Part 115 - Diary entries, 20–23 May: Nyam Sang Chu gorge to Marmang

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SUMMARY:
The party halts amid difficulties with the Chanjö and then travels from Gor through the Nyam Sang Chu gorge, crossing the Nyam Sang Chu and Rong Chu, and passing small settlements like Men and Ngang en route toward Trimo. They camp near Trimo and reach Marmang, noting weather, logistics, and several plant collections, and are met by the Dzongpon at Trimo.

CONTENT:
104

20th May. Halt. No one here is very nice. The Chanjö's staff are a lot of nasty sharks. But at any rate we are getting off tomorrow. The Chanjö himself is the worst of the lot. Fine day but too windy.

21st May. Camp in Nyam Sang Chu gorge. Yaks took us only as far as Gor, about 5 miles. From there we took coolies from Gor village, a place of some size. They were ready for us and we got off with little delay. (Rhod. cinnabarinum in flower 12469. Rhod. wallichii 12470. Campylocarpum 12484. Prim. atrodentata 12473.)
The path is good to Gor, high above the river and more or less level. From Gor on it is good for a couple of miles, then drops very suddenly down to the river where the Rong Chu comes in. Here the gorge is very steep sided. We crossed the Nyam Sang Chu then the Rong Chu. Thence the path is up and down along the very steep R bank. No houses are passed, but a clearing is reached about 8 m below Gor where camp is possible. It was fine all day - a little rain in the evening. Although we had been told no animals could go beyond Gor, this was untrue, like most things the Dongkar people told us. Flowers quite interesting again after the dry plateaus.

22nd May. Camp about 6 m N of Trimo. As usual we find it hard to get information about the route, how far it is to anywhere. Route like yesterday, up and down steeply, with one or two big climbs, all on the R. bank, passing Men, 1 house on R bank, and Ngang, 2 or 3 houses on L bank. (Rhod. hylaeum 12485. R. baileyi 12490. arboreum 12491. tsariense 12498. Prim. calderiana 12493.) It is a tiring march the whole way. The gorge is narrow, but there is not a pronounced drop in the river anywhere yet. Cross to the L bank a mile before camp.

23rd May. Marmang. I was worried about whether we would get transport at Trimo, and had almost decided to halt a day there. We arrived early - about 10 am. The Dzongpon met us, a (Rhod. pendulum 12525. campylocarpum 12526, glaucophyllum 12535, keysii 12536, ciliatum 12537. Prim. dickieana 12538, waltonii 12540.)