Part 55 - Sakden, 13–14 March: collections, snow, and camp with Ludlow and Lumsden

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SUMMARY:
After descending in snowy conditions, the writer reached Sakden and collected Gentiana amoena and other material, preparing seeds to send via Trashigong. The following day they halted at Sakden to process seeds and flowers; Lumsden treated patients and cut the writer’s hair, while Ludlow improved the camp with a fireplace in the dining room amid cold nighttime temperatures.

CONTENT:
Sakden 13th March.
Prim. white 1215. P. gracilipes 1216

... in flower down to about 12,500, when it gave out, was replaced by 1166 again. I collected a bit of ground which had a lot of Gentiana amoena on it. No seeds were left in the capsules, but they must be in the ground with the living sprouting roots. I will send them by air if the post leaves Trashigong on our arrival there. I have put it in a tin with a hundred or more holes. Similarly I have tinned some of 1166. There was a lot of snow on the way down. I reached Sakden at 2:00 pm, to find Ludlow and Lumsden very fit. Ludlow had some food birds again, and flowers much the same as I collected.

14th March. Halted Sakden. I only went out for three or four hours this morning, and have been doing up seeds and flowers since. Lumsden has been very busy with patients. However he helped to cut my hair with clippers, and made a good job of his first effort. Here there is the usual village built for us, but Ludlow has added a fireplace in the dining room. It is very fine and a great boon. It is cold at night here. The temp. inside my room 3 ft from the ground was 23° last night. The days are

[Margin notes: Gentiana amoena, Sakden, Juniperus recurva, Tsuga dumosa 1180, Rhod. cavaleriei-florum 1181 1183, Rhod. arboreum 1182]