SUMMARY:
Arrived in Bumthang, met by Tasho at Kurji; Hicks arrived later due to Trinley’s septic foot. Plans set to leave on 13 October, with Gundra and Basang going on 9 October to Sephu, Omta Tso, Thampala, and Ritang; received news from home written 8 September and discussed Tasho’s behavior toward Raja Dorji. From 8–10 October at Haat, with heavy rain and a meal with HH on the 8th.

CONTENT:
7th October. Bumthang. Arrived here at 8:30, along a very wet path. There had been a thunderstorm and very heavy rain in the night, - but was worse down this way: Tasho met us in Kurji, where we again stay, and here there was no news of Hicks. But a letter came in from him at 10:00 saying he would be in today, and he arrived at 1:30. He was late because Trinley, Ashi Wangmo's man who has been with him, got a septic foot and couldn't walk any further. So now our plans are all made, we will leave on 13th October, and Gundra and Basang will go on 9th for their little trip to Sephu, Omta Tso, Thampala and Ritang. Tasho only arrived yesterday himself. Got a mail, and Betty is getting on well, written on 8th September from home. Tasho stayed for a long time till after Hicks arrived and I had a pretty good talk to him about various things, including his behaviour to Raja Dorji in Kalimpong, and the way he changed his mind and did just as he wanted to irrespective of anyone else. I hope all that did good, and Tasho took it really very well.

8th - 10th October. Haat. A good deal of rain, some very heavy indeed, but a good deal of sun too. We had a meal with HH on 8th and stayed there for some

SUMMARY:
Tsering and Yundra left with two coolies after HH arranged provisions and permits, with a plan to meet again at Ribang. On 11 Oct a halt day included visits from Tasho and HH, who brought presents and ice from the Thunlarharchung to keep a blood sample cool for transport to Kalimpong. On 12 Oct, during rainy weather, the party hosted Tasho, Kapo, Phup Gyeltsen, and Nyercheu Tropa and spent time firing .22 ammunition.

CONTENT:
more at all, doubled up with rheumatoid arthritis, but who now has no pain. We have in between times packed up organized pretty well, are ready to move off at any time. Tsering and Yundra left on 9 morning with 2 coolies, and were all quite happy. HH made all arrangements for them - food then rations, a permit and all they could want for their little trip. We next see them on 17 at Ribang.

11th Oct. Halt. Tasho came at 9.0 am and left at 5.0. HH came at 1.0. So we have not had much of the day to ourselves. HH brought presents to us, and also brought a good deal of snow. This was for us to keep a blood sample of his cool on the way to Kalimpong. It leaves today, and will get to K'pong in 8 days! The ice came all the way from the Thunlarharchung, and the men who brought it were somewhat told off for taking 3 days on their way there and back. It is about 100 miles.

12th Oct Halt. Our last day here. Rain at night and in the morning. All day still clouded and rainy. Today we had Tasho, Kapo, Phup Gyeltsen, and Nyercheu Tropa to 'lunch' at 9.0 and they stayed till 3.0 pm. We filled in some of that time by firing off 150 rds of .22 ammo.

SUMMARY:
Expected malaria patients from Punakha did not appear, despite H.H.’s orders, leading to frustration and letters to H.H. and Tobsgye. On 20 Oct the party marched to Taluku, found the hut gone, noted a better camp at Nahila, and collected 47 bulbs of Lil. Wallichianum; on 21 Oct they reached Balimape, where the Zimpon was away in Ha.

CONTENT:
shrubs all the way down, but otherwise the place looks dry. We were to have had 40 malaria cases here waiting for us, from Punakha, whose blood Hicks was to make slides of to see what kind of malaria they all suffer from. H.H. ordered these men to be produced. But there was nothing here, all the Dzongpon said was "There is no fever in Punakha". If this is really so, which I very much doubt, then all our gift of 5000 Paludrine is being just thrown away now. I personally think there is a lot of fever, but that the Dzongpon is a fool who has not the energy to call in the sick people. I've written a stinker to H.H. & told Tobsgye all about it. We are both rather sick at this. It seems v. difficult to get anything done for these people. They say they want something done, but then won't do anything, when one tells them what to do.

20th Oct. Taluku. A lovely day, with clouds in the morning, but clearing to the real cold weather dryness. This is an absurdly short march which I only arranged as there was a nice hut here, which would save trouble for the locals in making arrangements. But we got here to find the hut gone. That doesn't really matter as we have tents, but a much better camp would have been at Nahila, 4 miles on. We got 47 very fine bulbs of Lil. Wallichianum on the hillside across the valley here. Some are bigger than I have ever seen, but none has had more than 2 flowers on it, whereas in Kalimpong gardens they can have up to 5 flowers.

21st Oct. Balimape. Again fine though mostly clouded. We got in by 2.0 but kit not till 4.0 - 5.0 pm. The Zimpon is away in Ha, so we are spared any trouble here in the way of conversation & entertainment. He is a pleasant man, but it makes things easier if he is not here.

SUMMARY:
The diary records paying for pony transport and arranging routes via the Jelep La and Nathu La, with generous provisions from Rani Chuni and many loads of plants and seeds despite Betty having broken her arm. On 30 Oct at Damthang, coolies and transport are disorganized and late; on 31 Oct at Sharithang, rain and sleet continue with snow above 11,000 ft.

CONTENT:
four collectors. They will have to change transport at Rinchenpong. We have paid them at Rs 9/- per pony. Ludlow had 5 1/2 loads and Hicks at 10 1/2. I also paid Tsangpon at the rate of Rs 10/- per pony to Kalimpong - Rs 105/- - that being about half what we expect the cost to be. They will all go the Jelep La route, while we will go by the Nathu La. As usual we have been very well looked after here. Rani Chuni has been pouring things over to us, butter, cider, eggs, meat, even whisky. We can't stop her, and we'll be lucky to get off with just the number of transport ordered. With us we have 8 pony loads and 3 coolies with live plants. That can't all fit into a jeep and trailer, and we will certainly have to use some other form of transport to get the rest through. And so we end what has been a very successful trip for us all, with the one exception of Betty breaking her arm. Ludlow certainly has the best collection, but we all have lots of good stuff, and seeds should prove interesting, and also the rooted plants, of which we have brought more than ever before. We have 3 big baskets - each a man's load - each having 3 tiers of plants in them.

30th Oct. Damthang. Raining in the morning, off soon in the day. Coolies and transport very sad indeed. They do just as they like, and even by 4.0 pm several are not in after an 8 mile march. What is worse, is that we saw some of the boxes which were yesterday passing the bungalow this evening. In fact they never went yesterday at all. These people are very difficult now. There is no authority, no discipline.

31st Oct. Sharithang. Rain and sleet fell all evening and night, there was quite a bit of snow on the road today from about 11000 ft up to the top.

SUMMARY:
Travel from Chumpithang to Karponang and then on to Kalimpong in fine but cold weather, with extensive seed collecting including Meconopsis superba and Gentiana depressa. Transport was arranged at Rinchengang for Danang and Tseringpen; Betty was met near Gangtok before reaching Kalimpong, where coolies were paid off and a lorry arranged. Plants were later sent by air from Calcutta via BOAC.

CONTENT:
and most of the way down here. But luckily it cleared up before we reached the pass and was a perfect day. We stopped a good long time on the passes, and collected all the Meconopsis superba seed we could, there must have been 3 or 4 lbs I should think. Beautiful views of clouds everywhere. Got in about dusk and heard that all loads had caught up now.

1st Nov. Chumpithang. Beautiful day, very cold and hard frost in the morning. Found Danang and Tseringpen in Rinchengang still waiting for transport, which we fixed up for them, and came on here. They will come one day later. A good deal of Gentiana depressa in flower still 2 miles before getting here. Stayed here in a tent, as there is now no bungalow.

2nd Nov. Karponang. Another perfect day, and cold but dead clear on the Natu, with a fine view of Chomolhari in the distance. Again in just before dusk, but with all the kit, and also got quite good seed on the way.

3rd Nov. Kalimpong. Met Betty 2 miles above Gangtok, she having started before dawn for through the whole way in the car. Her arm is of course much better, but it is rather disappointing still. Paid off all coolies, arranged a lorry for tomorrow and got home by 3:00 in very good order with plants and everything none the worse.

Later. Sent off plants by air from Calcutta by BOAC.

SUMMARY:
Notebook page listing plant specimens with collection numbers, taxa, and localities such as Marlung, Pangshang, Chela La, Tseli La, Natu La, Ha (Hato), Shanthang, and Changu, along with day–month collection dates. Brief notes occur for some entries (e.g., possible flower color).

CONTENT:
19776 Lloydia yellow? Marlung. 27.9
19698 Cremanthodium Pangshang 8.9
19856 Prim. capitata v. crispata Maruthang. 17.10
19853 Cyananthus rosatus. Chela la 24.10
19854 Mec. simplicifolia Tseli la 26.10. May be pink 195
19855 " panic or nepal. Tseli la "
19544 Thalictrum chelidonii Damthang. 30.10.
19620 Codonopsis sp. nov. Ha (Hato) "
18040 Crabapple. Ha. 25.10.
19689 Polygonum vacciniifolium Natu la. 31.10 200
19860 Prim. capitata crispata Shanthang. 31.10.
19859 " Kingii. " 1.11
19861 " capitata Natu la 2.11.
(2) 19862 " obliqua Changu. "
19863 Mec. nivosa " "

SUMMARY:
In camp during snow and rain, the writer collected Gentiana ornata seed, hunted kuling with Tsungpen, shot a raven for Inglis at Darjeeling, prepared bird skins, and packed divots of several Primula species. On 16th October at Nahampa, after a clear, frosty night, they noted kuling and Crossoptilon above Karutra and recorded nearby plant finds.

CONTENT:
conditions all day in camp - snow and rain with patches of sun. All I could collect today was some seed of Gentiana ornata, but I went out again to look for kuling with Tsungpen. First of all I shot a raven for Inglis at Darjeeling, then we came across three kuling just at the top edge of the rhododendrons, I got two of them. They are in good plumage, except for the head and nape, where moulting is not quite finished. Made flat skins of all of them, but wonder how they will travel tomorrow before being set. I made a box today, and have put in it a good many divots - two good divots of the yellow Primula petiolaris 2370, and three other divots which include two primulas, both petiolaris. One, I hope, is 2373 Primula chamaedora, a most beautiful flower, and the other is only the little white petiolaris primula Primula verrucosa we first saw at Chhachar 1614 or 1615 - a most uninteresting one. Let's hope all arrive in good condition at home. Temp in tent 20°F.

16th October. Nahampa. 10 miles. Last night was clear after 5.0pm, and very cold, with no more snow. The morning was perfect, really clear, with a hard frost. We had some rain down here, but nothing much. Saw a number of kuling above Karutra (seen Androsace brahmaputrae 2737, Ranunculus vellereum 2738) and also Crossoptilon, but no blood pheasant.

SUMMARY:
At Lung, the Char Chu river is clearing though the monsoon persists. Over 18–19 October the diarist remained in camp, received mail thoughtfully forwarded by Ludlow, collected Cardiocrinum giganteum bulbs, and endured heavy rain while cutting paths, finding rhododendron seed unripe and seeing no tragopan or monal.

CONTENT:
Char Chu is now quite clear again, and this river is clearing up gradually. No sign as yet of the monsoon being over.

Lung, 18th October. Halt. Rained a good deal in the night and this morning, but not very heavy. Stayed in camp and collected a few Cardiocrinum giganteum bulbs. In the evening, much to my surprise, a mail arrived. Ludlow very kindly sent it on complete only taking out his own and his letters, and leaving me all the newspapers etc., very good of him and very thoughtful. It was grand to hear again from home and Kashmir. All our mails seem to be going well now, and I have a report on all my Dufaycolor film packs up to No 26. On the whole they are well reported on.

Lung, 19th October. Halt. Went up the hill, cutting a path through the high bracken. A foul day, rained hard from morning to night and mist low down on the hills. Very disappointing. We found all rhododendron seed unripe, and most will not be ripe for a month at least. I never saw a sign of a tragopan or of monal, but will go again once or twice. It was pretty bloody in the bamboo forest, frightfully wet, and the place full of rotten wood. A bad day.

SUMMARY:
Brief note indicating Ludlow is at Jelep La and that collectors Danong and Tenduk return.

CONTENT:
Ludlow at Jelep La

Collectors Danong & Tenduk
return

SUMMARY:
The writer clarifies the naming and geography of the Lho La, noting it lies on the main range and that the river beyond flows into India rather than the Tsangpo. They describe relentless rain and a treacherous descent to Pachakshiri that made collecting difficult. Bird notes include scarce sightings of tragopans and monals, a notable rediscovery of Actinodura daflaensis at Pachakshiri (after Godwin-Austen’s 1875 record), and mentions of Sibia nipalensis daflaensis at Ghuha Nyug La and Spelaeornis souliei souliei at Nyug La.

CONTENT:
L. p. 141. Flowers south of the Lho La are not so attractive as they are on the N. face. I have been making a mistake in calling this pass the Lho La. I thought it meant the South Pass (Lho = South (Tib)) but apparently it means the Lapa Pass as the Lobpa country formerly extended to the pass. The Lho La, despite its low altitude, is evidently on the main range. The river we have been following since crossing the pass goes down into India & does not empty into the Tsangpo.

L.s.
Ludlow. Ibis 47. L. 140. Ludlow at Lho La
The rainfall at Pachakshiri was incessant & relentless, Pachakshiri
and in all my Himalayan wanderings I cannot recall a Androsace delavayi 1900
worse track than that which we descended from the Lho La. P. geraniifolia 1901
(July 3). We had to watch every footstep, & dare not raise " atrodentata 1902
our eyes from the ground. Boulders & fallen giant forest " normanniana 1903
trees obstructed the path everywhere. We sank Rhod. kessii 1904
up to our knees in quagmires & were for ever clambering
up rock faces & boulders by means of notched logs. Collecting
under such conditions was naturally extremely difficult.

We were told that Temminck's Tragopan and Sclater's Monal
were common, but we only saw one pair of a
Tragopan & 2 juveniles. Perhaps the most interesting bird
we secured was Actinodura n. daflaensis, first discovered
by Godwin-Austen in the Dafla Hills in 1875 & then lost sight
of until we procured it again at Pachakshiri. This must be (H&S)

Sibia nipalensis daflaensis (L. ibis 54) - found on Ghuha Nyug La
Another bird of considerable interest was Spelaeornis souliei souliei. 5th July Nyug La
(called S. s. sherriffi when collected in 1933 & 1934). Lud. Ibis 178.