Part 153 - Halt and seed collecting near Kashong La; plans to reach Chayul (29–30 October)

1 page

SUMMARY:
The diary records a halt with fine weather, Tsonpen’s recovery, collecting G. Waltoni seeds, paying off coolies, and concern about snow on the Drichung La and Le La while planning to reach Chayul to meet Tenduk and Danang. The next day brought strong winds, continued seed searches including Ceratostigma, and frustration that many seeds (Primula, Meconopsis, Rhododendron) were eaten by bugs.

CONTENT:
...been bad enough for that. We got a pretty good collection of ripe seeds of Gent. Waltoni, but otherwise nothing.

29th October. Halt. Fine all day, but clouded in the morning: much new snow near the Kashong La. Tsonpen is much better today, & should be fit by the morning. Collected two more packets of G. Waltoni. Paid off all coolies at the rate of 3 shao a day. I am now anxious to get to Chayul, & meet Tenduk & Danang & hear how they have got on. There is a lot of snow up the Drichung La range, & I hope there has not been too much on the Le La. The gyunpo says the Drichung La is never closed, but sometimes after snow, they cannot cross it for a few days.

30th October. Kap. 8m. A beautiful morning till 11.0, then clouded over snow on the hills all round. A very strong cold wind blowing up the valley. Got a few more G. Waltoni seed, searched for Ceratostigma seed. But we could only find four seeds. Every bush has been attacked by some bug & all seeds eaten, most annoying. I wonder if this year is specially bad that way, because nearly all seeds have been eaten, Primula, Meconopsis & worst of all, Rhododendron.