SUMMARY:
The diarist travels from Lenda toward Lhapso Dzong amid transport difficulties and an uncooperative headman, but later receives help from a lama deputy at Lhapso Dzong. Mules arrive tired, Tamchen returns to Ludlow with Yusum mules, and an unusual halo phenomenon is observed and noted. Weather shifts from rain to fine conditions with some storms and hail.
CONTENT:
4th May Lenda. There was a good deal of rain last night, but it cleared up in the morning, though storms are all round now in the evening. I had sent Mond out here to arrange transport & found him waiting ½ m out of Lenda with a tale of woe. The headman said he would do nothing without the lama Dzongpen's permission, & the latter demanded 15 sang a pony, otherwise he would produce nothing at all. He refused everything. However I'm glad to say that the muleteers agreed to come on to Lhapso Dz, but said 2 days would be necessary. There is an unpleasant feeling of noncooperation here, & obviously some chalaki going on somewhere. There is no dzing here at all, & someone has been getting at Mond. But the headman is not helpful at all. He won't provide grain. Eggs are produced at 5 sho each soon. I'll be glad to get on tomorrow & to get to Lhapso.
5th May. Lhapso Dzong. A fine day & very beautiful, with cumulus clouds above. In the evening we had some rain storms round about. There was a little hail. Mond went to see the Dzongpen, who is not here however. He has left a lama 'tsap', who has given us all we wanted — given or promised to give. He seems a good man & very helpful. The mules were obviously tired & had rather a struggle to get in here at all. Some were not in till 6.5pm.
6th May. Halt. Tamchen went off back to Ludlow today with our Yusum mules. At 10.0 am I noticed the extraordinary system of halos as drawn on the opposite page. The biggest halo is, I imagine, another of those which I noticed in 1925 or 1926 & reported to the R. Met. Society, who told me what it was & what caused it. It is apparently very unusual & as far as I remember, they said it had only been reported 38 times. At that time the curious ovate shaped halo was absent. It was a clear bright morning, but soon very thin & very high cloud appeared almost as a veil in the blue sky and then the halos were seen. It remained fine, but clouded over after 12.0 midday. Everyone here very helpful, & we hope to be off tomorrow without trouble.