 Rhododendron roots were dead on arrival at Calcutta [Kolkata]. JDH discusses sending more. He cannot get Cupressus funebris; Larch & Abies brunoniana are fruiting. He describes A. webbiana, A. spinulosa does not grow at the Lachoong [Lachung] valley. He has asked [Archibald] Campbell [AC] to let him visit Lachen again & talks of the results of his Tibetan cruise & of reaching the Tibetan plateau. He has recently returned from visiting a pass within 10 miles of Pari & Holy Mount Chumalari, which leads to Choombi [Chumbi], though only at the height of Kongra Lama. JDH describes his journey to Kankola, including the vegetation, landscape & weather. He has received letters from Bentham, TT – who intends to join him in November for the Khasya cruise – & Major Madden. Sir James & Miss Colville have gone to Ceylon [Sri Lanka]; Sir Lawrence Peel talks of coming to Darjeeling & AC of joining JDH in October. TT declined Lord Dalhousie’s offer of a medical appointment. JDH discusses his finances. He discusses WJH approaching the Woods & Forests Committee on his behalf & asks to be remembered to Mr Melville of India House. JDH has accepted help from the H.E.I.C.. AC wrote to WJH with 2 copies of JDH's Tonglo Journal from the Asiatic Society's journal. JDH is enclosing a map, seeds & a packet for Falconer.

JDH has received the books from his mother [Maria Sarah Hooker] & is delighted with the KEW ANNALS. His SOANE JOURNAL reads well. [Brian Houghton] Hodgson gave him the information about Jains. He is finding Turner’s TIBET interesting & will forward a copy from [Archibald] Campbell [AC]. The purses from Bessy [Elizabeth Hooker] et cetera are ready to be sent to their destinations; he sends his thanks to her & his grandmother & also Tom Brigbach, for the razors. JDH discusses a disagreement with the Choongtam Lama involving a Lepcha who he had employed as a hunter with the backing of the Singtam Soubah. He reported it to AC but expects no redress. JDH writes of the opposition he has faced from the Sikkim Rajah & the lack of support from AC, who has many political shortcomings. He sent seeds to [Hugh] Falconer yesterday & is pleased with Reeves’s subscription list for the RHODODENDRONS [OF THE SIKKIM-HIMALAYA]. He has called one Rhododendron 'Hodgsonia'. JDH has received a letter from Edgeworth who holds a Commissionership in the Punjab. Tayler is sending his portrait of JDH home; Fitch should copy it although Tayler will be angry. JDH asks his mother to send him a 'scribbling diary' & 'Nautical Almanac'. He details the money he has drawn. Thomson writes in good health. JDH writes of his collections & asks if they are growing at RBG Kew. He is sending many more pines & Rhododendrons for Kew via Darjeeling. He discusses Madden’s paper & the phenomenon of plants flowering earlier at higher elevations & requests an actinometer to measure solar radiation.

JDH wrote to WJH from Yeumtong [Yumthang] & has since been into Tibet by the Donkiah Pass - northwest of Chumalari [mountain] & 30 miles beyond the Himalayan range, like Kongra Lama. The pass is different from the Nepal ones, being very narrow between the mountains Donkiah-lah & Kinchin-jhow. JDH describes the landscape & route of the Lachoong River towards Choongtam & the Lachen River across the Cholamu plains. From the top he could see hills of quartz tinged with iron oxide. He does not doubt that the water north of him & west of the Painomchoo feeds the Arun [river]. The Bhotian people do not distinguish between the ranges. JDH sketches a map of the region. The lakes are inferior to those of Lachong. JDH discusses the elevations of the landscape. He cannot go much further owing to Sikkim opposition & Chinese outposts. They are now cut off from Darjeeling & supplies are dwindling. The Singtam Soubah accompanied him to the pass but has now left. JDH describes the curious flora there, along with the landscape. He compares the valley to the crater of a volcano. JDH describes how a sudden snowstorm smashed his thermometer but the barometer, given to him by Henslow, was miraculously unscathed. The thermometer Sabine sent him arrived just in time. He is also glad of the barometer tubes from Newmann. JDH found rock formations similar to those of Cockburn Island. JDH describes his collections & the local wildlife which includes migratory birds.

JDH tells WJH of his plan for the coming year. He is done with Sikkim & Bhotan [Bhutan], or the 'Dhurmah country', is shut to Europeans; it's Rajah is worse than Sikkim’s. The Mishmis are so unhealthy that Jenkins advises against going there. The northwest is being explored by Captain Strachey – only Nepal remains. JDH describes the best route: straight from Darjeeling to Cattmandu [Kathamandu] via Dunkotah & then to Dawalgeri & Kumaron. He describes the difficulties he will face. The Rajah’s leave could not be refused to the Governor General. The expense would be £600 of which he has £300 from Woods & Forests. He has written to Lord Dalhousie on the matter & hopes Thomson will join him. He has also written to Sir Henry Elliot of his intentions. If Thomson does not join him, he will struggle with navigating by astronomy & languages. He describes orientating himself in Sikkim using an Azimuth Compass, but could not do so in Nepal. The languages spoken, besides Hindustani, are Purbuttyah – Ghoorka [Ghurka] colloquial - & Bhote [Tibetan]. He requests a telescope & one of Newman's short barometers. Should there be any obstacles to his plans for going to Nepal, he will take the Khossya Hills instead. JDH discusses his recent explorations which have included two glaciers, & his collections, including a Cyananthus. He wants WJH to grow the great rhubarb 'Tchuka', which he describes, he thinks it is figured in Royle’s Himalaya Flora. A new Rhododendron & Tsalla are common there at 18,000 ft. He adds that it snows everyday.

JDH informs WJH that regarding Nepal, Hodgson says Sir B. Shakespeare, Resident, will support him with £300. Lord Dalhousie will sanction Government payment of JDH’s expenses, pending application to the Court at Home. Courtenay has written asking about JDH’s prospects in India. JDH is pleased with WJH’s success with cultivating his Rhododendrons at Kew but would like to see the Tchuka rhubarb growing. JDH discusses Lobb & Jenkins. JDH is content about Himalaya vs. Borneo. He asks if Harvey got his letter & comments that Edgeworth is a good fellow. After seeing his Tonglo paper, Edgeworth sent him copies of Ruprecht’s descriptions of Bamboo. Edgeworth asked if WJH grew the 'Cleime' from Aden. JDH will send ferns from Darjeeling. He has heard of McNab’s death in Edinburgh. WJH should see Roxburgh for information on the Toddy Palm at Madras [Chennai], it is Phoenix sylvestris, though other plants also yield toddy. There are two Stracheys: Henry is travelling up the Indus to Neeli Pass & Richard is awaiting him there. He instructs WJH not to be jostled out of the house by Aiton. JDH sends regards to the Deleports. Tayler intends to send JDH’s portrait as a gift for Frances Henslow. Wight has sent JDH his ILLUSTRATIONS [OF INDIAN BOTANY] & JDH wants to give him, & the Rajah of Nepal copies of the RHODODENDROND [OF THE SIKKIM-HIMALAYA]. JDH adds that most of the seeds he sends should be grown as alpines, some may be mislabelled.

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JDH & [Archibald] Campbell [AC] are on route to Lachen Pass [Kongra Lama]. He asks WJH or J.[John] Smith to keep a list of all the fruits & seeds he sends. Jatamansi [Paom peu Bhot] has ripened. JDH sends [Hugh] Falconer duplicates of all his seeds. He describes AC’s altitude sickness & his temperament.

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JDH writes to WJH, informing him that he & [Archibald] Campbell [AC] are prisoners of the Sikkim Rajah, but JDH does not fear for their safety. He describes their imprisonment & speculates as to the reasons for it. JDH has been copying out AC’s dispatches to Government & sends a copy of his journal for [Brian Houghton] Hodgson to forward to WJH. His friend Meepo remains loyal & will hopefully get this to Darjeeling so the military can bring about their release. JDH reassures WJH about his situation, & asks him to write to France Henslow & Aunt Palgrave. He has letters for Bentham, Berkeley & Darwin. He sympathises with AC’s wife. JDH asks if his Meconopsis have grown. He adds that Thomson will be at Darjeeling on the 20th.

JDH knows that the Rajah spread news that he & [Archibald] Campbell [AC] were dead & wants to know if the misinformation reached England. He believes they will soon be released. He will then go to Nepal, where the Rajah is more honourable & has given Lord Dalhousie his consent for JDH to explore the region. He shall go once [Thomas] Thomson joins him & he has sent his collections to Darjeeling. JDH describes their imprisonment & the Bhotia authorities; the Lepcha people sympathise with them. The Lamas are now supporting them too. The Rajah is in a difficult situation; the Superintendent of Darjeeling will continue his course of action. JDH describes AC’s character & health. Their only contact with the Durbar [Court] is through a 'spy', Toba Singh, who misrepresents them to the Rajah. [Brian Houghton] Hodgson remains at Darjeeling to aid their communications & comfort Mrs AC. After Nepal, JDH hopes to visit Calcutta [Kolkata] or Bombay [Mumbai] before returning home in November.

JDH & Brian [Houghton Hodgson] [BHH] have both written to WJH about his situation. He explains the reason for [Archibald's] Campbell’s [AC] imprisonment: the Tartars & Bhothias believed that by capturing an authority they can bend him to their will. When this did not work, they invented offences in order to hold AC, but the Government have now intervened. The accusations are now of trespassing on the Thibet [Tibet] frontier. JDH & AC went there with the assent of the Chinese Lepchas & the Lachen Peppin who is the Sikkim authority. JDH’s Sirdars are in chains & his party disbanded, only Hopenar[?] remains. He discusses his seed collections & botanical matters, including Balanophora polyandra. The Nepal Terai is impassable until 15 Nov due to malaria & JDH will not travel to Calcutta [Kolkata] or Bombay [Mumbai] any earlier. [Nathaniel] Wallich will verify this. Lord Dalhousie will assist JDH & [Thomas] Thomson [TT] in applying to the Nepal Durbar. BHH is looking out for TT who has not yet arrived. JDH is glad Lindley liked his letter & thinks Klotzsch will make a mess of the collections of Prince Vladmier [Vladimir?]. With Wallich, Don & Hamilton working at cross-purposes, the whole Himalayan Flora is in the hands of JDH & TT. It can only be elucidated with Bogden & Wallich’s herbaria. JDH is sorry to hear of the Bishop of Norwich’s death & suggests Owen, if Brown will not take the position. Lord Derby was useless in the role. Bentham will offer sound advice. JDH discusses the wisdom of the Geological & Geographical Society in selecting men such as Hamilton, Lyle & Murchison.

JDH informs his mother [Maria Sarah Hooker] that he is free from the Rajah. The Sikkim Dewan who accompanied them from Tumlong surrendered them on the 23 [Dec] at Cheadam. JDH describes [Brian Houghton] Hodgson’s concerns that they had been captured by the Chinese authorities & would be taken to Lhassa [Lhasa] or Pekin [Beijing]. The aggression was really aimed at [Archibald] Campbell [AC] as a result of his political measures; the Rajah supposed that the British Resident at Darjeeling, AC, was intercepting his letters to the Governor General at Calcutta [Kolkata]. JDH lists the Rajah’s main complaints including: the emancipation of slaves; AC’s refusal to accept Lassoo Kaji as the Rajah’s Agent; & a dispute over land which AC had given over to the Ghorkas [Gurkhas]. JDH describes their capture by the Dewan & his 'Bhotean ruffians', who rule over the Lepchas & try to incite the Chinese to unite with Sikkim against the English, hence the Dewan's behaviour towards JDH at Soane[?] River. AC’s poor treatment arose from the animosity of Singtam Soubah & the Dingpun. The latter had kidnapped 2 Brahmingirls from Nepal & AC had ordered him to restore them. Thibet [Tibet] had nothing to do with it; JDH crossed the border with a Chinese Guard, Lachen Peppon & the Tcheba Lama. WJH must only print the scientific parts of JDH’s journal. JDH fears he will no longer be able to go to Nepal. He has asked Lord Dalhousie to allow [Thomas] Thomson to accompany him to the Khassya Hills instead; they will go to Major Jenkins’s in Assam, in Feb. JDH will want an Azimuth Compass as the soldiers smashed Captain Thuillier’s. AC is well, his new daughter is named Josephine.

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