SUMMARY:
Mail is sent with Ludlow toward Lhasa via Tsela/Tsela Dzong amid uncertainty about Mohammed; the diarist writes Richardson for help and plans further dispatches to Tongkyuk Dzong to meet Henry on July 1. Entries for 21–24 March record letters from Richardson, Tsarong, Taring, and Fox, a large flock of migrating kites near Pemo, fair weather after heavy rain, and a route from Tongkyuk Chu past Pemo, Sishila valley, Parka and Parka Phu Chu toward Namla La, reaching Lokmo.

CONTENT:
We have sent our mail with Ludlow to Tsela to go to Lhasa as best he can arrange. It seems something has happened to Mohammed who hasn't made other arrangements for post. I have written Richardson to get our mail up at once from Gyantse & send it here by the man Ludlow sends to Lhasa. I have asked him again to get it to Lhasa by 1st August & 1st October & send to Tsela Dzong & to Tsetang. In the meantime I hope we will get news of Mohammed. We are to send our next lot of letters to Tongkyuk Dzong to meet Henry on July 1st. He will have to pack up & send off to Tsela Dzong.

21 March Halt. We had some news from the outside world on 19 evening, as some men came back from Lhasa with letters from Richardson & Tsarong & Taring & Fox. It was nice to get news, but it did not clear up our mail business. No-one mentioned it, & we now doubt even if Rai Sahib got to Gyantse at all. I have asked Tsarong's boys in Lhasa to make enquiries. Today we walked up to Pemo. Just as we got there a large flock of kites arrived - about 100-120 of them. Many came down on the fields where wheat was just coming up. A local fired a shot at them, then all flew off & went on on their migration route.

22nd March. Halt. Fine at last, after a night of very heavy rain, when snow fell low down to about 10000'.

23rd March Halt. Another fine day, but clouded over very quickly indeed between 5.0 & 6.0 pm.

24th March. Lokmo. About 10 miles. Path up the Tongkyuk Chu past PEMO at m 1 & so on past the entrance to the Sishila valley at m 4 1/2, and over the Parka Phu Chu at m 6, where the village of Parka lies. (about 20-25 houses & considerable cultivation). The Parka valley (called Shabra Lungba) lies due North from Parka. Beyond the village the path crosses a ridge & at m 7 passes the bridge which leads up another valley to the Namla La. Both rivers here are about the same size. The valley up which Lokmo lies is at a bearing of about 290°. Lokmo lies high up above the river, about 500'. There are some 30 houses & considerable cultivation. Another village is on...

SUMMARY:
Notes report court intrigue involving the Maharani Padmadechen, causing anxiety for the Dzongpen; Yusun Kazi confides concerns and asks the author to speak to Tongsa. The page also records routes and plant collections made on 20–22 November between Yonpu La, Khoma nagi, and Chungkar.

CONTENT:
two months ago. He got hold of the Maharani (Padmadechen)
somehow and told her all sorts of lies about the Dzongpen and others.
She seems to have sent secretly to Trashigang and told all the
Dzongpen's servants to come to Bumthang - without a word to
the Dzongpen himself. I am told the Maharaja does not
believe all the stories, but the Dzongpen is obviously frightened
that he may be persuaded to. Yusun Kazi told me all this
secretly and asked me to speak to Tongsa about it. Yusun too is
not happy about his post: although promoted to (Betung?)
he finds there is a lot of intrigue there, again caused by the
Maharani, and he feels his position insecure. However he says
he does not mind that, but is worried about the Dzongpen.

20th Nov. Yonpu La 7000? 10 miles. Fine, hot below, but cold
on the pass, which was in the clouds. Collected bulbs of Lil.
Anemone gigantea. from Chuka, Rong Chu: seeds of P. eburnea 2899, P. bellidifolia 2901.
P. lillidale 2902. Meconopsis bella 2905

21st Nov. Khoma nagi. 4000? 13 miles. Fine but not too hot.
Coelogyne porrecta 2892. Eria coronaria 2893. Wightia speciosissima 2894.
Got two orchids and a fine tree in bloom; also bulbs of Lil.
Wallichii on the way down from the pass. Saw no birds, but
a few butterflies.

22nd November. Chungkar 6500? 10m. Fine. Every day is much the

SUMMARY:
Notes birds obtained, observes major building works around the Dzong using wood brought from Sahden with large free labor. On 1st November at Phuntsogong, the diarist repacks stores, lends a .22 rifle to the Zongpen who shoots a pig and compensates the owner, and plans to depart the next day.

CONTENT:
get from "badal zats" - an eagle owl, a scimitar babbler, forktail and another. There are terrific buildings going on here on either side of the Dzong. We saw before the wood for roofs being brought down from Sahden. Apparently the easiest place to get it from is there, and as labor is free, it must be a nice cheap job building a castle. One man in every three from Sahden had to come all the way down with his load of wood, while here there must be a hundred people at work from dawn till dusk. They get tea stood free, and all seem to be very happy, chatting and laughing all day. They certainly know how to make a solid building which will last. The carpentry is really pretty good, considering the few tools they have to use.

1st November Halted Phuntsogong. Spent most of the day repacking and discarding any stores no longer wanted. I lent the Zongpen the .22 rifle and gave him 300 rounds, the other men had great fun with it, taking sides, with a small prize. But the Zongpen got tired of shooting at a target and when he saw a pig in the offing, potted that, killing it second shot. The owner was naturally worried, but got 100 tankhas and a new chapan, very ample recompense. A very dull day with clouds down on the hills round about. We leave tomorrow and have arranged to spend a day at each camp we reach. The flowers

[Margin note: P158 Don't forget a pretty little flower piece for a larger red chest]

SUMMARY:
Page lists Kodachrome, Dufaycolor, and black‑and‑white images documenting rhododendrons, primulas, iris, styrax, river and bridge scenes, and views of Lhuntse Dzong across late April and May. Locations include Deungchung, Kuru Chu (and its bridge at Dunkhar), Shamshing, Lhuntse Dzong, and Tang, with a note of items sent on 19/5 to Tang.

CONTENT:
29

Kodachrome G.S. 8
Rhod. lindleyi at Deungchung. 28/29/4
Coolies at Mani near Mashina 8/5
Crossing bridge over Kuru Chu 10/5
Iris decora Shamshing 12/5
Lhuntse Dzong. 14/5
Orchid by stream. 18870 15/5
Rhod. rhabdotum 18877 17/5
Sent 19/5 Tang.

Dufaycolor 5
1 River at camp. Deungchung. 1/5
2 Rhod. edgeworthii at .. 18777 2/5.
3 Prim. mollis. 18806. 2/5.
moved 4 Primula No 18846 9/5
5 } Rhod. rhabdotum .18877 17/5
6 }

B & W. 4.
1 Rhod. edgeworthii at camp. Deungchung 1/5
2 Blank.
3 Primula mollis 18806 2/5.
4 Primula mollis 18816 4/5
5 From Kuru Chu bridge at Dunkhar to North. 8/5.
6 Primula cochlearea 18846 & 18847 9/5
7 Styrax hookeri. Shamshing. 13/5.
8 Lhuntse Dzong. 14/5.
9 Rhod. rhabdotum 17/5.
10 Rhod. primulaeflorum? 18887 glaucum. 18/5
11 Prim. roylei 18895 18/5 red filter.
12 Prim. elongata 18896 18/5

SUMMARY:
Page lists film subjects and locations with dates, including crab apple, rhododendron, Primula, and village scenes at Bumthang, Tang, Pokpe, near Lhuntse Dz., and views toward Singhi Dz. from Rip La. Notes include people photographed (Ashe, Wangmoo, and Betty) and film batch dispatches on 15/04/1949 and to Kurizam on 21/04/1949.

CONTENT:
15

B.W. Filmpack 2.

1. Crab apple. hupehensis 18690 Bumthang 12/4
2. Village at Tang. 13/4.
3. Crab apple tree. hupehensis 13/4 18690
4. Rhod. arboreum 13/4.
5. P. gracilipes. Pokpe 14/4
6. Rhod. Madd. Ser. 18720 Griffithianum
7. P. cerasoides v. rubra. 20115
8. Ashe Wangmoo & Betty - 17/4.
9. Village near Lhuntse Dz. 19/4.
10. View to Singhi Dz. from Rip La. 23/4
11. Bryocarpum himalaicum 18744
12. Primula Normaniana. 18740

Dufaycolor 2nd Batch.

1. Crabapple 18690 12/4
2. Crab apple tree " 13/4
3. Rhod. arboreum by river 13/4
4. }
5. } P. gracilipes Pokpe. 14/4.
6. }
   Dufay 1 & 2 sent on 15/4/49.

C.S. 6. Kodachrome.
Crab apple close up 13/4 18690
" " tree. 13/4.
P. gracilipes. Pokpe. 14/4.
Rhod Madd. 18720 (3) Griffithianum
Prunus cerasoides v rubra 20115
Ashe Wangmoo & Betty. 17/4 (Sent Kurizam 21.4.49)
Albizzia Sherriffii. 19/4.
last 10 ft. stuck.

Dufay 3.
1 & 2 Rhod. Madd. Ser. Griffithianum 18720
3 Prunus cerasoides v rubra 20115
4 Bryocarpum himalaicum 18744
5 & 6 Prim. Normaniana 18740

• SUMMARY:
  Notes record film exposures and subjects including Primula bracteosa, P. mollis, P. whitei, Rhododendron ciliatum, and Magnolia, with views from Tumbe La and Kyikyi La and activities in local villages. Entries include altitudes, temperatures, and scenes such as dancers, prize-giving by H.H. and Her H., and a view with Ngudup Namgyel.

CONTENT:
Tumbe La. BP. 189.3" T. 58°. 9.30 am. Ht. 12972'
Gyecha. " 195.4" T. 64° 2.0 pm. " 9525'

B.W. Film Pack. 1–5 Kinga Rapden. G.S. 5. Kodachrome. P. bracteosa.
6 P. bracteosa 18644 view in forest near Tumbe La
7 "
Dev. 1/4. 8 P. mollis. 18669 On Tumbe La to E.
8 oz. pr. 2x Normal. 9 Magnolia. 18648 view with Ngudup Namgyel.
10 P. bracteosa. 18675 View N. to snows from path E of La
11 P. whitei by stream. 18676 P. whitei by stream.
12 Rhod. ciliatum. View from Kyikyi La to Dorukhara
Tumbe La. 11/4

Dufaycolor. 1st batch. 1 P. bracteosa Byakar Dz. 11/4.
G.S. (1) 2 mollis filipes Crab Apple. Bumthang 12/4.
3 bracteosa
4 whitei (without filter)
5 whitei.
6 Rhod. ciliatum.

Kodachrome C.S. 1

• C.S. 2

• C.S. 3.

• C.S. 4
  Bauhinia 3 shrubs 30/3

• Over Wangdi Chu. 1/4

• Namtir village

• H.H. & Her H. giving prizes.
  Boat at Byeti Zam 31/3

• Bauhinias " 1/4

• Arriving K. Rapden. Dancers 4/4

• Coolies on way up to Shampong 31/3

• Mules & coolies 1/4

• Dancers

• Doctoring. 2/4

• Dance at Palace.

• H.H. & Her H's children. 6/4

SUMMARY:
Log of black-and-white and Kodachrome photographs and associated plant specimens from Bumthang and nearby areas including Phobsukha, Bumthang Chu below Sumitang, and wildlife observations at Pangotang and Tolegang. Mentions G.S., Pasang, and a guide near Chachu La, with a consignment noted as sent on 12/9.

CONTENT:
124

BW 13 Ludlow F.P. from Bumthang.

1. Houses in Phobsukha village. mist 28/8 1. Incarvillea grandiflora 16722 1000.
2. View up Bumthang Chu below Sumitang 6/9 2. Rhod. sp. 16752 "
3. Gentiana sp. 19706 8/9 3. Potentilla sp. 16792 "
4. Aconitum sp. 19710 10/9 4. Cushion plant. 16784 "
5. " " 19710 " 5. Prim. umbratilis. 16811 "
6. Pleurogyne sp. 19728 " 6. Mec. horridula, all colour forms. "
7. Gentiana amoena 19721 " 7. Prim. uniflora. 17106. No good
8. " " " in camp. flos. open. 11.9. 8. Lychnis sp. 17154 (or)
9. G.S., Pasang + Guide nr Chachu La. 13/9 9. Mec. horridula. red issue. "
10. Polygonum vacciniifolia 19689 16/9 10. Prim. tsariensis v. alba. 17140 "
11. Allardia sp. 19716 16/9 11. " " " " 17140 "
12. All V.S. 12. " umbratilis v. alba. 17161 "

Kodachrome 29
Buckwheat fields at Bumthang. 3/9.
Ibis bill at Pangotang. Tele. 7/9.
Gentiana 19706 8/9
Aconitum sp. 19710 10/9
Pleurogyne sp. 19728 "
Burhel at Tolegang "
Sent 12/9.

SUMMARY:
Photo captions dated mid-May describe scenes at Yangtso and nearby passes, including yaks and Tibetans, and a plant note from Dongkar. A detailed route description outlines the easy path from Triju Dzong to Yangtso via several gentle passes, shepherds’ tents, and the Yangtso la, noting distances and landmarks.

CONTENT:
99

32
Gazelle telephoto.
Yaks on pass near Triju.
Yangtso 17/5

33
Two Tibetans at Yangtso. 17/5.
Yaks loading up at Yangtso 18/5
Towards Chulung la from Ayachung la. 18/5.
P. tristica, Caltha sp. 20/5 Dongkar.

Triju Dzong to Yangtso
Path is good the whole way and nowhere steep. Fit for pack with ease.
Path keeps along plain to South to m 4, where a small pass is crossed over a ridge. The southern end of the Triju lake is well seen from here. (Photo. from here.) Thence flat for 1 mile and path gradually leaves lake and climbs slantwise up hill to W to a pass at m 6 1/2. Down to a side stream at m 7 and up the valley beyond, gradually keeping left handed (South) over a very gradual ascent to another pass at m 8 1/2. Thence almost level to a "drokpa" (shepherds' tents) at 9 1/2. Path then gradually ascends to another pass (Yangtso la) at 11. Beyond this lies the Yangtso, about 3/4 m long and 1/2 wide, with shepherds' tents on S side and camp site at m 12.

SUMMARY:
The diarist hurried to a ridge for clear morning views of the Himalayas and Chomolhari before clouds closed in. A long-delayed mail finally arrived from Sarbhang via Nabji and Chendebi, and later Tsouypen found a Rhododendron (Rhod. glaucum 3095) nearby, possibly new to Bhutan; the surroundings near Phobsikha are described with yaks and dry, open slopes.

CONTENT:
indeed, did everything. I nearly bust myself running up to the ridge with my camera to catch the Himalayas before they were covered in clouds. Chomolhari was again clear till about 6:00 am, but it was much clearer away to the East, I could see snow peaks for miles, really a grand sight. But the clouds came up awfully quickly. On the way up to the ridge I met two men with a mail at last. It had taken since the 7th to reach us from Sarbhang, all the delay being between Nabji and Chendebi. It was naturally a small mail, and only had 6 or 8 letters and 5 'Statesman'. But it was very nice to get news from home and from Kashmir, though no letter from Ludlow. We took a long route through the jungle down here, but saw nothing new at all, until nearly here, when Tsouypen found one bush of a pretty little Rhododendron, which I make to be Rhod. glaucum 3095, mentioned as coming from Sikkim, so perhaps it is new to Bhutan. This place is rather pretty, it is situated on the same ridge as the one we came up onto from Phobsikha, but much further down. There are some yaks here, and a lot of the hillside is open grassy slopes. There is a little cultivation too, but the hillside is still very dry.

24th May in Phobsikha. 3 miles. B.P. Temp. Time

SUMMARY:
Entries record travel from Pede via Khamba La to Gongkar Dzong, with variable weather including snow north of Lhasa and some rain. At Gongkar they halt, note improved local attitudes off the Lhasa route, and arrange to go by kowa to Tsetang with useful letters from Tsarong and Surkhang Dzasa Lacham. They remark on recent widespread snowfall in S. Tibet around 30th Oct, the cultivated Tsangpo valley, and abundant waterfowl including Brahminy and bar-headed geese.

CONTENT:
6

5th Nov. Pede. Cloudy but fine and no wind. Few ducks and geese on the lake. We got a few seeds on the way.

6th Nov. Khamba Trombo. Fine, but cloudy when we crossed the Khamba La, there were heavy clouds N. of Lhasa and snow falling briskly.

7th Nov. Gongkar Dzong. By kowa. Left at 10:00 and reached Gongkar Dzong at 3:30 pm. Fine, but cloudy and at night a little rain.

8th Nov. HALT. All arrangements made here very well. Bad weather over. Damned fine and clear. We have with us letters from Tsarong and Surkhang Dzasa Lacham, these are all proving of use. There is a change at once when one leaves the Lhasa route, to the behaviour of the people. Here they are more polite, easier to get on with, and I am sure, not so grasping. The Taspon on the Lhasa route is no longer the pleasant man he used to be. Money has spoilt him. Gongkar is a bigger place than we remembered. The valley behind is long and fully cultivated, being about 1½ miles broad at the edge of the Tsangpo.

I have always thought that October was the best, stillest month of the year. This has not proved so this year. The weather was very unsettled. When it snowed in Gyantse on 30th Oct, it also snowed generally over S. Tibet. Lhasa had a heavy fall and even in the Tsangpo valley there seems to have been a pretty heavy fall.

We have arranged, as in '38, to go by kowa from here to Tsetang. This is boring in the extreme, but boxes are not damaged this way. It is after Tsetang that the awful damage will be done by bullock transport. Even donkeys so far have done much damage.

There are plenty of birds on the Tsangpo now. Most are perhaps Brahminy, but there are also plenty of bar-headed geese. Have seen odd teal, and large flights of duck, but species not determined.