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- 1933-07-18 (Creation)
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1 page
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SUMMARY:
The writer explains the origin of the Cha La pass name and describes camping in the steep Rong Chu valley, planning to stay to collect flowers and arranging a local to watch bags until a man from Trashiyangsi can retrieve them in October. The mail finally arrived after 20 days via Mago, Dirang Dzong, Poshnig, and the Tse Las; the carriers were fed, paid 20/- each, and sent off.
CONTENT:
Over the Cho La he came here, and when he reached the Cha La, the people of the District all met him there, with hands supplicating, begged him to remain here. For this reason is the pass called the 'Cha La'—Cha meaning 'hand' in honorific Tibetan. He however refused, and went on to Lhasa.
The Rong Chu is a magnificent valley. It is steep-sided, the north face being covered for some height with conifers. The south face, on which we are camped, is very precipitous indeed, and grass and rock covered where not too steep. Flowers abound, but are mostly over. We will stay tomorrow to enable us to make a better examination for flowers, and to enable me to 'bag' some of the better ones. I have arranged with a local to watch the bags for me until I send a man from Trashiyangsi for them in October.
Last night the mail came in at last. As we had expected, the mail had gone to Mago by the lowest route, Dirang Dzong, Poshnig and Tse Las. They had, poor men, been 20 days on the way with very little food indeed. We fed them well though, paid them 20/- each, and sent them off happy this morning.
Everything in the bag was distinctly wet, which
