Part 128 - Gyetsa to Bumthang; meeting with HH and notes on Tibetan affairs

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SUMMARY:
Travel from Gyetsa to Bumthang in rainy, misty weather with few notable plants collected and leeches troublesome. The diarist meets HH, discussing his health, former drinking, and his visit to holy water near Kurjey monastery; news includes Kapshopa Shape being locked up (said to be in Netang/Nechung) and reported trouble between the DL and the Tibetan Government. Dansey passes through the area and Dorji Llowden is expected shortly.

CONTENT:
was here. We got a few flowers again today, including a rather striking creeper 19664 which I don't ever remember having seen before. Leeches pretty bad. Dansey & Co passed through here rumoured to be in Bumthang today, I'm told.

31st August. Gyetsa. Heavy rain all night, but clearing up soon after we left. Mist much like the Yuto La, and then pretty clear and bright. Nothing of interest anywhere on the way. Here the country looks very pretty indeed, with the patches of bright pink here and there of the buckwheat crops.

1st September. Bumthang. Wet night, but just fine till we got here when there was quite a lot of sun. I sent a letter to HH to ask if I could come to see him today or tomorrow. He sent round to say he was coming today at 12.0 and he came. We had a pleasant talk, with the ever present difficulty of Urdu and Hindi. He seems in good form, but had again had a giddy fit on the way to Tongsa. I asked him today if he drank much, and he gave the answer "Not now. I used to when worried and depressed, but have given it up." He was quite frank about it, and I am sure truthful. HH was on his way to have a bathe in some very holy water just beyond Kurjey monastery which is supposed to be very good for one. Khampas take a lot of the water away with them when on pilgrimage from Kham. HH told me that Kapshopa Shape was very safely locked up. He said in Netang. I wonder if he means Nechung. He is said to be shut up in a small place where there is little more than room for himself. He also said there was some trouble between the DL and the Tib. Government. I should think that Kapshopa is at the bottom of it all. What surprises me is that they all seem surprised that Kapshopa should be locked up. A more patently crooked man it would be hard to find, always too nicely spoken. Dorji Llowden is coming the day after tomorrow. I'm glad to have tomorrow free as