Part 115 - Thang to Tsona travel and flora notes, 11–12 August

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SUMMARY:
Diary notes describe travel from Thang toward Tsona in clear weather with route bearings between passes, observations of gentians and parnassius, and a partridge shot by L. identified as the Kansu bird. The party returns to Tsona before a heavy storm and notes Delphinium grandiflora, Aconitum gymnandrum, and borage by fields, with remarks on re-entering the dry zone indicated by birds.

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pretty, but it is difficult to get photos of gentians, they close up so quickly. We are definitely suddenly back in the dry zone again. Birds tell it even quicker and more markedly than flowers do. One could give what should be the Tibetan frontier with great accuracy by birds alone.

11th August. THANG (To Thang Chu). 14120' 10 miles. Another good day with perfectly clear atmosphere. It is a joy to have this fine weather, I find I can walk all day. I have walked from Mago here over all the passes and feel fitter than ever. No great excitement: plenty of parnassius (epaphus), but all common. L. shot a partridge which turns out to be the Kansu bird. Only found one new flower today, a gentian (791) (Gentianella palustris 791). A fine peak was seen from the Rala La, bearing 87° Mag. Other bearings are: Camp GUI to DZA LA 155°; GULA to DZA LA 136°; GUI LA to RALA LA 325°; RALA LA to THANG approx 265°. This last bearing seems to be right for Tsona too, or nearly so.

12th August. TSONA (10). 14282'. 7 miles. Arrived back on another good day, fine until after we were in, when a very heavy storm came over. Few flowers seen, but some fine Delphinium grandiflora (Delphin. grandiflorum), and an aconite (Aconitum gymnandrum 793). Wonderful patches of borage on the edge of fields.