Part 13 - Camp northwest of Surelakha; wireless reception and march via Rong Nala and Ratrikhola

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SUMMARY:
After a short march, the diarist set up an aerial and tested the wireless, receiving London clearly and noting it is much improved, intending to give it to H.H. The day was hot with leeches, ticks, and biting flies; the route went down through Surelakha cultivation to cross the Rong Nala, then up the Ratrikhola past Pakhegaon to a ridge.

CONTENT:
Chirony. After such a short march, I put up an aerial and tried the wireless; it functioned very well indeed, London coming through particularly well. This wireless is very much better than last year's, and should be very popular with H.H. if I give it to him as I intend to.

26th April. Camp in jungle N.W. of Surelakha 7 1/2 miles.
B.P. 202.8° Temp. 71° Time 4.0pm.

Fine all day, with only slight rain last night. The march was awfully hot and rather tiring. Leeches in masses, ticks common and dimdam flies a perfect curse here in camp. Path follows down Surelakha cultivation till the valley bed is reached at m 1. Here the Rong Nala is crossed. It would be difficult or impossible in the rains, but locals say they make a bridge. Thence up a small side valley called the Ratrikhola, whose water is clear, but the stones are very red, and the water smells badly of sulphur. This is crossed several times and then the ascent is steep to a clearing where there are a few houses, called Pakhegaon, this at m 3. Thence steep to a ridge beyond the clearing which is reached at m 4. There is