Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], Yunnan, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 04 April 1905.
Forrest writes that he has received the photographic plates and thanks Balfour for the present of books; he was greatly cheered by his letter as he was beginning to lose heart. Forrest discusses provenance and identification of primulas and cassiope and asks for hints on the packing of bulbs of lilies and orchids. Forrest hopes to leave Talifu [Dali] on 10 April but he is having trouble hiring transport as the Wei Hsi pass at an elevation of 14,000 feet, the only way to Tsekou [Cigu], is infested by robbers, a tribe of aborigines called Lisaws [Lissoos], dispossessed of their lands by the Chinese. ‘Occasionally they make a raid on the caravans crossing from Chu Tien on the Yangtze to Wei Hsi. They have no firearms, but use powerful crossbows and small poisoned arrows which the Chinese are mortally afraid of.’ Longer delay would mean losing many of the spring flowers. Forrest is pleased that Balfour knows of his engagement to Miss Clementina Traill and asks if one of the new species could be named after her. Has received way bill from Cook & Son for the second batch of plants numbering 220 which he sent off on 13 January. Warns that Balfour will hear nothing further for the next ten months as he will not return to Tali until January or February next year [1906]. Mr Bulley wishes him to remain out until at least 1907. Forrest reports that all over Yunnan and the west of China, the locals use the beans and pods of Gleditschia [Gleditsia] sinensis, Lamb. and Sapindus Mukorossi, Gaertn. to wash their clothes.
Plants referenced: Cassiope; Cypripedium; Gleditsia; Lily; Pine; Primula; Sapindus; Saxifrage
Letter has been burnt and there has been some loss.

This collection consists of material created and gathered from the expeditions of F. Ludlow and G. Sherriff, thought their expeditions of Bhutan and Tibet during 1933-1949.

The collection consists of 5 sub-series: plant documents, expedition documents, diaries, correspondence and visual material.

[1] This series consists of a variety of material which includes plant and seed lists from their expedition with a large focus on Primula, Meconopsis and Rhododendrons, as well as publications gathered by Ludlow and Sherriff which cover their shared interest in the Himalayan region and it's flora and fauna. There is also a garden register donated by the Knox Finlay family detailing the progress of plants/seeds in their gardens acquired from various expeditions including Ludlow and Sherriff's between 1951-52.

[2] This series consists of a variety of expedition documents ranging from itineraries and maps to administration lists and passports.

[3] This series consists of originals and photocopies of the diaries of Sherriff and Ludlow during their expeditions.

[4] This series consists of a variety of correspondence from and to Sherriff and Ludlow over the course of their expeditions.

[5] This series consists of a variety of material including: photographic material, films and videos. Photographic material ranges from prints and negatives taken by Sherriff and Ludlow to prints of digital images taken as exhibition documentation in 2014. The films are..... There have been dvd surrogates made of the films to ensure continued accessibility.

This collection consists of material created and gathered from the expeditions of George Sherriff in Bhutan and Tibet during 1933-1949.

The collection consists of 5 sub-series: diaries, correspondence, expedition material, visual material, and plant collection documentation.

[1] Diaries: This series consists of the original diaries of George Sherriff during his expeditions.

[2] Correspondence: This series consists of a variety of correspondence from and to George Sherriff.

[3] Expedition Material: This series consists of a variety of expedition documents ranging from itineraries and maps to administration lists and passports.

[4] Visual Material: This series consists of a variety of material including: photographic material, films and videos. Photographic material ranges from prints and negatives taken by Sherriff and Ludlow to prints of digital images taken as exhibition documentation in 2014. The films are..... There have been dvd surrogates made of the films to ensure continued accessibility.

[5] Plant Collection Documentation: This series consists of a variety of material which includes plant and seed lists from their expedition with a large focus on Primula, Meconopsis and Rhododendrons, as well as publications gathered by Ludlow and Sherriff which cover their shared interest in the Himalayan region and it's flora and fauna. There is also a garden register donated by the Knox Finlay family detailing the progress of plants/seeds in their gardens acquired from various expeditions including Ludlow and Sherriff's between 1951-52.

2 black and white photographs mounted on thick grey paper.

title taken from Hick's 'Index of negatives'

Writing on the back of paper behind each photograph, no dates written. NOTE: rough dates derived from subject descriptions in Hicks' 'Index of negatives' found in his itinerary (GB235 HJH/4/1)

1 black and white photograph mounted on thick black paper. NOTE: rough dates derived from subject descriptions in Hicks' 'Index of negatives' found in his itinerary (GB235 HJH/4/1)

Photograph of Major George Sherriff demonstrating to locals how to press a plant specimen

Writing on the back.

[TRANSCRIPTION]

First lesson in pressing a specimen

1 black and white photograph mounted on thick black paper. NOTE: rough dates derived from subject descriptions in Hicks' 'Index of negatives' found in his itinerary (GB235 HJH/4/1)

Photograph of tea pot on ground sat beside an urn (possibly filled with hot saffron rice as described in HJH/1/1/17) and a woven basket that is presumably a flagon containing water, tea or another drink. Further back sits another basket and some food.

Writing on the back.

[TRANSCRIPTION]

Ceremonial tea

1 black and white photograph mounted on thick grey paper.

Photograph of porters (six in total), with 2 horses further back. By the tree to the left, Betty Sherriff (left) & George Sherriff (right) can be seen on either side.

Writing on the back

[TRANSCRIPTION]

On the way to Kingarapden [Kuenga Rabten]. Halt to press a specimen.
30/Mar/49
49.A.7.3

•1 box of miscellaneous papers and glass plate negatives regarding Bhutan, 1949, also 3 reels of film, now converted to DVD:

• Diary Materials 1, 1949
• Diary Materials 2, 1949
• Transcript of Diaries by David Shepherd - not for reproduction
• letters, mainly from George and Betty Sherriff, Frank Ludlow and David Humphreys
• Christmas cards, mainly from George and Betty Sherriff and Frank Ludlow, usually illustrated with photographs or Margaret Stones illustrations
• small box of 12 glass lantern transparencies, mostly plant portraits - tape around slides very brittle; annotations in danger of being lost, so handle with extreme care
• cine film x 3 - converted to dvd
• 'misc' folder; contains LSH seed lists 1949 documents and key to the cine film
• newspaper cuttings - mostly relating to Bhutan
• 'misc' publications - mostly relating to Bhutan, some by Frank Ludlow