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SUMMARY:
Arrived at Tsetang and were welcomed by trader Pedong Dorji, who may help secure mules for travel to Dongkar Dz and assist with arrangements. News from Lhasa describes a serious conflict with arrests, including Reting Rimpoche, Phunkhang Shape, and others, rumors of Reting’s death, and weapons taken to Sera; Reting was reportedly imprisoned in the Tse Potala.

CONTENT:
11th May: Tsetang. We were off in good time at 7.0 & in at 1.0, being met by Pedong Dorji, a half Sikkimese who used to live in Pedong, who now trades here. He asked us to his house, & in spite of all, I accepted, as we hope that he will be able to produce mules to take us to Dongkar Dz. At any rate he will certainly be of the greatest help to us in making arrangements. Since Lhagyari we have heard more news of the war in Lhasa, it seems to have been a pretty serious affair. Although said to be over now, it is not all over, as the fate of many people has yet to be decided. Reting Rimpoche is arrested, so is Phunkhang Shape. Phunkhang Se was also arrested, but he has now been released though he has lost official status altogether. Sadutshang's eldest brother is another, he is in a bad way, as his monk brother is said to have taken all the rifles from S's house to Sera for the fight. It seems that Halu & Surkhang Shape got Reting to come to Lhasa by saying that the old Regent had called him to take over power. He came and was imprisoned in the Tse Potala. A man came through from Lhasa today, he says Reting is dead. He had become seriously involved because they found copies of letters to the Chinese when he was arrested. It is difficult to find out how many were killed. Here reports

SUMMARY:
Diary entries record weather from the end of March through mid-April at Tonghyuk Dz, with frequent rain and snow reaching elevations of 11,500 feet, including 1 inch at Amnyina and 9 inches at Lumang. Notes also document payments to Mohammed and possible amounts related to Tsetang and Gyantse, clarifying pay, advance, and pony fodder expenses.

CONTENT:
31st - 1st April. Tonghyuk Dz. Very heavy rain at night. Snow to 11500'.
1 - 2 - " Bright part of day. Cloudy afternoon.
2 - 3 - " Cloudy night. Cloud some sun.
3 - 4 - " Rain at night. Cloudy day 4th.
4 - 5 - " " " " & snow to 11500'. 5th.
5 - 6 - " Little rain at night. Cloudy but fine day.
6 - 7 - " Rain at night. Cloudy some rain 7th.
7 - 8 - " " " " - 8
8 - 9 - " Heavy rain " " - 9.
9 - 10 - " " " " Ditto all day 10th.
10 - 11 - " " " " " 11th.
11 - 12 - " Heavy snow 1" at Amnyina. 9" at Lumang. Fine but heavy cloud 12th.
12 - 13. Low cloud. Mostly fine but much cloud. 13th.
13 - 14. Some snow.

Mohammed has had Rs 20 + 200 sangp on 15 Dec.
150 " ? Tsetang Pedong Dorji
400 " ? Gyantse R.B.B.

Of these payments:-
Rs 20 + 300 sangp (Rs 100) is his pay - + Adv. 5/-
Remainder 450 sangp was for ponies' food.

12338 P. chungensis = 12279.

SUMMARY:
The party negotiates passage with an elderly Dzongpen (father of the acting official), who promises limited pony transport and sealed letters to Kome and Koto, while the diarist sends letters to Surkhang Dzasa and to Darjeeling. On 17 May at Yangtso they depart with yak transport, seen off by Pedong Dorji, and note clear views of Yala Shampo, lake birds, and herds of kyang and gazelle.

CONTENT:
At first, they said no British or Bhutanese could pass this way without a sealed passport of the T.G. The Dzongpens were very sticky too. The other Dzongpen said the locals were all Drokpas and only owned five, with no transport. But we settled down and asked the Dzongpen—really the father of the real man—to come see us. He came, an old man of 62, with no teeth. He was full of life and fun and is one of the few Tibetans who have done things. He's been all over East Tibet, to India with the 13th Dalai Lama, to China, to Ladakh, to Monyul, and everywhere else. He talked so fast that we could not get a word in anywhere. He talked so loud that he could be heard 100 yards away. But he was a good soul, and was most friendly and helpful. He would provide transport for us, with only 2 ponies, as there are no more there, and he would give us sealed letters to Kome and Koto, where the Takhar Tengba Dzongpen would find us a change of transport. Although we have "Dzongyel", we have to change there. He was a most lively and entertaining old man, who kept us thoroughly amused for more than half an hour. After he went, there was a marked change in the Dzongpen's behaviour. The old boy leaves for Lhasa on the 17th, and I gave him a letter for Surkhang Dzasa saying I had come here, and several for Darjeeling too.

17th May. Yangtso. 11 miles. A beautiful day, with a few heavy showers round about. Pedong Dorji saw us off at 7:30, all arrangements being good. He will go back today to Chong-gye Dzong. He has been a help and a good friend. We had yak transport which came on well. To the east, the fine peak of Yala Shampo (20,230') was very clear this evening. The lake here is beautiful, and has a good many birds on it: gulls, terns, brahminy geese, pochard, and redshanks. On the main Triju plain were many kyang and several gazelle. Further up this way we saw more gazelle, one herd having 15 in it. They were not frightened.

In car with young husband 17/5/52