Part 115 - Bhutan diary: Visit from Zimpon; route from Pyimitangha to Paro and Ha Dzong

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SUMMARY:
Zimpon visits from Tashi Cho Dzong and demonstrates imported rice mills, with the diarist comparing Kashgar huskers. The party travels through Pyimitangha to Paro and Ha Dzong amid variable weather, meets Tasho and his men near the Belaka, and laments missing a Codonopsis previously collected on 14 Aug 1937.

CONTENT:
Zimpon rode down from Tashi Cho Dzong to see us, he stayed a long time with us. He has imported two rice mills & I went to see one. It is a small & easily transported machine, which husks 30 mds a day. He takes 5% of rice as payment. He made the wooden driving wheel & the power is water. It all works very well. I showed him how the rice huskers of Kashgar work, & think he will make one to try.

11th August. Pyimitangha. 5.15 to 10.30. Fine till we got in, then a few showers, & a fine evening. A nice valley, dryer than any seen in Bhutan, with mixed pine & broadleaf forest. Ceratostigma griffithianum common on first half of March, but in poor flower this year.

12th Aug. Paro. Mist & some rain until close to Paro. Were met on the Belaka by some of Tasho Drugyel's men with tea & biscuits, & later on by Tasho himself. This was unfortunate, as I had no chance of finding the Codonopsis again, which I got on 14 Aug 1937, & which is new. This was very sad indeed, but I will have another chance on returning.

13th August Ha Dzong. 6.30 to 2.30 Heavy rain to start with but clearing up. Did not see any Peony, but was not looking carefully