Part 39 - Route and plant observations near Gali Chu–Okse La with reports from Naszi

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SUMMARY:
During a slippery descent, Tsongpen comments on the path, and men from Naszi report heavy rain that ruined buckwheat crops. The author measures Rhododendron leaves, notes primulas in flower, and records bearings to Naszi and Korkhu with mapping notes for Gali Chu, Okse La, Dunhar La, Bahi Chu, and the Black Mt.

CONTENT:
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slippery, though of course much easier than on our way up. In fact Tsongpen said 'Rasta pakka hogiya', which certainly was somewhat of an overstatement. Met some men from Naszi who told us they had had awful rain there which just came down solid & has ruined all the buckwheat crops. They wanted rain badly but have got it too heavy now.

I picked up a few leaves from the tree the specimen of Rhododendron (R. falconeri 2883) No. 2983 was taken. The longest, of only a few examined, was 44 cms, the broadest was 19 1/2 cms. Fine today up till 3:00 pm, but looks like rain later. We saw Naszi & Korkhu from the ridge not far from Camp 2nd May & the bearing was 95° to Naszi, 100° to Korkhu & the ridge on which we were & which is the one we crossed from the Gali Chu to Naszi by the Okse La runs at about 110° - 290° Mag. To the south of the Dunhar La is the Bahi Chu. Very roughly the map should be as opposite. It is all wrong just now. The Gali Chu stops a long way short of the Black Mt. & has the ridge running between it & the mountain. We found a few primulas 2984 (Pr. bracteosa 2991, common) in flower.

The flower is very like P. boothii, but I think it may not be that, because of the bracts & the shape of the leaf which is (Rh. keysii 2992)