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SUMMARY:
Tsongpen Tenduk returned with notable primula collections, especially P. tsarongensis v. alba (3366) and P. sonchifolia (3367), regarded as the best finds so far, amid persistent heavy rain causing drying difficulties. A route note records travel to Omta Tso (4 miles) along the Rinchen Chu/Maru Chu at approximately 14,500 ft with poor weather conditions.

CONTENT:
MB section 5-11 - Tang Chu

yellow. Tsongpen Tenduk came back today with a good
haul of things, but no seeds. Far away the best, were two
P. tsarongensis v. alba 3366, P. sonchifolia 3367
primulas, or two forms of one primula, 3366 + 3367, both
magnificent flowers, though unfortunately Petiolarids. I measured
one of the specimens of 3367 at 1 3/4", full, across. 3366 was in
masses, by the hundred yards: 3367 in rather a small
patch, but closely packed. These are the best things collected
so far. (P. flagellaris 3368) A few P. tenella were brought, & they certainly seem
very near the Chanderi primula, but the scape is much shorter,
leaves smaller, & only one specimen was seen with two
flowers. I will be interested to hear the Professor's remarks on
the Chanderi primula. A most cheering evening to an
otherwise foul day of pouring rain + strong wind. Everything
is pretty sodden, & flowers take a horrible long time to dry. The
drying paper seems as wet as ever only an hour or two after
changing.

13700 ft To via Maru Chu (Rinchen Chu)
5th July, Omta Tso. 4 miles. BP. 187.6. Temp. 47° Time 5.0 pm. Ht. 14500 app.
Rained all night, very hard all day. Path keeps up R bank of
Rinchen Chu (known here as Maru Chu) to m 1 1/2, where there are two
huts, then crosses by a bridge to L bank, climbs up to an open
P.

SUMMARY:
Notes on extreme temperatures and plant survival are followed by a halt during which the diarist and Ludlow visit the Dzongpon with gifts to secure cooperation for travel plans. They plan routes to the Sobhe La and Gyadzong, attempt to train a local to use a thermograph, test photographic equipment, and repack supplies.

CONTENT:
fairly easy. Supplies are not easy here, there is no doubt of that. The thermograph showed fine interesting results. But the whole question of temperatures to which plants are subjected is one of great interest. On the main range there is snow now; there has been snow above 13,000 or less for about a month or two. So the plants there are protected. But north of the Himalayan range for instance, there is no snow on the Tamu La for instance. Yet we had, at 11,500, a temp of -4°F. On the Tamu La, at 13,900', the temp must be 15-20° below zero. Yet the plants survive that. A contrast was the place Lil. Wardii was growing. The temps were down to -4° there, yet I could dig out the bulbs with my hand. Where we took P. sonchifolia(?), we broke the blade of the kukri cutting the frozen soil.

27th Dec. Halt. Fine again, but with thin cirrus cloud collecting. Ludlow and I called on the Dzongpon in the morning and gave him 1 pair of binoculars, 1 bottle of saffron, 1 Stanley flask, 1 than of cotton cloth, 1 picture frame and 1 photo of the Dalai Lama. That is a bribe. He seemed more pleased and easy than yesterday, and made no objections to our plans to go towards the Sobhe La on the 30th and to Gyadzong, with 50 coolies, on about the 6th or 8th of Jan. I have tried today to teach a local about the thermograph which Ludlow and I hope to put up above Laha on the Sobhe La route. He cannot read or write, but I think I will get him to do something. He seems quite intelligent and a decent youth. Took a few photos today to test the roll film adaptor which I fitted for use with either camera. As a test, I used the readings given by a GE meter.

28th - 29th Dec. Halt. Checked and repacked all kit, and took out a 2 months' supply for our visit to Gyadzong and a small supply for Ludlow and myself to take to the Sobhe La.