SUMMARY:
Heavy snow has closed the pass near Tsomgo, with temperatures around freezing and ongoing snowfall; film and exposure notes are recorded. On 8th May, Danong scouted towards the Natu La and reported over five feet of snow and lost mule loads, leading to plans to send mules back to Gangtok for rations. Karponang bungalow is reportedly occupied by two lamas, emissaries of the Tashi Lama, preventing use of that stop.

CONTENT:
7

feet of snow on the pass. Normally the pass is open all
year, the rhododendrons should be coming into flower here,
instead of being under 2 ft of snow as they now are. There
seems little or no hope of our crossing for some days yet.
My bad luck on passes seems to continue. Min. temp in
verandah today was 33°: maximum in verandah 45°, but
maximum outside 50°. Snow is thawing hard, but
fresh light snow continually falling. Light given by
Electrophot in open, between f 16 & 22.

Cine Film B3.
Close up of caravan man. f 8 & x.

8th May. TSOMGO. A lovely morning from sunrise till 9.0, when
mist came down and it snowed. Two men (Danong and a muleteer,
Lepcha Coleen) sent up the pass with mules to see whether we can get on tomorrow.
Ludlow and I walked down towards Lagyap La for birds - the
only collecting we can do. Found one dazed moth in the snow
on the path. 3.0 pm. Danong came back, having gone five
miles towards the Natu La. He reports that even there, the
snow is over five feet deep, and that several mules and their
loads have been lost. He thinks there is no hope of crossing
for five days anyway, and says that even with 50 coolies we
should have no hope. Karponang bungalow is occupied
we believe by two lamas, emissaries of the Tashi Lama
who is thought to be intending to return to Tibet. So we
could not go there even if we wanted to. Our idea is to
let the mules return to Gangtok for rations: send Danong

B. 3.
Tsomgo lake evening and early morning

SUMMARY:
Notes describe hiring a Lepcha collector named Danon, severe snow and hail at Tsomgo Tso, attempts at fishing and bird collecting, and excellent bungalow provisions. Mentions cine film of the Karponang–Tsomgo road, pressing a primula, caravans struggling in deep snow with losses, and arrangements involving Bombay and a return to Gangtok.

CONTENT:
Ludlow 6. We have a Lepcha-collector called Danon to help us with flowers. He has worked for the Botanical Survey of India and should be very helpful as he knows his flowers thoroughly and even tells us the scientific names of many.

B.1 & 2 good

inches deep. The Tsomgo Tso is free of snow except at the upper end. Ten tufted pochard on the lake. Too wet to try for trout, which were put in by Bailey. The chowkidar (watchman) says he has seen them in summer at the lower end, not at the top. These bungalows are the best I have ever seen. They are equipped with cutlery and crockery, so that one need not open up one's own.

Cine film B.2. 0-45'. Views on the Karponang-Tsomgo road as far as Lagyap La.

There are no stores, except wood. The wood used for burning is chiefly rhododendron, which gives out great heat. Hail and snow here all afternoon, looking bad for tomorrow. Pressed the first flower today - a small primula (P. gracilipes (L & S)). We are using for shooting birds, .22 rifles with dust shot and .410 bores with 2 1/2" cases of dust shot. The former will usually kill up to five yards, the latter to 25".

B.1 & 2 sent Bombay 10th May. Return to Gangtok.

7th May. TSOMGO. Still clouded this morning and fine snow falling. A caravan of mules came down this morning: they had crossed yesterday, and reported having lost two mules and a man. So we decided to stay here. Snow is about 10" deep. It has been thawing all day, but the sun can't get out for any length of time. Tried fishing this morning with fly and frogs. The water was too cold for the frog, and we saw no signs of fish. Shot a few birds. 3.0 pm. A caravan has just come in from 2 miles up the hill. They took nine hours to do the two miles, and yesterday lost two mules, and had to have 40 coolies from Chupitang to help. They report up to seven

B.2. Tsomgo dak bungalow. Tsomgo Tso. A caravan from Tibet arriving at Tsomgo having taken 9 hrs for 2 miles.

SUMMARY:
The party remains near Tsomgo waiting for the pass to open, collecting near Lagyap La, with the diarist noting a likely delay in reaching Gangtok by the 21st. On 9 May at Tsomgo (Changu), most mules returned to Gangtok with Danong to seek his brother and send food; after collecting birds during a brief clear spell, two lamas—envoys of the Tashi Lama—passed with a 50‑mule caravan bound for Shigatse despite heavy snow.

CONTENT:
8
down for food for ourselves, and remain here till the pass
opens. We can collect a fair amount near Lagyap La
above - more than we could at Karponang. It is still
snowing and raining hard here. The bungalow is quite
reasonably comfortable and with plenty of rhododendron wood,
we can keep it warm. As I have to be in Gangtok
on 21st, it looks as if I would not be able to get over
the pass till after that - it would hardly be worth while.

9th May. TSOMGO (Changu). All except three mules returned to Gangtok
this morning, with Danong (Lepcha Collector) who will try to find out what
has happened to his brother, and will send up food for
us tomorrow. It was fine in the early morning, and
thawing hard, but by 8:30 rain came on. We walked
down three miles to collect some birds, and then rode home
for lunch about 12:00, when it again cleared up for an
hour. The two lamas who have come from China to
arrange or discuss about the return of the Tashi Lama
passed Tsomgo at 12:30 with a caravan of 50 mules.
They had with them a number of coolies who
are to remain with them till their caravan gets over
the pass. We thought that they would manage it, with all
these men, but shortly after they left us, the snow came
on again heavily, and now I can't see how they can
manage. If they do, we hope to also. The Tibetan is a

B. 3. contd. Two lamas, envoys of the Tashi Lama, on their way to Shigatse, pass Tsomgo with a large caravan.

SUMMARY:
The diary notes collecting near Lagyap la with birds feeding on blooming rhododendrons amid rain and snow. At Tsomgo (Changu), snow was melting, coolies reported the pass fair, and a lost mule returned, though their own mules were delayed. The party moved toward Chumbi Valley to Chumpithang, disputing a bill from a Gangtok Kazi while en route to Yatung.

CONTENT:
towards Lagyap la, to collect. There is not so much snow
there also more birds are to be found. A few rhododendrons
were in bloom, & various birds - finches & sun birds were
feeding on the flowers & fertilising them. It came on to rain
& later snow at 10.15 & cleared up more or less at
2.30 pm. Since we left Calcutta on 22nd April, there has
not yet been one day wholly fine & usually part of the
day has been very wet indeed.

12th May. TSOMGO. (CHANGU). Another fine night, & snow
melting hard all day although sky overcast. A few coolies
came over the pass from Chubitang, & report road fair.
One of the mules which fell off the road seven days ago
was brought in today - very thin, but otherwise alright.
Our mules did not arrive, as they should have done. We did
little all day but pack up.

To Chumbi Valley.
13th May. CHUMPITHANG. 12600'. 10 miles. Last night was a lovely
night again, but there was no sign of the mules when we got
up at 4.30. However they arrived about 6.30 in time to let
us get away at last. The Kazi who owns the mules sent
them up late, & had the audacity to send with them a
bill for Rs. 90/-. We will of course refuse to pay, as the
contract was to take us from Gangtok to Yatung. If the
pass can't be crossed, that is none of our fault. All the
Gangtok Kazis are stinkers, but I'm afraid I will have some

SUMMARY:
Field notes at Tsari Sama record a Monal sighting and comparative observations of several Primula species, including uncertainties in identification and notes on flowering and rooting characteristics. The page also describes the main valley’s bearings, the Lo La pass toward Lopa territory, and a route from Shacho Tsukang via the Gai La to Trashiying with conditions and height noted.

CONTENT:
38a Tsari Sama. 16 June

Monal (Sclateri) seen in this valley, in rhododendron, above abies.

5569 Primula pelenteneum Tsari Sama. This is I think the same as 3953. It is not really common here, is swamped out by a more robust primula Kingii 5570.

5570 Primula Kingii Tsari Sama. I am not sure which is which of these. 5570 has more the form of P. odontica, being more robust, having 3-5 flowers, & being in masses. But the colour of 5569 more resembles P. odontica than does the colour of 5570. Neither have the marked Chionogenes.

5573. Prim. Chionogenes Tsari Sama. Taken from immediately N of the Himalayan Range. If it is like any others taken, perhaps it is nearer fudoka-chionogenes 3698 than anything else. Flowers over very quickly, as in 3648. Rooted together very tightly.

5579 Prim. Chionogenes Tsari Sama. Taken from South side of Pass. Plants not so densely rooted together. Have same as 3983? y.

5575. Prim. floribunda Tsari Sama. I don't know this one. Its leaves are unlike any sikkimensis primula I know. It is common, but not yet in full flower.

5576. Prim. morsheadiana Tsari Sama. This is the same as my 2396 from Kashmir in 1936 & I think the same as No 3986 of 1938. I can't see how either are the same as No 3848 prevalis, which is always Candelabra, & the leaves of which differ so much: flowers are also smaller & never open.

X. The main valley here flows about on a bearing of 40°, turning to 30°. At its head is a pass, open now with no snow, very easy, called the Lo La (as are all leading to Lopa country), about 14000 ft., over which a path leads to Lopa territory. Lopas do come up this way each year about now, & raid the locals' yaks - if the latter are kept in this valley. This valley enters the Langong Chu above Singo Samba, about 2 m. above the Lo La Chu.

Shacho Tsukang to Trashiying. A path goes S.W round to a second tsukang & over a pass very to Trashiying. Details not known. A short cut leaves Shacho at bearing 300° & climbs steeply to the Gai La at m 2. From here Trashiying can be seen at a bearing of 330°. There is still snow on the N side of the pass, but path fairly easy, steep in places. B.P. of Pass 186.0° T. 45°. Time 7.0 am.
17.6.38.
Ht. app. 14537'.

SUMMARY:
On 10 November at Trimo, the diarist notes seed collections and plants seen en route to the Pō La, and reports that Taylor has gathered many specimens between Sirimo and Shakti. They describe leaving Tsona, meeting the Dzongpen who discussed Tawang and Assam officials, sending mail by special runner toward Trashi-yang, and note health updates for Phunbo and the Dzongpen along with gifts from H.H. the Maharani, Padmadechen, and Phunbo Wangdi Palden.

CONTENT:
10th Nov. Trimo. seeds of R. baileyi 6656, R. tsariense 6657, R. wallichii 6659, P. pendulum 6660, R. tsariense 6661, P. strumosa 6658

Poda
things on the way to the Pō La - P. eburnea, Gent. amoena, Mec. grandis among others. And Taylor has another 150 specimens between Sirimo & Shakti! No mail reached them yet. I am sending their mail down by special runner - 1st day Le, 2nd beyond Shakti. It should reach Trashi-yang on 13th, so I hope Taylor may get it in Bhutan yet.

10th November. Trimo. Fine, much warmer in morning till 10:30, clouded. We left Tsona in true Tsona style. Everything was ready, ponies paid for & agreement signed, faithful promises to turn up by sunrise. Actually it was 9:00 before the mules loaded up & had to dig out one of the cooks & make him go in front of me till the Pō La. I went to the Dzongpen who seemed a nice man & fairly well educated. The only really interesting thing he talked about was Tawang, when he mentioned two points: one that the Tibetans felt very much that the officials visiting there from Assam were shooting so much, especially now the new Dalai Lama is expected: & the other was a complaint against the translator who was up with the Assam Govt official. The Dzongpen said that the Babu never told them the same as the Sahib said, but gave his own version. The Dzongpen talks Hindi pretty well, but he was not there himself. I left at 9:30 am, & reached the Pass at 12:30 & Trimo at 4:30 pm. Phunbo was very bad last night, but recovered quickly, & was well enough to ride here, has no fever now. But Dzongpen was ill today, with a very bad head, was sick on the way to the Pass.

Prim.
Gent.
Mec.
Rhodo
However he also is much better this evening. We found a very little of the Prim. eburnea Ludlow mentioned, some rather unripe G. amoena, a little Mec. grandis, & several Rhododendrons. To allow everyone to recover, & to give us a chance to get some seed, I am stopping here tomorrow. It is very nice to be here, because from here on it will be warm & dry & we will have no more transport troubles.

RB
The latter have loomed large with me this year, & it is good to feel they are now over. And none of us are sorry to get to a warm place again. Presents of butter, rice, cloths etc. from H.H. the Maharani, Padmadechen, Phunbo Wangdi Palden. They had been as far as Tsari Chinchu & back again looking for us.

SUMMARY:
Entries describe marches and halts from Trimo to Le, Pangchen, Shakti and Karteng with snow, rain and heat, while collecting seeds and specimens including rhododendrons. Notes include Ludlow’s rapid travel from S. Chöling, recovery of Pintso and Tsungpen, efficient Monba coolies, Tawang people wishing to come under Assam while taxed by Tsona, and Guha going missing after taking a wrong path.

CONTENT:
85

Trimo
11th November. Halt. Clouded all day: no sun: snow falling on hills & slight rain here. Much colder than I expected. Pintso & Tsungpen both recovered, Pintso not fully yet. Collected odd rhododendron & other seed. Ludlow moved quickly here from S. Chöling, the same marches as I did, & apparently quite easily because he was able to use dzong-dzong transport, which I could not.
I hear the Tawang people are all anxious to come under Assam, but are still paying large taxes to Tsona in the form of wooden planks.

To
12th November. Le. Clouded all day till 4.0pm. Snowed all night right down to Trimo village, & rained all day till we reached here at 3.0pm. As Tsering has taken 150 specimens between Trimo & Shakti, I am not likely to find anything that he has not got. Got a few seeds & about 15 specimens. Clothed for snow as I was, found it very hot marching down here. But the evening is cool enough. These Monba coolies are very good & fast, waste no time on the road.
R. crassum 6676.

To
13th November. Pangchen. Fine all day. First clear sky in morning. Clouds low in evening. Nice & warm down here at 7000 ft. Found Rhod. rhabdotum (Dalhousie 6694) at the same place just above Pangchen that we took R. lindleyi from in 1936, but seeds not begun yet to turn brown.
P. prunifer

To
14th November. Shakti. Heavy rain last night. Fine today: clouded in evening. It was very hot coming up from the bridge over the Nyam Jang Chu — a long steep climb. I sent Guha on from the bridge at 11.30, he must have taken the wrong path, as he has not turned up at 5.0pm. Poor old Guha, he will be sorry for himself. Got a few more seeds today & took about 15 specimens.
Codonopsis ovata 6702, Crawfurdia Campanulaceae 6703, Prunus cerasoides 6708, Wightia gigantea 6700

To
15th November. Karteng (Kapleng). Clouded nearly all day, with rain in the evening. Rather nice having rain now as it keeps it cool. Changed transport twice, & should have changed a third time too. Karteng is directly opposite the bridge leading across the river. The people here — & from below Pangchen are all Takpas; only Monbas are above Pangchen. Both seem a good crowd. Took seed of what I think is Albizzia Sherriffii & saw near here a good deal of Luculia gratissima, which always strikes me as a most beautiful shrub. It is a pity it is not hardy.
Kapleng & Jy-iper. Sarcococca hookeriana 6716, Luculia gratissima 6720, Lindenbergia grandiflora 6721

SUMMARY:
The diarist travels by lorry from Srinagar to Kud, notes heat and crowded lodging, and lists team members Ramzana, Ahmad Sheikh, and Gulla. The journey continues to Lahore in extreme heat, with a near fuel shortage, before boarding the Calcutta mail and using ice to keep Lumiere films cool.

CONTENT:
13th June, 1934. KUD. Left Srinagar by lorry at 7.15 am & had a good run down to Kud. No signs of the monsoon even Kud being pretty hot, although well over 5000'. Kud bungalow very popular: we first had a room each, then moved in together to make room for two females: finally slept out on the verandah, as a married couple turned up. Lorry to Lahore cost Rs. 60 + tolls of Rs. 30. This year we are taking with us this year Ramzana & Ahmad Sheikh & Gulla too. Gulla has learnt skinning fairly well.

14th June. Lahore. Left at 5.15 am & had a good run down to Lahore, which we reached at 2.15 pm. But the lorry driver nearly gave us a lot of trouble by running out of petrol. Another lorry luckily came along soon & gave us some spare. All the way today was very hot indeed, Lahore being 116°. Caught the Calcutta mail at 7.0 pm & loaded our compartment with kit & two bath tubs each with 80 lbs ice in them. I was particularly anxious to try to keep a box cool in which I have all my Lumiere films. So I put one bath tub full of ice on top of it, & I think it kept cool enough. The max. temp in the compartment was 110°, minimum 85°, even with the ice.

SUMMARY:
Itemized expenses and payments for travel, wages, tips, and supplies, including lorry to Srinagar, bungalow charges, road expenses, parcels, and tickets. Mentions payments to Damang, Pintso, A. Sheikh, and a watch for R.S. Lama, with routes involving Yatung, Kalimpong, and Calcutta.

CONTENT:
2907
Damang 110. Pay incl Sept. ✓ Lorry to Srinagar. 120.
Pintso. 120 Pay incl. Aug. ✓ Tolls etc. 30
Pintso (road exp). 40. for Damang. ✓ 150
Lhuentse syces. 4. ✓ 1856
Kurtip. 40. ✓ 2907
A. Sheikh. 10. 4913

Jongpens men 10. 3241 Damang pay & b'shish. 40
Postmaster Yatung 150 (S.) Pintso 65

• • 150 (L.) Tenduk. 60
    Nangarbe. 5078
    Tips Lhakang to 15.
    Pay 130. Ration 20
    Kusho. Adv. 30 180
    Tenduk 5 + 10 15.
    Gyantse bungalow. 32.
    Bungalow to Yatung 32.
    Rs/
    Expenses on road. 15.
    Yatung to Kalimpong. 228.
    Coolies. 10
    Bungalows & etc. 12
    Watch for R.S. Lama 22.
    Kalimpong. 32
    Parcels. 10
    To Calcutta 175
    To Sealkote Tickets. 273
    Luggage 171.

SUMMARY:
Itemized transport and travel expenses, tickets, luggage fees, stores, and hires across multiple stages, with payments to staff and tips. Routes include movements between Sialkot, Lahore, Paro, Kalimpong, Gangtok, and Yatung, and through Bhutanese localities such as Wangdupotrang, Ridang, Chendebi, Gyetsa, and Bumthang. Mentions payments to Pintso and Danong and a present from Tobgye.

CONTENT:
Lorry to Sialkot. Rs. 30. To Ha. 12

• Lahore. Rs. 33. To Paro 46 coolies & 2 ponies 2 days 48.
  Tickets to Calcutta. 245. Pintso's pay 1 mth + 1/2 mth adv. 60. Pd 22/6.
  Excess luggage .. .. 185. Paro to Tsalimape. 49.
  Tickets to Gielle Khola. 83. Tsalimape to Wangdupotrang. 49.
  Excess luggage 100. Wangdi to Ridang (2 stages) 47.
  Stores from Mazda. 500. Ridang - Chendebi. 23.
  2 Cars G. Khola to Kalimpong. 16. Chendebi to Gyetsa. 67
  Hotel Kalimpong 24 Gyetsa to Bumthang. 22.
  1 Car to Gangtok 30 Danong pay June. All & July 40.
  Bullock carts Gielle Khola to Gangtok 34. Extra hire Gangtok - Yatung. 35.
  Transport. 18 ponies to Yatung @ 6/- 126. Presents from Tobgye (boots.) 10.
  Tips Gangtok Residency. 40. Odd expenses on road. 10.
  Karponang Bungalow.