Letter from George Litton, Consulate, Tengyueh, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 13 December 1905.
It should be noted that the catalogue descriptions, summaries and letters contain sensitive subjects and Litton’s language, spellings and attitudes which may be deemed offensive now.
Litton writes to report that he and Forrest have just returned from exploration of the Upper Salween ‘a complete terra incognita; he is a bit done up with the somewhat severe fatigues of the journey and I have insisted on his taking a complete rest for some weeks…’ Owing to poor weather they had to keep mainly to lower levels, 4,000-5,000 feet but Forrest collected a good number of plants, though drying was almost impossible. ‘We found a most lovely mauve climbing gentian trailing over the hills in glorious clusters. Unluckily we were too early for seeds, but I have a wild man of those parts out to get them for me & Forrest…’ On Forrest’s wish to return to the Mekong divide and other plateaux at 10,000-13,000 feet near there, ‘In my opinion there is no reason why he should not try. The rebellion of the lamas has been most mercilessly drowned in blood by the Chinese and I do not think a single lama will show his shaven pate in those parts for some time to come. Ergo the country is likely to be more quiet now than it ever has been. But Chinese officials are obstructive and always like to keep foreigners out of a country if they can find any excuse to do so; while (between ourselves) many of H.M. officials are not very energetic about assisting travellers into the wilds. I would like to tell you that it would probably be of very great assistance to Forrest if you could write to the Foreign Office stating the interest which you as a man of science have in his work & asking that every support & assistance may be given to him by H.M. Consuls in carrying it out, now that you hear that the country has been pacified. But on no account mention my name in connection with what you say.’ Litton adds that he is trying to obtain some indemnity from the mandarins for Forrest’s losses and sufferings and that the French missionaries have returned to their missions on the Mekong.
Plant referenced: Gentian
The letter has been fire damaged with some loss, though not of text, and the pages are close to separating; handle with extreme care.
