Part 9 - Gangtok planning and route: Chumbi Valley, Ha, and Bumthang

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SUMMARY:
After staying at the Himalayan hotel in Kalimpong and meeting several contacts, the party arranged travel to Gangtok. On 26 April in Gangtok, Tobgye assisted in planning permits and a collecting route: Chumbi Valley near Lingmatang mid-May to early June, then the Ha area north of Ha and west of the Paro watershed, with plans to join Williamson and proceed toward Bumthang for a month’s collecting.

CONTENT:
agate 'pan' boxes,

At Kalimpong stayed at the Himalayan hotel, run by Perry whose wife is a daughter of Macdonald. Met the Odlings, Tobgye, Dr. Graham. Arranged car to Gangtok for Rs 30/- each.

26th Ap. GANGTOK. 6000'. Tobgye proved a great friend. He was apparently chiefly worried about where we intended to collect: thinking it would be in the Ha Paro District which is under the Penlop of Paro who is not too well inclined towards the Maharaja. When he realised that we wanted to go as far East as possible really, say N.E. of Bumthang he was considerably relieved & thought that there should be no great difficulty in getting permission for some time over the two months. Eventually, with his help we have come to this arrangement: to work the Chumbi valley near Lingmatang from mid-May till the beginning of June: then to cross the frontier to the Ha area, keeping north of Ha & West of the Paro watershed. This is Tobgye's land - his son being penlop of Ha. Williamson intends to leave here 25th June, and would join him at Ha at the beginning of July, travel slowly with him to Bumtang. Then Tobgye thinks we will get a month's full collecting N.E. of Bumtang. Some of the trouble was caused by a lama who has been up against H.H. for burning the brushwood in forests to increase grazing, by doing which he was of course taking life by