Part 39 - Snowy collecting near Tahar La and Shang La

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SUMMARY:
A difficult day of botanical collecting in continuous rain and fresh snow near the passes of Tahar La and Shang La, noting a white Primula (P. sikkimensis subpinnatifida, 2382) and a small pale blue-violet Meconopsis (M. venusta, 2384). The diarist describes arduous climbs, encounters with friendly Lopa men and women—one group turning back at camp—and even a skeleton seen along the route.

CONTENT:
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bog one which is probably hard to grow. A white Primula
appeared rather different to a similar one taken on the
P. sikkimensis subpinnatifida 2382
Tahar La, so I collected it too, 2382. Probably the most
Meconopsis venusta 2384
interesting specimen taken was the Meconopsis 2384. It is
small, the flowers not very noticeable, but a delicate
shade of pale blue violet, with basal and cauline leaves much
cut. On the whole a good day, but beastly for
collecting, and the long climb back to camp, up and down,
up and down again very hard work. I should like to have
camped beyond the Shang La, and got away down the
valley to the R. There should be good stuff down there.
Passed another bunch of Lopa men and women. All seem
perfectly friendly. How they manage these passes I don't
know. They wear next to nothing, and that barely comes
low enough to be decent. One returning bunch this
morning reached our camp, then gave up, seeing all
the fresh snow. I don't blame them. Later on when more
snow comes, I'm told many are killed on this route, and
we came across a skeleton Lopa today. It still rains,
and there seems no reason why it should ever stop.