Part 7 - Haat camp: wet weather, burrhel observations, and rations dispute (17–18 September)

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SUMMARY:
In Haat, persistent rain kept the party in camp where photos were developed and seeds and bulbs packed; the writer collected young P. macrophylla roots and observed a large, unalarmed herd of burrhel, noting their abundance in Bhutan even in wet areas. With some sun returning, Tundru was ill with diarrhoea, and a dispute arose when Ngudup asked for a letter to H.H. for more butter despite rations lasting until 7th October.

CONTENT:
accounts are about all for their three days absence. Poor Tundru has diarrhoea again badly which has kept him from doing much. I took nice roots of young P. macrophylla from high up, will take them home. Again I saw a fine herd of burrhel, and got a fine picture of them as they went up the hill and over the skyline. They were not really frightened. Burrhel are obviously not animals of the dry Tibetan plateau only. There must be thousands in Bhutan, and in very wet parts too.

17th September. Haat. Very wet night, and very wet again all day today. One would say it was much wetter this month than July was, and I wonder when we will have a definite let up. Stayed in camp and developed photos and packed seed and bulbs.

18th September. Haat. At last some sun again. There was remarkable activity in camp as a result, and we are all feeling and looking considerably cleaner than we were. Ngudup came and asked me if I would write to H.H. for more butter, as it would only last a few days now. I refused, seeing he has rations for everyone up till 7th October. I really don't know how he can dispose of all the butter he does. I told him he could take and divide up one of the two huge 10 lb lumps I had. He told me I had finished one of these myself already - at which I was very angry with him. I have had one small tin of about 1/2 lb so far.