Part 45 - Trulung to Chakzam diary entries, 10–13 January

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SUMMARY:
Travel from Namdi to Trulung was exhausting with frequent ascents and descents, few rhododendrons observed, and views over the junction of the Po Tsangpo and Tanghyuk Chu towards Gompo Ne; takin were reported abundant, and kalij pheasants were shot en route. After halting at Trulung with rain and snow, Sandup found the first rhododendron; the party then moved to Chakzam opposite Tangme at the junction of the Po Tsangpo and Yigrong Chu.

CONTENT:
Jan
10th Jan. TRULUNG. Fine and clear. A very tiring day. The path leaves the valley bottom at once on leaving Namdi and does not come down again till Trulung is reached. It keeps going up and down in a most distressing way, and made us all very tired. Ponies must go this way. Coolies go by the valley road, but it also rises to a pass before the very steep descent to Trulung. However the road was interesting all along, and we got another 15 specimens or so. The most remarkable and disappointing thing about these hills, is the lack of Rhododendrons. We hardly saw any, or I should say we only saw in all 3 species. One was an interesting big flowered Maddenii Series one, near here, on the pass, of which we got seed (12117). From there the junction of the Po Tsangpo and Tanghyuk Chu is seen, and the valley down to Gompo Ne. The latter looks much drier than I ever imagined it could be, and has large areas of pine forest on the left bank. Here too there are curious areas of pine on the S. faces. There are many takin about, both down towards Gompo Ne, and also on this side of the river, up the Trulung Chu. The locals say that they keep high up the hillside, just below the snow. The head of one was brought in for us to see, and obviously a good many are shot, and they are described by the locals as being numerous hereabouts. On our way here, at a place where there is considerable deserted cultivation, we came across kalij pheasant, shot 3, having seen a dozen or more. I also put up one woodcock at the same place.

11th & 12th Jan. Halt Trulung. Clear fine morning, clouding up and starting to rain here by 5.30 pm on 11th. Snowed that night at 7000' and rained here till 11.0 am. All the lads went out to shoot something, but were not successful. We heard barking deer close to. Sandup found the first Rhododendron — a poor specimen of an arboreum series of trunk. Nothing else of interest.

13th Jan. Chakzam (Opposite Tangme at junction of Po Tsangpo and Yigrong Chu) Rain again at night and snow down to 7500'. Fine but cloudy and misty all day. Road better than to Trulung but still a great deal up and down. Nothing of interest in the