Part 59 - Halt in camp; notes on 'shing sam pang sam' and head of Trongsa Chu

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SUMMARY:
The diarist describes promising terrain at the forest–grassland edge ('shing sam pang sam'), nearby lakes, and a retreating glacier beyond the head of the Trongsa Chu, with reports of takin in that area. On a rainy halt day, companions went far afield and returned with Mec. simplicifolia; later the writer found many near the tent and mentions Sherriff.

CONTENT:
Coming into flower. Maybe they don't grow here. I hope I haven't come to a poor primula, as they are the best things in my mind, to find. Every place where the forest ends & the grassy hillside begins, is called 'shing sam pang sam' which just means the edge of forest & grass. It is there we intend to go later on, & must say the country there & beyond looks good. To the south, about 1000 ft up, are several lakes, & I always think the slopes above them seem specially good. Away beyond, is a retreating glacier, & somewhere beyond that, I was told, is the head of the Trongsa Chu. It is here, the locals say that takin are to be found in quantity. Locally they are called them and Drong guinsi, which is the Bhutanese word. Drogpas come over from that direction soon, if they see any we will be able to find out. It was lovely open up there, & made one want to go on & on. I could cheerfully have gone on all afternoon, but would have failed to get back had I done so.

28th May. Halt. Mostly rainy, but with nice sunny patches. I stayed in camp to rest after yesterday. The lads went out a long way, & had a bad day. They brought in Mec. simplicifolia though, from miles away. In the evening I went 50 yds from my tent, & found about 100 of them! Today I took some of the dormant Sherriff's