Part 13 - Gangtok and Karponang diary entries: meeting H.H. Sir Tashi Namgyal; departure plans and hailstorms

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SUMMARY:
From Gangtok, the writer notes a meeting with H.H. Sir Tashi Namgyal and plans to depart on 5th May with a return later in the month for a wedding, while severe hailstorms in Sikkim devastate gardens. On 5th May they travel to Karponang but stop short of Changu due to rain, noting vegetation changes en route, and mention delays and freight rates from Gielle Khola.

CONTENT:
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Gielle Khola on 23rd, but has not yet arrived by this morning - 27th - although the distance is only 40 miles or so. The rate was Rs 1/2 per maund.

27th. Gangtok. Called on the Maharaja of Sikkim H.H. Sir Tashi Namgyal K.C.I.E. He and his wife both received us. He is a small but pleasant man: his wife is a nice looking woman who speaks quite good English. She is Tibetan, as is the custom of all Sikkim rulers.

3rd May. Gangtok. Arranged to leave on 5th May, and agreed on pressure to be W's best man, which means returning from Lingmathang to be here on 20th for the wedding on 22nd. All boxes packed and arranged at last. Rain and hail are awful in Sikkim. The ground was covered over 1" deep in hail yesterday evening, and all the flowers in the garden were destroyed, roses and foxgloves being cut right off by hail. The water lily leaves were cut up into pulp in a most extraordinary way.

Hailstorms frequent occurrence at Gangtok in the Spring.

5th May. KARPONANG. 10 miles. 9000'. It was pouring in the early morning, so we waited till 9:45 before leaving. Reached here 2:30 as rain again started, decided to remain and not go on to Changu as originally intended. Both very glad to leave Gangtok and get on the road again. The road is good and climbs steadily the 3000 ft from Gangtok. Vegetation changes as one gets up. We soon left all the pipal trees behind and reached a zone of bamboo: then above that to rhododendrons - great big trees.

pipal tree of the Hindus - Ficus religiosa. Throughout Sikkim - top diamond etc. and tail.