Part 19 - Bumthang Tang to Pokpe via Bada La and Rudo La (13–14 April)

1 page

SUMMARY:
The diary records travel from Bumthang Tang over Bada La, passing Gyema Shong where the headman is asked to collect crab apple and Prunus seeds, with notes on weather, pine forests, and flowering Primula. The party is now under the care of Punso Wangdi, and the next day they move to Pokpe on the west side of Rudo La with an easy ascent and observations of conditions.

CONTENT:
It will again be nice to be away from here, with all the presents & people hanging about. Lhumbe should be the only place now where we may have some ceremony. After that we leave Dzungs till August 15th, back here again.

13th April. Bumthang Tang. 10 miles. Approx 10000'. Little rain last night, but it had begun to clear by 5.0 this morning. We were off at 5.45, in at 11.0. The path goes up over a spur to the Bada La about 3 miles from Bumthang, then down & up over two smaller spurs, the last just close to this place. As we came down from the last spur, we passed the village of Gyema Shong, where there were many crab apples, some Prunus & also currants. I have asked the headman to collect seed of the first two, locally called 'LIGCHUMA' or 'PRAHALI' (crab) & LIKSINGMA (Prunus). By 9.0 the sky was clear & we had the prettiest day we've yet had, mostly sun, but with big cumulus clouds in the sky. The path is uninteresting, because it goes through pine forest (P. excelsa) all the way, & there is little else to be seen, except in small side valleys. Prim. denticulata still everywhere, — occasionally P. gracilipes. We are under Punso Wangdi's care now, & he has sent men ahead with food & all sorts of things for us. I wish we could get away from it all, kind though it be. In Bumthang I again saw several pairs of magpies, & have also seen them here & on the way here.

14th April. Pokpe. Rudo La W. side. 5 miles. BP. 191.8 Temp 58°. 1.30 pm. Ht approx 11494'. A very easy day, even the ascent being an easy one. The day too was good, although there was a little rain last night. Up here there is almost nothing. The forest