Part 59 - Halt at Tsona; meetings with dzongpens and plans to go to Mago; botanical notes

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SUMMARY:
The party halts at Tsona, moving from an unsuitable hovel to a happier campsite above the village, drying gear in rare sunshine. They exchange visits with two accommodating dzongpens, discuss a possible trip to Lhasa, arrange to go to Mago on the 19th, and note Dawa’s and the ailing but recovering Kuntup’s arrival. Botanical observations include new primula, saxifrage, and gentian, with dwarf pink rhododendron on bare hills and snowy peaks west of Tsona.

CONTENT:
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5:30, some at 6:30, some not at all. Again the flowers were good, but as usual there was no time to collect. It was too cold and wet, and we were very late. But we got a new primula, a new saxifrage, and a new gentian. Hills are bare but for the dwarf pink rhododendron (R. hypenanthum). Obviously we are in a transition zone, though at the moment it is anything but dry. This is a queer place to have a dzong, but it is rich in sheep and yaks, as the grazing is excellent.

Ludlow 44. There are fine snowy peaks overlooking Tsona to the west.

16th July. Halt at TSONA. We could not live in the hovel provided for us, so as soon as possible, moved off to a camping ground above the village. Here we pitched tents, and are perfectly happy. There has been quite a lot of sun today, the first we've seen for a long time, so everything was put out to dry. The two dzongpens came to call at 7:30 am, and we returned the call at 1:00 pm. Both are very nice, and would do anything we asked. They even asked if we'd like to go to Lhasa. All arrangements will be made for us to go to Mago, and we will leave on the 19th. Dawa and Kuntup came on today. Poor Kuntup is not well, but I hope will now soon recover. His fever is over anyway. Returning from the dzong we passed a cliff to the north of the path—