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SUMMARY:
Describes sheer cliffs and numerous waterfalls en route to Lhahang from Homa, including a measured 13.5-second drop, and a sudden shift from wet conifer jungle to a dry shrub zone near Homa Chu. Notes disagreement with White’s elevation, local threshing and fruit (peaches and gooseberries; no apricots), discreet collecting of birds and butterflies, and a request to the Jongpen to collect Delphinium seeds (499).

CONTENT:
79

B. 26.
Waterfalls on the way to Lhahang from Homa.

Cliffs on the right bank are very nearly perpendicular and very high indeed. Many side streams come in, but their valleys are all so narrow that most come down as waterfalls. One fall we saw was, we thought, about 800 ft. sheer. The water took 13 1/2 secs. to reach the bottom, but then it was all spray by that time. We crossed

View up Homa Chu from near Lhahang.

to the North face and there the conifer jungle was thick. There was some lichen on the trees, but already a great difference could be seen. Suddenly, when we rounded a shoulder, we were straight from the wet to the dry zone, where there were no conifers, little grass, and only shrubs as vegetation. The suddenness was extraordinary. I don't agree with White's height of

Men and women of Lhahang threshing with flails

9,500' here but think 12,000 more like it. Crops are ripe and being threshed now. There are many wild peach trees in the cultivated area, but I doubt if they will ever ripen. Gooseberries are not bad, though barely ripe. White remarks that there is a large trade in dried apricots: there are no apricots at all - only peaches. We managed on the quiet to get three birds and a number of butterflies, but we must be very careful now. The Jongpen is a nice old thing, keen on flowers. I made use of that by asking him

Delph. grandiflorum

to collect some Delphinium seeds (499) and send them

SUMMARY:
Describes Wangdu Potrang above the Punaka river and the Tso Kang Nang, including an etymology of 'Wangdi potrang'. Records a halt at Wangdupotrang with a sighting of wild dogs, then marches to Samtengang and Ridang via Tsarza La and Tangchu in heavy rain, with notes on altitudes and plant collections.

CONTENT:
Wangdu Potrang is picturesque perched on a cliff 400' above the left bank of the Punaka river.

Tso Kang Nang. This is a big unfordable snow water river, & is spanned by a well made cantilever bridge, of two spans at Wangdupotrang. The origin of the name is interesting. An old Shabdrung came here many years ago, & found a child making mud castles. The child's name was Wangdi who told the Shabdrung he was making a palace (potrang). When the Shabdrung built a Dzong here, he called the place Wangdi potrang or Wangdi's palace. The view this morning from Lomitsawa to the mist covered hills in the South was lovely. We don't like the heat of 4000' here a bit, but there is at least a breeze.

2nd. Halt at Wangdupotrang. Went out in the afternoon for three hours. Saw a pack of 15 wild dogs, but could not shoot any as I only had the .410 with me.

3rd July. To SAMTENGANG. 8 miles. 7100'. A very short march up hill, thank goodness, to a pleasant camp on a hill top among pinus longifolia. Rain after 1.0pm.
Luculia gratissima 216
Rhod. maddenii 218
Lil. nepalense 223
Cladrastis sinensis 224

4th July. To RIDANG (RIDA). 14 miles. 8175'. A very hard day for the coolies. Road first led up to the Tsarza La (9125') then steeply down a clay path to the Tangchu at 6500', & again up to camp. It rained hard all day, & we were never out of the mist, so had no views of the country. The Rain made the clay paths very bad indeed, & all coolies must have fallen several times. In spite of bad weather we did well with the flowers & birds, but luck was not in till
Lilium nepalense. cream with blood red centre

SUMMARY:
Notes on routes between Lomitsawa, Wangdipotrang, and Tsalimaphe, including Tobgye’s rapid ride from Wangdipotrang to Ha. Entries for 11–12 August describe continuous heavy rain after drought, severe mosquitoes, delayed rice sowing, finding scarce Lilium wallichianum near Wangdipotrang, and a 22-mile march to Tsalimaphe with swollen rivers, risky bridges, coolie changes, moving to a tent due to fleas, and arrival of mail.

CONTENT:
90

Lomitsawa and go direct to Tsalimaphe from Wangdipotrang. When Tobgye returns from Bumthang, he goes from Wangdipotrang to Ha in 2 days, which is 6 normal stages. Of course he rides, but a few of his men keep up with him all the way.

11th August. Wangdipotrang 7 miles. Rained all night, rain today. The mosquitoes last night were awful, I have never been bitten or worried so much by them before. It is only three days ago since rain started here, they have had a real drought. It has been so dry that rice has not been sown, which should have been done a month ago. They have plenty of rain now, but it is too late. Found Lilium Wallichianum just above here, but very scarce. It is said to be common 6-8 miles down the Mo Chu.

12th August. To Tsalimaphe. 22 miles. Left at 5:30 am. I got in at 4:15 pm and the kit at 6:30-7:00 pm. It was fine for an hour in the morning, but all the rest of the day has simply poured, without a stop. The rivers are huge and some bridges will not last much longer, on our route down today. Coolies changed about 1/3 of the way here. Expected to put up in a hut, but found the fleas too much for me, so am in a tent. A mail came in, and

SUMMARY:
After a day of rain, sleet, hail, and mist, the weather clears to reveal a vivid sunset and distant peaks, accompanied by numerous woodcock drumming between 6.30 and 7.15 pm. From Wangchekha, the writer notes a cold, clear night, measurements of B.P. 193.2, 55° at 2.0 pm, height 13000 ft, and clouds and mist arriving after 6.30 am.

CONTENT:
6.0 pm. It is a wonderful country this. I have been cursing the rain, sleet, hail and mist most of the day. Ten minutes ago it was raining hard and we were in mist. Then suddenly it cleared and I looked out on a most wonderful scene away down the valley. The sky was blue green with sunset-lit clouds in it. Below them an absolutely clear sky. In the distance a few peaks showing over a mass of valley filled to varying degrees with clouds, some dull and some lit up by the evening sun. And all around the blackbirds are singing. A most lovely evening. Most evenings lately I have been hearing a woodcock flying round for 20 mins. or so. This evening there must have been 8 or 10 of them. They all started together just after 6.30, and finished at 7.15. Then flew round in circles, fairly high I think, as I could not see them. Each one called for a few seconds, then swooped down 'drumming', to resume its call a few seconds later. There were not more than 5 or 10 seconds between one or other of the birds drumming. All stopped almost simultaneously at 7.15 pm.

23rd May. Wangchekha 6 miles. B.P. 193.2 Temp. 55° Time 2.0 pm. Ht. 13000 ft.

The woodcock last night started drumming again, went on till well after midnight. It was a cold and clear night, and a most perfect morning till about 6.30 when clouds and mist came up very quickly.