Part 191 - Sharithang to Kalimpong, onward to Calcutta and Srinagar; Kuth plantations and Meconopsis notes

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SUMMARY:
Notes daily bathing at a pond with dug-out canoes and an inspection of Kuth plantations, healthy in places but grub-damaged elsewhere. Records travel from Sharithang to Chumpithang, Gangtok, and Kalimpong, with Mec. superba common on the Ha La and Kin La and seed ripening noted. Stayed with Odling (where Morris was also staying), then continued via Calcutta to Srinagar; specimens collected total 660.

CONTENT:
about 40 yards x 15 yards & 4 ft deep. On this he has 8 dug-out canoes which we found great fun. All of us bathed, including Chuni, & we bathed every day, wet or fine. I went up & saw all but one of the Kuth plantations. Kuth was looking quite healthy in some places, but rather eaten by grubs in others.

26th Aug. Sharithang. Tobgye came up to near the Ha La with us, & left us in a very heavy storm. Reached Sharithang at 6.45 pm. On the Ha La & Kin La, & particularly between the two, Mec. superba is very common. Seeds just brown: should be ripe about the end of September.

27th August. Chumpithang. Fine till about 12:00, then rain the rest of the day.

28th Aug. Gangtok. Walked the 32 miles in 11 hours exactly, & Tobgye's mule with my kit came in with me. Rained very hard all day.

29th Aug. Kalimpong. Motored in to Kalimpong & stayed with Odling, where Morris was also staying. Left Kalimpong on 31st, arrived Calcutta 2nd Sept, & went on the same night, reaching Srinagar on 5th Sept in time for lunch.

Specimens collected 660.