Part 156 - Chikchar and Chosam: heavy snow, mail arrival, and plans for Zimsati

1 page

SUMMARY:
Snow blocks progress near Bimbi La and limits collecting; the party arrives to deep cold and finds a large, roughly handled mail, with Kesang bringing it in by sunrise. Despite brief clear spells at Chikchar and Chosam, persistent snowfall yields only a few seeds and some Primula winteri roots from Senjuti, and pony transport is arranged toward Zimsati. The writer notes inability to send anything to Taylor or Ludlow.

CONTENT:
80a

gone to the Bimbi La, even had they done badly there — too much snow. Came here at 3:00 pm
very cold, the place covered with snow. No hope of getting anything up the valley, but
again Ludlow mentions having got things pretty well here. At last found the mail
here. Kesang had done well, came on quickly, arriving yesterday by sunrise. A
huge mail of two full bags. One was soaking wet, and had been very roughly treated.
What a pity I cannot get anything to Taylor or Ludlow, but it is no use sending
it on again.

Chikchar
26th Oct. Halt. Fine for an hour after sunrise, but we had 3 inches of snow here last night. Snowed
Gen. sino-ornata 6640. Gent. sikkimensis 6641. Gentianella stellarifolia 6642.
the rest of the day, very cold indeed. Got a few seeds, but could find little in the snow.

27th October. Chosam. Fine for an hour after sunrise, but snowed all night and day today. Very
cold. I cannot hope for seeds in this weather. We got nothing today, but took a few roots
P. sibirica
of Primula winteri from Senjuti. Pony transport promised from here for tomorrow, and should get
to Zimsati, where I hope we will see the sun again. I have had enough of this constant
snow