Part 11 - Surelakha diary entry and route planning toward Black Mt.

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SUMMARY:
The writer describes a steep forested path to the clearing at Surelakha, notes the absence of rhododendrons, and seeks directions to the Black Mt. Locals suggest Shamgong Dzong and mention the name Dungshigon; Puibo explains that 'gon' means a range. The headman proposes reaching Nabsigaon or Nabsikorbhu in two days and then the Black Mt. in another two, though transport may be difficult, with only shepherds operating in the area.

CONTENT:
Surelakha Albizzia Sherriff 27 Nov 1935

being reasonably fine. Path continues up fairly steep ascent for 1 1/2 miles, then tops the ridge and falls pretty steeply to Surelakha. All the way lies through dense forest. Surelakha is a clearing on the side of the hills, facing roughly north, and extends for a mile from bottom to top. Inhabitants all Nepalese, who grow rice and Indian corn. I hoped to see rhododendrons today, but there are none as yet, we are lower than yesterday now. No one knows the way to the Black Mt. They all want to take me to Shamgong Dzong, where I do not want to go. The only name I can get which may be the Black Mt. is Dungshigon, which the locals say is a Bhutanese name. Puibo says gon means a range. The headman here tells me we can get to Nabsigaon or Nabsikorbhu in two days, then he thinks we should reach the Black Mt. in another two days. It may be difficult to get transport to move from place to place once we are up there, as he says there are no villages. But there seem to be some shepherds, who are said to take sheep up from here and