Part 23 - Journey to Takila via Vugar; meeting with Ashe Wangmoo

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SUMMARY:
The party traveled along a path that descended to Vugar, where coolies were changed, then ascended past Drula toward Takila, noting the local name KAMGON for a red Prunus as in Pome. On reaching Takila, they reflected it was the same place visited in 1933 when called Tamashu, found the route mostly through dry oak and Pinus longifolia zones, and later met with Ashe Wangmoo for a long visit.

CONTENT:
Nothing else was outstanding, but these three finds were enough to make the day a good one. We got in at a little before 12:00, all rather tired. The path was not steep at first; in fact, it was flat for a good long way before dropping steeply down about 2000' to Vugar, where there is a fine bridge over the river. Here the coolies were changed. The path then is gradually up the rest of the way, with a few steep climbs after the village of Drula. Ashe Wangmoo sent more men to meet us at Vugar, + 3 mules to meet us here. She says she is coming to see us tomorrow. Curiously enough, the red Prunus is called here KAMGON, the same as in Pome. Locals also say there is no seed, as in Pome.

17th April. TAKILA. 11 good miles. 5 1/2 hours. This is exactly the same place as we stopped at in 1933, but then it was called Tamashu. The road today was not interesting. It is nearly all through a 'dry' zone of oak & Pinus longifolia covered hillside alternating with quite extensive areas of cultivation. We saw a number of flowers, but none of any particular interest. We were in at 11:30, then waited for Ashe Wangmoo to arrive. She came an hour later & sat in our tent for three hours while we tried our best to talk intelligent Tibetan to her. That was not easy