Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1904 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 letter, 5 sheets, 18 pages
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born in Falkirk in 1873, George Forrest became one of Scotland's most prolific plant collectors, conducting seven expeditions in Yunnan province, S.W. China between 1904 and his death there in 1932.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
letter donated by Forrest family (Eric Forrest)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
[Incomplete, pages numbered 5-22] Left Tali [Dali] on 14th [November] to go to Lichiang [Lijiang] and from there up to the top of the great Yangtse bend to work the base of the glacier. Collected many seeds in Lichiang valley and describes an especially curious plant which may be new. On 28th November set out for Chung Tien via A Hsi. Gives detailed description of Tibetan house and wonders how the inhabitants of the plateau survive in winter; as there is nothing to take them outside they ‘simply sit and snooze and smoke themselves over their pine and yak dung fires.’ Describes shooting his first wolf and a shooting competition with a local Tibetan chief; intensity of cold; arrival at Chong Ku. Promises to send Clem a set of half a dozen Chinese tea cups. Plants mentioned: Allium (p.9); Azalea (pp.8-9, 15); Bamboo (p.17); Corn (p.10); Gentian (pp.7, 9, 15); Geranium (p.15); Lily (p.12); Lychnis (p.9); Paeonia (p.9); Pine (pp.6, 8, 10, 17); Primula (p.15); Rhododendron (pp.7-9, 15); Saxifrage (pp.9-10, 15); Senecio (p.10)
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Conditions governing access
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Allied materials area
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Notes area
Note
It should be noted that the catalogue descriptions, summaries and letters may contain sensitive subjects and Forrest’s language, spellings and attitudes which may be deemed offensive now.
Note
Letter annotated with edits for potential publication, presumably by either Eric Forrest or William Wright Smith.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Forrest, Clementina (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
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Archivist's note
The Forrest correspondence collection summary has been provided by library volunteer Pauline Maclean.