Part 43 - Route from Naszi to Mangde (Trongsa) Chu near Nimshong with serow encounter

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SUMMARY:
The party leaves Naszi, traverses along the Tirgang Chu, crosses side valleys, and turns up the Mangde (Trongsa) Chu above the river, noting oak and Pinus longifolia forests and cultivation near Nimshong. It rains intermittently, and during a halt Tendu, Trongpen, and the diarist press a fern when a serow suddenly charges past them.

CONTENT:
Leaving Naszi, keeping 1/2 mile or so from the left bank of the Tirgang Chu, and well above it. To 1 1/2 m. path climbs, from 1 1/2 to 3 it is almost level, then a deep side valley is crossed, and another at m 4. Thence path leads slightly down and is easy. At m 7 more open forest is met. This gradually becomes almost all oak and Pinus longifolia. At m 8 1/2 the path turns up the right bank of the Mangde (Trongsa) Chu and keeping 1000 ft or more above the river goes up stream. Just before camp is reached, the path drops steeply. Considerable cultivation can be seen on the right bank of the Tirgang Chu 1 m above its junction with the Mangde Chu. The village is called Nimshong. Both banks of the Mangde Chu have considerable forests of Pinus longifolia. Rained as we left and we had two or three more showers during the day. During one halt however we had rather fun. Tendu, Trongpen and I were pressing a fern, on the path. There was thick jungle above and below and just 5 or 10 yards clearance for the path, running along a steep hillside. We heard something dashing down from above straight to us. Then suddenly a serow charged out straight at us 8 yards away, sheered off and brushed past us then slap down the hillside. Ten