Part 129 - Dungshinggang trek: primula collecting, lakes, and Tsongpen’s fever

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SUMMARY:
A long trek over bleak ground near Dungshinggang yielded additional primulas (including P. umbratilis 3301 and a full collection of nivalis under 3310), views of the 'Door to Dungshinggang,' several small lakes including Yum Tso (Yu Tso), and a Grandala nest. Tsongpen developed a fever when rain began around noon and by 5 pm was unable to bring in specimens.

CONTENT:
Descriptive Black No.

We found no new primulas on a long day over very bleak ground, but got some more, saw lots of P. umbratilis 3301, a most beautiful primula it is too. We also got a full collection of the little nivalis primula collected first under 3271, now taken under No. 3310. Over the first huge hill, we came to what they call the Door to Dungshinggang, a huge hole through the hill, about 70 ft by 20'. Away below us on the rhodo-clad hillside, we could see the shadow of our hill, - this huge hole showing up in it. Down there, were about 100 sheep brought up by the Nepalis from Chirang direction. We went on, up and down the most precipitous places, till the "three brother" peaks of Dungshinggang were very close, but we did not attempt them. One would need more time than we had to spare. The "Yum Tso" (Yu Tso) or amethyst(?) lake was very well named. We saw a lot of lakes of all colours, usually about 50 yards long. One interesting thing we saw was the nest of a Grandala c. coelicolor. Tsongpen was fit in the morning, but developed fever as soon as the rain came on about noon. He arrived back in a poor way, but I never knew it till 5.0 pm, when he was unable to bring in the specimens to be written up. He is a very good lad Tsongpen, and I hope he will soon recover. He is so keen,