Part 81 - Gifts from H.H. and the Maharani; floral abundance on grassy hillsides

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SUMMARY:
The diarist describes masses of flowers on open grassy slopes and in fir and juniper forest, noting especially profuse Primula winteri. They meet a sepoy and coolies from H.H., receive friendly letters and generous presents from H.H. and the Maharani (including butter, parched rice, and arak), and note that expected mail has not yet arrived.

CONTENT:
the grassy hillside was thick with these, all jumbled together, a patch of blue, then joined on to it a patch of white, & so on, really a beautiful sight. They were growing so profusely where the ground is probably pretty rich with yak manure, just close to a 'goat' on the open grassy hillside. Prim. Winteri is again in masses, & bigger flowered here than I have ever seen it, very profuse in the fir & juniper forest. It seems to like the fallen leaves from Abies Webbiana. Soon after leaving camp I met a sepoy & a train of coolies from H.H., who had not yet had my letter, but had heard from someone that I was up this way. Both his letters & the Maharani's were very friendly - "Since our first meeting, we became such great friends that we are now like the members of one family." Both sent presents, from H.H. "1) One load butter. 2) One bag parched rice 3) Two cases native brewery. 4) One box native biscuits." And from the Maharani - "a trifling present of a native made chadar, one bag parched rice, and a case of native brewery." The "native brewery" I had hoped would be chang (beer) but it is arak (spirit) which I can't touch. Everything else will be very good though, especially the 60 lbs of butter. I had hoped for a mail too, but there is no news of it yet.