148 
THE VEGETATION OF THE ZEMU 
The hut rough as it was proved a useful shelter for our men 
stud a convenient place to put some of our stores ; so this spot 
became our head camp for the next fortnight. It was well shel- 
tered with wood and water in plenty. At this height in the 
valley there are very few large trees and these only in secluded 
places by the stream. The hill-side is covered with boulders 
which are usually hidden by a rank growth of small trees and 
shrubs — sometimes by a wealth of herbaceous plants. In sandy 
places by the stream Tamarixy Epilohium reticulaturriy Cardaviine 
macrophylla, species of Pedicularis, Parochetus commvjiisy and 
Primula silckimensis were all common. 
On the 11th C. went to the Tumchho La while S. ascended the 
hill on the north side of the camp to a height of over 14,000 feet. 
On the way up Meco^opsis nepalensis was very common and always 
a conspicuous object. Occasionally the blue Meconopsis simplici- 
folia was seen, but not frequently. The slopes were covered with 
a dense growth of shrubs and herbs from 1 — 6 feet high but the num- 
ber of species was much smaffler than we had anticipated. 
C. went to the Yumchho La by a track which had been recently 
cut by the herdsmen through the rhododendrons of just sufficient 
width to permit of the passage of yaks. This route leads from 
Llonakh over the The La and follows the Tumrachen down to its 
junction with the Zemu which river is crossed by a rough canti- 
lever bridge not far from the small Tumrachen bridge. The track 
ascends the ridges on the south side of the Zemu with a directness 
which is rather fatiguing. On the south side lies the huge mass of 
Lama Anden covered on the northern side with large glaciers even at 
14,500 feet. The path enters a broad valley with cliffs on either side, 
and this leads to a shallow lake at 15,000 feet, at times no doubt dry. 
The pass itself is about 15,800 feet. The south side of it had been 
visited by C. in 1906 approaching from Be and Talung. The night 
was spent under a rock and the return journey made by the same 
route on the following day. 
Meanwffiile on that day S. proceeded two miles up the valley 
and then ascended the northern side to 15,700 feet. The day was 
fine and afforded a magnificent view of the whole line from Kang- 
chenjunga to the precipices of Lama Anden — a line whose lowest 
gap is the Yumchho La and a most efficient screen against the 
heavier monsoon rains. The vegetation was abundant but not very 
varied. The impression of the previous day of the comparative 
dryness was confirmed by the character of the vegetation. The 
onlv mcist region is that fed directly by the melting of the big 
glaciers at the head. The slopes up to 15,000 feet were not very 
