Part 57 - Lamse La crossing with valley observations and Primula discovery near Chandebi

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SUMMARY:
The party travels through dense fir and rhododendron to reach the Lamse La around 1200, then descends the west side into a broad cultivated valley with several closely set villages, good grazing, and wheat and buckwheat fields, noting bearings and distances. Soon after leaving Chandebi they discover a small Primula resembling P. tenuiloba at about 8000 ft on steep mossy slopes (No. 3052), and Purba speaks with the locals.

CONTENT:
before getting into fir forest. The last two miles is through pretty dense fir & rhododendron forest. The Lamse La is reached at m 6. B.P. 190.5° Temp. 60° Time 1200. Descent on West side steep at first, gradually easing off. First houses met at m 8. This place consists of the broad open valley, with excellent open spaces on the hills round about for grazing. There are several villages in the valley, all close together, a good deal of cultivation of wheat & buckwheat. Bearing from the Lamse La to the main village in the valley is 235° M. This really is a grand looking valley, better than either Mera or Sakden. Our first thrill this morning came very soon after leaving Chandebi, within a mile of the village. On the R hand side of the path there is a cliff, & just short of that, on the very steep hillside, we found a new primula - new to me at any rate. It is a small one, rather like P. tenuiloba at first sight, but not so blue as that, & having a good deal of farina on the leaves. It was growing only at 8000 ft, & that is the only place we saw it in. There was a lot there too, growing mostly in large clumps, from 6" to 1 1/2 ft across, in moss on very steep slopes & cliff faces. No. 3052. Purba informed the locals that I was