Part 211 - 24 June entry at Simoneri and surrounding passes

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SUMMARY:
Wet, misty march of 9 miles to Simoneri at about 13,500 ft; few new plants noted except a gentian (no. 2209) and Meconopsis bella near a large swamp, which proved disappointing. Notes on local pass and rest house names (Karkyu La, Taktsang, Tomtsang, Shao ngu La), including a tale of a lama pacifying tigers and bears, and fatigue from repeated 4,000 ft climbs since the 14th.

CONTENT:
Not a good day, spoilt by a headache.

24th June. Simoneri. 13500' 9 miles. Wet, misty most of the day, with some fine patches here. Plenty of old friends in the flower line on the Karkyu La, but little new, except a gentian 2209, & here Mec. bella. This is a nice looking place, on the edge of a huge flat swamp. But it is disappointing, as I found nothing here.

The names of the passes & Rest houses are interesting. Taktsang (Tiger's lair) & Tomtsang (Bear's lair) explain themselves. The coolies say that a year or two ago none dared pass these places—for the tigers & bears—till a lama spoke to the tigers & bears & put things right!

Yesterday's pass, the Shao ngu La, means the 'Shao weeps'—or even the shao weeps. Certainly it is a beast of a climb. Karkyu La means "Put your staffs down": I suppose it means that the pilgrimage is over as far as passes are concerned, & everyone may drop their climbing sticks there. I must have climbed about 4000 ft everyday since the 14th & have got fed up with it. Tomorrow