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SUMMARY:
Two halt days at Kashong La with short excursions up and down the valleys yielded several plant collections, including Cyananthus, Pedicularis, Gentiana, Lonicera, Primula, Delphinium, Saxifraga, and others. The diarist marked plants for seed, shot two wrens at 15,000 feet, and noted sightings of blood pheasant and musk deer; Primula Cawdoriana was abundant on nearby cliffs.

CONTENT:
130

Kashong La - Sherriff

18th July, Halt. A reasonably fine day, with a little sun now & then, and much rain here. Only went up the valley towards the pass, but came across one or two interesting things.

Cyananthus Sherriffii 2390
Ped. schizanthoides 2389
" Bella 2391
G. przewalskii 2386
taylorii 239

A Cyananthus (lobatus?) 2390, a small pure white Pedicularis 2389, & a gentian 2386, which I think is G. nubigena. There was very little in flower, but I have marked off some coming over for seed. Shot two wrens, at 15,000' among large boulders, farther down.

19th July, Halt. Kashong La - Sherriff. Fine for an hour or two in the morning & a little in the evening. Went down the valley to the west, then up the other side, over the top & round right handed.

Lonicera myrtillus 2393
Gentiana taylorii 2392
Gent. coerulea aglaia 2401
Pr. morsheadiana 2396
" muscoides 2399
Pedicularis macrosiphon 2407, Ped. elwesii var. major 2403,
Delphin. beesianum 2400
Cyananthus Sherriffii 2402
Sax. drapana 2398
P. Cawdoriana

A fairly good day. Found a primula like sikkimensis, but much smaller 2396. I doubt if it will be more than a variety, though it looks rather different. Further up a delphinium, the first we have seen - 2400 - one I have not collected before. Another rather smaller cyananthus 2402 & a few other pedicularis & odd things. Did not take a gun with me, saw blood pheasant, & three musk deer. Prim Cawdoriana is very common on the cliffs of the nala across the valley from camp, all in full bloom.

SUMMARY:
Botanical notes along the Kulu Phu Chu include multiple Primula and Gentiana species with specimen numbers, with observations around 11,500'. Detailed route directions run from Kongshong to Kucha Leku and up to the Kucha La, noting valley bearings, river crossings, forest and swampy meadows (including Kulu hungma with yak herds), and a side path to Member Tso and the Tamnyen Chu; entries are dated 23 July and at Kucha La on July 24.

CONTENT:
540 Kulu Phu Chu. 23 July. Anaphalis corymbosa 5911. Aster himalaicus 5912. Pedicularis paludosa 5913. Valeriana hardwickii 5916. Thalictrum chelidonii 5919. Epilobium sikkimense sub. ludlowianum 5921.

5917. Primula jaffreyana. Not in flower. In a wetter zone than previously seen.
5918. Primula chungensis. Flowers almost all over.
5919. Primula chamaethauma. Very low, at 11,500'.

Line of valley of Kulu Phu Chu from Kucha La direct to mouth between Pana Thamdo is 290° approx.

Kongshong to Kucha Leku. Keep up the Right bank through forest from mile 1, where the path rounds the foot of a cliff. The river may be over the path here in summer. Thence level to 1 1/2, then a fairly steep ascent to mile 3, over a ridge. After this descent gradual, then level or nearly so, through forest the whole way to a small clearing at 5 1/2. Ascent then very gradual through forest to a large swampy meadow where yak herds live in summer at 6 1/2. This is called Kulu hungma. Line of valley approx 90°.

From Kulu hungma keep up the Right bank of the Kulu Phu Chu through Abies forest, alternating with open swampy meadows for three miles. Then the valley narrows and the forest is entered, the valley turning a little more Eastwards at mile 4. At mile 5 cross the river and start the ascent to the Kucha La. The ascent is beside the Left bank to mile 5 1/2, gradual, then very steep indeed to the La (BP. 188.6 52 730 26/7 Ht. 13,222' approx) at mile 6 1/2. The path goes directly up the ridge running parallel to the river, does not follow up the river, but,

A path leads up North from the bottom of the final ascent to the Kucha La, over the rocky ridge to the Tamnyen Chu. 1/2 mile over the ridge is a big lake called the Member Tso, and from this the Tamnyen Chu flows due North to Tamnyen.

Kucha La - July 24. Gentiana taylorii sp. nov. type 5929. Gentiana praeclara 5930. Gentiana leucantha 5934 sp. nov. type.