SUMMARY:
The diary describes following the Mara Chu, crossing small side streams and ridges, and reaching a camp at mile 8. It notes the village of Adao, whose inhabitants move to Phobjikha during the rains and occasionally return to tend crops, with some fever present. Observations include abundant R. Maddenii/R. Edgeworthii and a fine forest of Pinus longifolia opposite Adao.
CONTENT:
absolutely solidly the rest of the evening - real Bhutan rain at its very
best. The path follows what is here known as the Mara Chu, the
whole way down. It is good most of the way, sometimes sunken.
At m 3 a big side valley from the R is crossed, then the path
ascends easily to m 4 1/2 the highest point reached. Up till here there
is some cultivation. Then an easy, though steep in places, descent
to near the main river again to 6 level to 6 1/2 where another
sidestream is crossed. Both are small. The main valley is here
narrow and steep sided, the path ascends to a ridge, crossed at
m 7. Thence descent begins easily at first to m 8 camp.
The Mara Chu here must fall very rapidly indeed, and both sides
of the valley are very steep and precipitous. About 1 m further
on a valley enters from the Right on the L bank of the
Mara Chu, above m 11 is ADAO a biggish village with
lots of cultivation. The inhabitants of Adao all leave their
village at this time and go to Phobjikha, just returning every now
and then to look after their crops. There is some fever in Adao during
the rains. / Here R. Maddenii or R. Edgeworthii are very common
indeed. Opposite Adao I see forest of Pinus longifolia, and it looks
a very fine forest indeed, bigger than any I have yet seen,