Part 23 - Chindi Chu to Nyug La and Lhalung valley: trail conditions and Primula records

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SUMMARY:
The diary describes the poorly maintained Molo–Lhalung path, the heavy loads carried by local coolies, and observations of Primula species along the route, including P. Normaniana and P. latisecta with notes on their phenology. From a camp on the Chindi Chu the party climbed over the Nyug La through dense forest with Rhododendron and bamboo, noted P. tsariensis var. porrecta and P. Boothii, and obtained a view of the Lhalung valley, with P. Boothii extending its known distribution from the type locality in Bhutan.

CONTENT:
usually hanging over the river.

The people of Molo and Lhalung who use this path do not bother to keep it in any kind of repair. Only when they are unable to get over an obstacle do they do anything. Fallen trees remain where they fell. Rather than cut through them, they place notched logs over them and in some stretches one is compelled to walk more on notched logs than on path. We found it difficult enough, slippery and wet as the logs always are, and we were filled with admiration at the way the Molo coolies managed with their very heavy loads. In some cases one man chose to carry two loads, thus allowing an extra man to remain at home. These loads, with their own rations for both journeys, may have been as much as 160 lbs, but they did not seem to worry. Along the edges of the path or stream, as it often was, grew two new Primulas - P. Normaniana and P. latisecta. Both were in full bloom, and both records show an interesting extension westward. When we returned in May P. latisecta was over, and the plants had produced leaves in the axils of the pedicels. The stems then seem to fall over and act as stolons, the new leaves rooting beside the parent plant.

From our camp on the Chindi Chu we now had to climb again over a ridge which was crossed by the Nyug La. The forest is still dense, consisting of Picea (?) Rhododendron and, higher up, Bamboo. Among the Rhodos, we found R. rude, R. aureum, R. arizelum and R. uvarifolium, while magnificent clumps of P. tsariensis var porrecta were found at the edge of the Bamboo zone. P. Boothii also grows on the Nyug La, and its discovery here extends its known distribution by —— from the type locality in Bhutan.

From the top of the Nyug La, a view of the Lhalung valley is seen. The valley is broad and slopes gently to the South East. On the north side there is fairly extensive cultivation,