Showing 19 results

SUMMARY:
Clear views were obtained toward the Dongkar range and passes including Gorpo La, Pun Sum La, and Warha La, with a local belief noted about the 'Thief' near Orka La at Sakden. Danang returned from Bum La beyond Tawang with seed collections, though some desired plants were missing or eaten, and further collecting and short stays are planned.

CONTENT:
Mago peaks, which were only seen in glimpses through them.
A perfectly clear stretch extended from this area almost
due north to the Dongkar range, and the fine peak we
saw just N. of the Gorpo La was plainly visible. I took
panorama again - sketch opposite - but could get few
bearings of any use. The real Pun Sum La was visible
just to the E of the line to the Gorpo La. Just over the
pass (Warha La) on the E side is a small pimple called the
"Thief". The man with us said it always peeped
over the Orka La at Sakden, and was responsible
for any losses which occurred in any of the houses
of Sakden. This much amused Purbo, but the man
was quite serious about it. Returned at 3.30 to

find Danang back again. He had done pretty well
on the Bum La beyond Tawang and had a pretty good
collection of seeds. Unfortunately sheep had been at
the white primula I particularly wanted (No: 655, P. obliqua), and he
could find no trace of the Notholirion macrophyllum (650). I brought
down some seeds too from the Orka La, and got a
fair collection of No 641 (Prim. gambeliana), a fine primula and a few others.

But Danang must return there to look for some
more of these which he found. We have decided
to stay two more days and then go down to the last
camp for a couple of days. Tomorrow I will not

SUMMARY:
Mail arrived with letters up to 6 August and a note from Betty at Changu; Danang departed with Pompoli and Tundru. At Tashiling the path to Chendesi was badly damaged, a pony fell through a weakened bridge and could not be rescued, and after storms the huts were preferred except for filthy Tsalimape; on hearing H.H. had gone back to Bumthang they planned to go straight through. Reaching Tongsa, the heaviest rains continued and people in Trongsa Dz. reported considerable recent damage.

CONTENT:
Described as being carried in a dhooley by 4 men. That is very sad, & Ludlow will miss him very much indeed. A small mail came in last night, with letters of up to 6 August from home - very quick - & a note from Betty from Changu. I heard later that with Danang went Pompoli & Tundru.

29th August. Tashiling. Yesterday the path to Chendesi showed signs of wear. There were 6-7 baddish breaks, but today there were 15-20 & some were big affairs. Some have only come down 2-3 days ago. Just before we reached a bridge whose sides have been scoured out a bit, a man crossed with 3 ponies. 2 got across, & the 3rd broke one of the long tree planks & fell through into a chasm below. How the pony squeezed through the breadth of only one plank, I don't know. We helped for over an hour, but could do nothing, & had to leave. I fear the pony will be dead before help we sent for here reaches it. I would have ridden over that bridge five minutes later, & it certainly would have given way with me on. So I consider myself lucky today. It has just kept fine once more today. I expected a sparkling day because about 1.0 last night there was a thunderstorm & very heavy rain, which came in through the roof & soaked us all. If there were decent places for tents, I wouldn't dream of occupying these huts. Chendesi & Tashiling huts are, at any rate, clean & bugless. Tsalimape is the filthy place. Heard last night that H.H. has gone back to Bumthang, so we will go straight through too.

30th August. Tongsa. A dreadful day of the heaviest rain yet seen. Again the path was washed away in many places. In Trongsa Dz. they said considerable damage had been done by the rain in the last 7-9 days. That was when H.H.

SUMMARY:
Halt days near Shing-itun with Danang and Tenduk exploring a valley to the southwest, where a yellow primula was found above a bridge. The next day the author revisited via the right-hand valley to Champa Phé and a higher thang, noting a wren’s nest, abundant Paraquilegia, other primulas including possible P. sapphirina on west-facing cliffs, and that Lumsden’s white primula was already in seed. Weather included rain on the first day and fine conditions on the second.

CONTENT:
83

Rhod. thomsenii var. pallidum 1728, 1730.

29th May. Halt. Danang & Tenduk went up the valley SW of Shing-itun, keeping to the W of the village. At the top of the hill seen from camp, the valley divides in two. They crossed the stream & went into the Southern valley. Here they found a yellow primula 1732 [P. jucunda sp. nov. 1732], a good mile above the bridge. It is a fine valley. Rained part of the day.

30th May. Halt. A fine day. I went up the same way as Danang & Tenduk yesterday, as far as the bridge on the ridge. But this time we took the R hand valley, just above the bridge it opens out into a fine thang, called Champa Phé, probably about 12000'. Above this there is another small thang, with a hut, where we found a wren's nest. On the rocks Paraquilegia [Calderia macrophylla] grows in profusion, & both Roylei & the purple primula. Above this again, to the left a bit, is a valley full of avalanche snow. We went up this for some way, & on the cliffs to the R hand side going up — West — we found P. sapphirina? [P. flabellifera 1737]. It was growing on almost perpendicular cliffs, which were damp & open to the sun. Lumsden's little white primula 1644 [Vernicosa 1644], was already in seed. It is a poor thing. No flower to speak of, very short lived. Another...

SUMMARY:
At Shingbe, the party worked in scrub jungle looking for skulkers and received a dak from H.H. containing apples, vegetables, rice, and crushed maize, noting the careful apple packing. The next day brought a sunny morning before rain; Danang explored a northern nala, while Ludlow and the diarist packed birds and went downstream, with a much-needed bath noted since visiting the hot springs at Mago; Phitso also sent up items.

CONTENT:
77

days ago. But I think that it was probably sent off late, owing to the P.M. having no mail bag. Bearing from Shingbe to LAO is approx. 215°.

26th August. Shingbe. Rain & mist most of the day. Spent our time in little patches of dense scrub jungle, looking for 'skulkers'. A 'dak' arrived from H.H. He sent as usual a few boxes of something. This time the presents were very useful - two boxes of apples, two boxes of vegetables. Also some rice & crushed maize. The way the apples are packed is perfectly wonderful. Each apple - they are small - in a separate wicker work basket of its own. Naturally they have arrived in good order.

27th August. Shingbe. A lovely morning, with bright sun up till 11.30, when the rain started. Danang tried the nala to the north, but without success. Ludlow & I packed birds, then went downstream for birds, but did not see much. Had a much needed bath this afternoon, the first since I bathed in the hot springs at Mago on the 5th! Phitso sent up some

SUMMARY:
The diarist describes comfortable bamboo hut accommodations and stages from Samri Chu to Taktu and then to Sakden over the Munda La, noting fine weather and elevations. At the first village over the pass, they observe papermaking driven by a waterwheel and efficient turning of wooden drinking bowls; Danang suggests the wood is a kind of Prunus.

CONTENT:
110

structure of bamboo huts - a room each of about 8' square, with a 'hall' in between, and small huts for the men coolies. Certainly travel in Bhutan in many parts is very pleasant and comfortable.

Samri Chu
17th October. to TAKTU 9 miles. 7840' (B.P. 18.1 Temp 60°). Fairly fine, though clouded all day. This makes a much better stage than doing the whole way to Sakden in a day. Even so, it is a longish 9 miles, and very hard work on the coolies. The temp. up here now is perfect.

18th October. To SAKDEN. 5 miles. Ht. 9731'. When we went to bed last night the mist was thick and it was raining. But a few hours later a cold N. wind sprang up, and this morning was clear and perfect, and it has remained so all day. A short march over the Munda La here.

FB
At the first village over the pass, there was considerable activity in paper making and in making small wooden drinking bowls. The paper bark is pulped by an ingenious water wheel machine, driving two hammers which fall into a stone with a well cut in it. The lathe for cutting the small cups is very efficient. I watched a cup finished from a solid lump of wood in about 5-10 minutes. Danang says the wood is some kind of prunus, but I could not make out what it was. Motive power

SUMMARY:
Notes on Primula observations, heavy rain, and challenging flower photography with exposure details. On 10th July at Sahden, the diarist went with Danang to the Orka La on the Dirang Dzong road, took compass bearings, and described fine morning conditions.

CONTENT:
19

Primula found on the Me La last year, and seen at Narim Thang at 15,000'. Left at 6:00 am and hurrying, reached the pass at 9:30. Rain came on at 9:00 and it rained on and off all the time. Home again at 3:00 pm in heavy rain which continued all evening. Took 2 photos, 632 (P. stolonifera) and 634 (Ph. elegantula), at 4:00 pm in very heavy rain, clouds low down. Exposures were f/16 and 4 1/2 minutes, a little underexposed: f/11 and 2' 40" slightly under. Colour photography of flowers under such circumstances is no easy job. A large paulin is hung over me while I arrange focus. Then exposure made with an umbrella over the camera, held high. Servants all better, but Ramzana very weak and unable to leave on 10th.

10th July. Sahden. Started at 4:30 am and went up with Danang to the Orka La on the Dirang Dzong road. Reached the pass at 8:30 and stayed there till 10. Walked down very quickly in two hours. I took a bearing from Sahden to the ridge along which the path runs, and found it 88° Mag. Another bearing up the first river on the left bank of the Gamri Chu, gave 115°. A back bearing to Sahden from the Orka La gave approx 290°. Sahden itself was not visible. This was a lovely morning, and it

SUMMARY:
Halted at Lagnabi near Rocha Chu. Notes mail problems with parcels stuck at Kumarikhata and returned from Rangiya; sent Box No. 3 of flowers and some seeds by air mail. Plans to move to Sana, with Danang going to the Me La for seed; avoiding Bumthang at HH’s request and going to Sakden instead.

CONTENT:
96

Rocha Chu 28th Sept. Halted. Lagnabi.
Cirrhopetalum = Bulbophyllum wallichii 988
Bulbophyllum yokzunense 998

A mail arrived on 26th with several parcels. I rather think that all our mails from us have now been posted. I had a letter from Spencers in Calcutta saying that they had just received my letter of 28th June asking for 1200 cigarettes for the servants. Spencers thought that as this was such a long time ago they had better verify the order again. So no cigarettes were sent. But the latest trouble is that the P.O. at Kumarikhata cannot send foreign parcels, so that all our bird & flower parcels lie there in that beastly damp, hot atmosphere. The postmaster did his best, & sent off two parcels, but super efficiency in Rangiya apparently returned them. They love doing each other down.

Sent off a mail today, with it Box No 3 of flowers 751 - 869, & some seeds, the latter by air mail. We have about finished here now. Bar Pnoepygas & Tesias there are few birds, we have an excellent series of these. Sana will be the next move, & while we are there Danang will go up to the Me La & start off on seed. It will be a little early, but that can't be helped. HH would rather we did not go to Bumthang as he is busy getting ready for India. I am glad - that saves us a long walk. So we go to Sakden instead. A few of my photos were

SUMMARY:
Notes successful collection of several primulas (including from Tsari La) and other plants, with roughly 150 specimens and some seed, though access to Lo La was denied and the Tsari route was difficult due to deep snow. At Chuchar nothing was obtained, perhaps due to the headman; Danang remarked a 1 Sept departure would have been better. The Dzongpen seeks a Mauser pistol license via R.B. Norbu, and the Kyimdong Dzongpen was very helpful; both collectors seem fit.

CONTENT:
Ramzana's blue primula had no seed, gone over the Lo La
they could not get as they were not allowed over there.
Otherwise I think they have done well. Ludlow's yellow
primula, the almost black one, the reddish violet sikkimensis
from Shugden & the yellow which we hope is KW's
new one, from the Tsari La, are all collected. They have
brought a number of plants too, which may remain alive,
on the whole I think they have done very well. But as yet I have
not had time to see what they have got. Both seem fit.
The Bimbi La was very deep in snow & snow was down to
Chosam; so the Tsari part was very difficult. At Chuchar
they got nothing, but perhaps that was the fault of the
headman. It is interesting to hear that rhododendrons were
more than ripe, & that Danang says if they had left us on
1st Sept, it would have been better. Altogether they seem
to have about 150 specimens, with seed, some of which of
course, I also have. The Dzongpen is very keen to have a
Mauser pistol, & I have said I will speak to R.B. Norbu
about a license. The Kyimdong Dzongpen was very good
indeed to them. Tenduk was impressed to show how a cake

SUMMARY:
A wet halt at Pang-Sunda where the diarist scouted the valley while Danang and Tsung-pen explored rocky slopes, collecting multiple Primula taxa and noting promising sites. Notes mention Rhododendron campylocarpum, Viburnum cordifolium, and Paraquilegia anemonoides. The next day they moved to Migitun via steep paths through mixed forest, recording conditions and elevations.

CONTENT:
77

Rhod. campylocarpum 1628, which is 1628, a yellow one, with rounded leaves with no thick indumentum. Viburnum (V. cordifolium) 1631 is also quite a fine tree. Paraquilegia (anemonoides) 1632 is on all cliff faces. It is a different one to the Tsang one, very pretty.

Pang-Sunda
22nd May. Halt. A very wet day nearly all day, but otherwise good. I went down the valley and saw some things to collect tomorrow. Danang and Tsung-pen went up opposite camp into the precipitous rocky part of the mountains. There they came across 1614 (Prim. vernicosa) again in numbers: a different colour of 1621 (P. tsariensis) collected under 1650 (P. barnesii); P. glabra 1642 (P. dickieana). 1654 a beautiful new primula - new at any rate to us. And 1658 (P. prenantha) another new primula with rather an inconspicuous flower, but dainty for all that. Promises of other good things there were too, including another two primulas. A nice camp and a good place for flowers.

23rd May. Migitun. 4 m. Road down right bank, very steep path for a mile to a bridge to left bank. Thence still steep down left bank through pretty thick mixed forest the rest of the way. BP. 194.8 Temp 59. Time 5.15 pm. Ht. 9757. It rained on and off all day, and the clouds are

SUMMARY:
Halted at Pangotang due to persistent rain while Pasang and Mundon went to Kantanang for Primula reticulata seed; H.H. sent a Bhutanese blanket, causing concern about excess baggage. The camp was crowded with Drogpas and Tibetans returning from the Mela via the Monlakarchung La; Danang is unfit and may join later instead of going to Ludlow, and lack of yak prevented a planned trip to Tolegang.

CONTENT:
14th September. Halt at Pangotang. Wet all day. Pasang & Mundon went off for 3 days to Kantanang. The only thing I know I want from there is seed of a primula called reticulata, which was very pretty. But it will likely not be ready yet. We can wait longer though for Kantanang. It is not important, & the other places must take preference. H.H. is making me very embarrassed. He has now sent a very fine Bhutanese blanket. I don't know what to do with it & had told him I did not need any bedding at all. I fear Hicks & I may have to carry a good many unwanted things away with us - unwanted by me anyway. Pangotang is a regular Piccadilly Circus today, with all the Drogpas coming back from the Mela. Tibetans too are camped beside me on their way back over the Monlakarchung La. H.H. said it was a success, they had good weather. He tells me Danang is still not fit, which presumably means that he cannot go to Ludlow now, but will have to join me when he is alright. It will be a sad blow to Ludlow, although I believe Ramzana has seen almost all that Danang saw on their way East.

15th Sept. Halt. No yak turned up today, so I did not go out to Tolegang as intended. Very heavy rain again last night, & a good deal today too. Sat in camp all day practically, & did nothing but write a