JDH sent the most important news, re. travelling in Sikkim, in a letter to Bessie [Elizabeth Hooker]. Flowering season in Darjeeling is advancing rapidly, recent additions to the collection incl. fine Cyrtandreae, a new Balanophora & many other tree specimens. JDH is behind with his drawing & has given up doing fungi. [Archibald] Campbell [AC] has sent him a new Caryota palm & a citrus with enormous pink fruit. Palms JDH has are: Calamus rotang, Phoenix sp. & 2 Arecinae. Roots of Orchids & Cyrtandreae sent to Calcutta [Kolkata]. [Hugh] Falconer has sent JDH books for free, including vols by De Candolle, Walpas, Kunth & Royle. JDH thinks all his Rhododendrons are new species, he advises that this should be clear on examination of the numbers of cells in the ovarium, the hairiness of the filaments & the shape of the calyx. [Brain Houghton] Hodgson [BHH] & JDH are both ashamed of Royle's book, the only good part is Hope's entomology section. JDH has captured an Indian Goliathidae, an opalinus like the one he drew from 'Mr Melly's cabinet' as a boy. JDH has made a small insect collection incl. some lovely beetles. Common insects incl.: Stag--beetles; Coccinella, most commonly Penetala; a Bostrychus that kills oaks, a metallic gold Caprida & noisy Cicadas. JDH sent collectors to the Terai but they became ill, he plans to replace them with Mechis who are a race used to living in malarial places. 10 collectors have been sent Tonglo for Rhododendron roots & are bringing things back in instalments, JDH also has collectors in Sikkim but they are too far away to bring things back in good condition & will not put plants in papers. He hopes AC will also send some collectors beyond the snow. JDH asks for stationery supplies to be sent whenever WJH is sending him an overland parcel. Under date Aug 10 [1848] JDH adds that he has sent men to the Terai & still awaits the return of his Nepal men, these matters are managed for him by BHH.

It rains everyday at Darjeeling & the Ganges has flooded. Plant are flourishing, especially Galium, Synaphalium, Hydrocotyle nepalensis, Cyrtandraceae spp, Torenia like Asiatica, Polygona, Balsams, Hypericum, Epilobium, Urticeae, Hydrangea, Adamia, Cyanea, Ophelia, Bignonia resembling B. picta. Prevailing trees are Laurineae, Chestnut, Oaks, Alder, Birch, Bucklandia, Magnolia, Cherry & Rosaceous trees. Climbers incl Araliaceae, Hydrangea, Vitis, Polygona & an Amaranthaceous thing. There are no grasses or Ranunculaceae & 1 Crucifera: Cardamine hirsuta, Umbeliferae incl a Hydrocotyle, Mimulus semperflorens & a liquorice scented Magnolia. Collectors from Tonglo have got Meconopsis nepalensis, Clematis acuminata, Thalictrum sp & Aconitum palmatum: the source of 'Bik' poison used in Sikkim. Has poison for the museum & is getting Lepcha hats & umbrella [illustrated]. Has 9 palms: Phoenix, Caryota & Calamus spp & museum specimens of all, also specimens of a Cycas & all 8 local bamboos & rices, but no Tabasheer. Discusses wild & cultivated bananas & enormous cucumbers. Local people eat most things: fern tops, Solanum leaves, vitis, Urticae, Bolete, Polypore, berries & a Cucurbitaceae with large fruit that he describes & illustrates. Discusses: orchids in the region, a Streptolirion sent to Calcutta [Kolkata], Araliaceae incl. Helwingia, alpine plants compared to Bhotan & Nepal, relative altitude where plants such as figs & Rhododendrons are found. JDH has collectors in Tibet, Sikkim & the Terai where there is jungle flora & Sylhet spp. Discusses [Archibald] Campbell & Lord Dalhousie. & arrangements for trip to Kinchin [Kanchenjunga]. Wants to research the geographical distribution of plants in high mountains, or go to upper Assam tea districts via Gowahatty or across the Cossya to Churrra & Munneypore. & find place in Assam to grow Gutta Percha. Next year JDH may return to Kinchin or go to Sudya & Dupha-Bom. Asst Surveyor General Captain Thuillier has lent instruments.

JDH thanks his family for letters. Discusses his finances, managed by Jas. Findly of Smith McVicar & Co. Full NIGER FLORA sent. Is glad WJH sent pocket sextant with telescope, will use them to observe terra nova. Lord Dalhousie has ordered the Sikkim Rajah, at Choombi, to let JDH go to the snowy passes. JDH hopes to go over Kinchin [Kanchenjunga] to Tibet so he can describe the world's highest mountain & determine the elevation of the plateau of Central Asia. It is 11000 feet at Leh, the Lakes of Mansarowar [Manasarovar], & Rawin Chad[?] but is undetermined at Yaroo--tsampa [Yalung Tsangpo] river. Alternatively JDH may go to Jongri village, the botany will be similar & include new things. Discusses the races of people: Booteas, meaning natives of Tibet not Bootan [Bhutan] serve the Rajah & oppress the Lepchas, who are North Himalayan Tartars. JDH has collections to send to Calcutta [Kolkata]. Has sent collectors to Nepal & Lepcha parties collect locally& help JDH & Clemanze dry specimens. JDH is keeping a meteorological record measuring rainfall & barometer temperature at Hodgson's house. Mentions Lady Rolles arboretum. Critiques Griffith's publications. Has written to Stocks. Is scathing about Dr Royle. Mentions Grant & Thomas Thomson. Has piece of silk, Tibetan letter & brick of tea for RBG Kew museum & Campbell has a shield. Mentions: copy of journal for Lord D. & republication of extracts, Royal visit to RBG Kew, [John] Lindley [JH] printing JDH's letters in the GARDENERS CHRONICLE & annoying Brown, JH's disapproval of JDH travelling before finishing the FLORA OF AUSTRALIA, Lord Auckland, illness of Sir L. Peel, Doom Palm, Calami, acorns, chestnuts, walnuts, Gordonia wallichii. JDH will return to Darjeeling, the richest field except for Cathmandu [Katmandu] & the Mishmees, to collect spring flora on Kinchin. [Hugh] Falconer is lecturing & maintaining Calcutta Gardens. Discusses cost of post & Citoyen's queries about generic affinities. Gurney has gone to sea.

Still awaiting reply to Lord Dalhousie's letter from [Sikkim] Rajah. If [Archibald] Campbell finds out the Rajah intends to oppose them they will travel to Jongri on the south face of Kinchin [Kanchenjunga] rather than going via the east face to the Tibet passes.[Brian Houghton] Hodgson [BHH] too ill to accompany JDH & AC also injured. JDH sent [Hugh] Falconer [HF] his journal of trip from Bhaugalpore [Bhagalpur] to Darjeeling. HF is ill but has found JDH another Portuguese servant who he hopes will be half as good as 'Friday'. He has added to his growing collection: Balanophora typhina, B. polyandra, a Rhubarb & a new Aconite used to make 'Bikh' poison, of which he has museum specimens. Recounts story of man killed with Bikh poisoned arrow. Has sent live roots of 150 species to Calcutta [Kolkata], mostly Orchideae & Seitamineae. Has specimen of a very large tree fern for WJH. During break in rains JDH collected more roots incl. Magnolia, Helwingia & white Rhododendrons. Oaks & most other seeds are not ripe yet, Compositae are just blooming & there are relatively few grasses. Though he is obliged by expectation to embrace many disciplines in his explorations, JDH has not neglected Botany. By measuring mountains, recording weather & explaining his work locally JDH has gained credit in India. The Surveyor General was always secretive about his activities. JDH has measured Kanchenjunga & Sinchal with instruments from Captain Thuilliers & calculated height of Tonglo with Muller. JDH has sketched the flags at Ging & a panoramic view of country around Darjeeling. Also found: pink flowered Luculia, [William] Griffith's Larch & a curious little Rhododendron. Has forwarded a letter from Thomas Thomson from Karakerum range beyond Ladakh, also written to Mr Philipps. Discusses conditions for sowing some seeds he is enclosing & compares to similar sent by Edgeworth for the Gibson Craigs in Edinburgh. The Lacteraea should be in flower soon, he thinks it will be half hardy.

JDH is making arrangements for trip to the snow. Rajah of Sikkim has given permission as a result of pressure from [Archibald] Campbell & Lord Dalhousie. JDH details negotiations that led to permission to travel. Rajah of Nepal much more accommodating of JDH's travel plans. Describes audience with the Dhurma Rajah, his appearance, dress, & behaviour & that of his entourage including the Vakeel & Tibetan Seneschal, Bhotea [Bhotia] attendants, JDH's Nepalese guards [Gurkhas] & their Havildar or 'Corporal' of the Kawass tribe, the Lepcha servants, Bhootanese [Bhuntanese] subjects of Sikkim & Bhutan, & a few Musselmen [Muslims] & Hindoos [Hindus], Mrs Campbell & her children. Though JDH does not consider many of the party trustworthy he does not fear for his own safety once they start to march. He hopes his expedition into Sikkim will pave the way for others to follow with less suspicion. JDH will be careful only to take observations, e.g. with barometer, in his tent so he does not alarm his guard. They are suspicious that his every action will lead to their country being taken, but he plans to charm them & will soon have them collecting for him. The Rajah has provided a guide. JDH explains his route will go North past Kinchin [Kanchenjunga] to a village called Jongri then West to the border of Nepal & beyond to the Kangliachem pass leading to Tihibet [Tibet]. Achieving this will realize Hooker's great ambition as a botanist & traveller. He will be gone 30 days & will take any opportunity to send letters. In getting permission to travel he has defied the expectation of Lord Auckland, [Hugh] Falconer, [Brian Houghton] Hodgson & Sir Herbert Maddock. Many tried to help get him permission but did not think he would succeed. Mrs Campbell has kindly provided him with supplies & provisions. JDH asks WJH not to publicise his planned trip though he may share news from his letters with Bentham, Harvey, Berkeley et cetera & asks that this letter be forwarded to Darwin.