Part 167 - From Seti Chu to Cen via Dza La; Gentiana collections and hardships

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SUMMARY:
After shooting two snowcock, the party descends to the Seti Chu, then ascends the Dza La en route from Mago toward Tsona and descends to Cen where herdsmen are camped. They collect Gentiana amoena (2773) and another Gentian (2772) but most seeds are worm-eaten; Tenduk is sick, others have headaches, and the day is very cold and windy over two 17,000 ft passes.

CONTENT:
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Shot two snowcock. Descent easy on South over open scree, yaks and shepherds still at the head of the Seti Chu, which is reached at about m. 8. Here the Mago road continues to the South. The path to the Dza La - direct from Mago to Tsona turns right handed and ascends pretty steeply to the pass at m. 9 1/2. Thence easy descent over rocks at first, grass later, to Cen, where yaks and herdsmen are still camped. On the Dza La I found the Gentiana amoena (G. vernula 2773) we have come all this way for, and collected a good many hundred heads. On sorting them out this evening, I find about 50-60 seeds only, the rest all being eaten by some blasted worm. We also got lots of another Gentian 2772, which may be G. musigena, but it is so dried up that I cannot say what it is. Tenduk was sick this side of the Dza La, and I think the rest have headaches. A hard day, with two passes over 17,000 ft. Last night the wind never dropped at all, but blew hard down the valley all night and today too. The passes were very cold indeed. Here the wind is much less. The atmosphere was as clear as could be. I rather think there may be a few clouds forming for tomorrow, but we have no grouse, and the worst passes are over.