Part 24 - Kunzam to Pang Kha: rain, Khoma Chu bridge washed out, and rations from the Dzong

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SUMMARY:
The diarist reports persistent rain, a march near Kunzam with plant collecting including Albizia sherriffii seed, and a halt due to weather. News arrives that the Khoma Chu bridge below camp was destroyed, affecting Betty’s party, while rations were issued under H.H.’s orders and many sick parades occurred; later the party moves toward Pang Kha, with Betty and Hicks accompanying as far as Khoma before parting.

CONTENT:
great deal of rain, again today, I don't remember this at all in 1937. Sometimes the morning is fine, but always rain starts in the evening, or at night. It is at any rate better like that than rain in the morning.

19th. Kunzam. c 4 hours 8 miles. B.P. 205.2° T. 67°. 6.0pm Ht 3850'
Quite an interesting day, as we got 21 flowers, though nothing of outstanding interest. Albizia sherriffii is again to be seen, & looks a very fine tree indeed. I got seed for the first time today. The path drops down very steeply on an insignificant path which was very muddy & difficult to walk on. It drops down to the river bank in 3 miles or so, then is easy up the bank all the way. The hillside is bare though, with some Pinus longifolia, except where a side stream comes in.

20 & 21st April. Halt. Mostly rain. Today we heard that the bridge over the Khoma Chu just below camp was carried away. That means Betty & Co must go all the way up the side valley to Khoma, & will not reach Lhuentse tomorrow. We have had a great issuing out of rations from the Dzong. H.H.'s orders are that we are all to be fed free, it seems. I have kept a list & will try to settle with H.H. later. There have been large sick parades here, mostly worms & gonorrhoea, even boys of 14 suffering from the latter.

22nd April. Pang Kha. (Camp 2 miles beyond) 8 miles. B.P. 195.7° Temp 53°. 1.0pm Ht. approx. 9116'. Sun fine up till 11.0, then rain the rest of the day. Betty & Hicks had to come with me as far as Khoma where the next bridge over the Khoma Chu is. So we walked up together, & parted there. Betty was very good & showed nothing when the