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- 1949-09-13 (Creation)
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1 page
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SUMMARY:
The party traversed steep paths through alternating pine and mixed rain forest, relying on H.H.’s mules, with Tsungpin proving especially helpful; the hypsometer was unavailable and camp stood around 4000 ft. On 2nd April they went 9 miles to Kinga Rapden (5800 ft), ascending near Yundu Choling before dropping to Kinga, where they were met by two of H.H.’s men with tea and saffron rice, received fine ponies from H.H., and encountered dancers with a small orchestra.
CONTENT:
the pass again. After that we meandered along a pleasant reasonably level path through pine forest. Wherever there is a side valley, the forest changes to mixed rain forest abruptly, then back to pine in a curious and most marked way. So far, we have had three of H.H.'s mules to carry us, and I must say we are very glad to have had them. The climbs are very steep and sometimes nearly 4000 ft. Unfortunately the box with the hypsometer in it has been behind both the last two days, and I have been unable to take a height. Camp here is about 4000'. Without Tsungpin we would be hard put to it. He can get on with the locals. The others are all completely new, every thing they see and do is new to them, so they are not yet very good or helpful. But they are all very safe and willing. We are collecting quite a number of plants, though nothing interesting yet.
2nd April. Kinga Rapden. 5800 ft. 9 miles. This was the first clear day, with few clouds till the evening. We all dressed up as much as possible, as we were to be met on the road and might even see H.H. as soon as we got in. So we had a comfortable start at 7:00, getting in about 1:00 pm. Mostly the road was level, but near the end it rises 1000' or more to Yundu Choling, before dropping to Kinga. When about 3 miles short of Kinga Rapden, we were met by 2 of H.H.'s men and given tea and saffron rice. He also sent us three very fine ponies, richly caparisoned with gold brocade saddle cloths, to ride in on. The next excitement was meeting the two dancers, with their two man orchestra of sarnais. This
