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SUMMARY:
Notes epiphytic rhododendron bushes at the top of an ascent, including old pods with sprouting seeds collected. Describes transport difficulties near Muktur and crossing the Tawang Chu via a fine old iron-chain suspension bridge said to have been made by a Guru, with frequent changes of carriers en route.

CONTENT:
NB Rhododendron
Top of the ascent, there were a number of bushes
in flower. Several of these were epiphytic, but I
could not tell on what kind of tree. This is
interesting, and I don't think has been
noticed before. One of the bushes had old seed pods
on it and these I have taken. They are full of sprouting
seeds.

110 miles To 12th July. TAWANG. 8 miles. B.P. 194.5° Temp. 65°. = 9371'

A disastrous day. Coolie transport at Muktur was
quite inadequate for our needs. Men and women here
cannot or do not carry half what the Bhutanese do,
we needed something like 60 coolies. Eventually we
got off and proceeded across the Tawang Chu above its
junction with the Muktur stream. Here is a fine old
suspension bridge with six lines of massive iron link
chains. No one knows where it was made, but it
was made by a Guru who used to live in the
cliff just opposite the bridge. The links are still all
in excellent condition and not very rusty. The height at
the bridge is approx 6289' (B.P. 201.0° Temp. 70°). A short
way up the R. bank we had to change transport,
and then started an absurd business of changing at
every little village — every 1/2 mile in one case
after only a few hundred yards. We tired of

SUMMARY:
Photo notes describe a view in the Chumbi valley with mules heading to Chumbithang and a mule being pulled back onto the path near the top of the Nathu La in mist. The entry recounts small avalanches pushing mules off the path, difficult recovery of a mule using tarpaulins and numdahs, and dead mules and wool loads along the route. Reached Tsomgo at 5.15 pm and noted contrasting snow on different faces.

CONTENT:
16

B 5 good -

B. 5. finished. View in Chumbi valley. Mules coming through conifer forest to Chumbithang

B. 6. In mist near the top of the Nathu La. A mule being pulled back on to the path.

smaller avalanche, & carried down about thirty yards. These
were the only two avalanches we saw. It took a full hour to
get the mule up again: the snow was too soft even when
trampled in well, for the mule to get on its feet, and had
to put down all its tarpaulins & numdahs etc before it
was eventually pulled & pushed up to the path again.
Beyond that the path was difficult too, but we had no
more trouble ourselves. We saw three mules away down
the valley trough, which had been pushed off the path
by these little snow slides. One had fetched up about
150' down, & all were alive, but the muleteers had been
unable to get them out. I suppose they will remain there
another ten days or so till the snow melts. Some caravans
must have had a nasty time, as many loads of wool
were lying by the path & we passed several dead mules.
Reached Tsomgo at 5.15 pm, to find little snow on the
South face, but almost as much as before on the
West & North faces. I wonder when the Nathu La was
so bad as late as this before. Flowers have come on