Part 55 - Chendesi halt and march to Phobsikha; Coronation broadcast and plant collecting

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SUMMARY:
Listened to the Coronation broadcast by wireless with Puntso, Tenduk, and another Puntso from Ha, and prepared outgoing mail. Halted at Chendesi with heavy rain and collected rhododendrons, primulas, and conifers. Marched from Chendesi to Phobsikha with notes on weather, altitude, timing, route, and nearby cultivation.

CONTENT:
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I don't know. The wireless behaved very well, and we have heard the whole Coronation show from 2.45 pm onwards – that is from the very beginning. We even heard the Oath taken by the King. Puntso and Tenduk were joined by the other Puntso from Ha, and all came into my tent and listened. I am sending off a mail on 14th, so have been writing a good deal this afternoon.

13th May. Halt Chendesi. 8000 ft. Fine till 2.0 pm, then very heavy rain and hail for a few hours. Overcast in the evening. Went up the forest to the south of Chendesi, and found Rhod. Thomsonii, Rhod. Keysii and a variation of Rhod. Falconeri (?). There are lots of Prim. erythrocarpa up that way in open fields and edges of forest. Took specimens of all the conifers seen. Packed up a mail, to be sent off tomorrow morning early.

14th May. Phobsikha 98 miles. BP. 193.8° Temp. 58° Time 4.30 pm. Ht. 10500 ft. Left Chendesi at 5.30 am, reached here at 2.0 pm. Very heavy rain yesterday evening and a good deal through the night. Clear this morning: rain began falling at 2.0 pm. Path leaves Chendesi and follows a rough bearing of 250° Magnetic. At first fairly steep, but on the whole easy, with a good deal of level going. It passed several cultivated areas on the hillside.