Part 17 - Khomanaggri to Balfai via Yembo La (25–26 June)

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SUMMARY:
Diary entries describe steep descents and ascents between Khomanaggri and Balfai, crossing the Tsalari, Temri Chu, and Jiri Chu, with camps at Yembo La and Balfai. Birds were shot and seen; Lilium wallichianum was abundant on recently jhumed slopes. The sister of the Trashigong Dzongpen visited the party; weather was hot with an evening thunder shower.

CONTENT:
up to about 6500' then a gradual descent to camp. It is awful the way one constantly loses height here. Tomorrow again we have to go right down to the main valley again. Shot a few birds & missed many. The jungle is frightfully thick & impossible to retrieve birds from if any distance off the path. The sister of the Trashigong Dzongpen lives here, & came to call on us.

25th June. KHOMANAGGRI. 8 miles. 204.0° = 4215' Temp. 75°. The road drops steeply down to the main valley about 3500' & crosses the Tsalari & Temri Chu. Then steep ascent again through pine forest (P. longifolia) to the Yembo La, where a magnificent camp was pitched for us. No flowers, but birds good. Beautiful day & frightfully hot. Thunder shower in evening.

26th June. BALFAI. 10 miles. (199.9° = 6,420') Temp. 84°. Road falls rapidly on leaving camp to the Jiri Chu, crossed by a bridge at m 2. Then a steep ascent for a short way, & afterwards steady the whole way to camp at Balfai. Most of the way is through pine forest (Pinus longifolia), with a few rhododendrons & oak trees. A good deal of the hillside seems to have been 'jhumed' fairly lately, & so is free of undergrowth. On one or two of these patches Lilium wallichianum is growing in profusion (564). Just