Showing 33 results

SUMMARY:
The party halted and went up the valley to the North (E) of Migitun in heavy rain and mist, noting two waterfalls and abundant primulas. Finds included Danong's little yellow primula (1658), a plant thought to be P. violacea (1685), and a new primula (1686); leeches and midges were troublesome. An earlier note mentions an old man with a huge goitre and concerns about being carted about.

CONTENT:
huge goitre of a lifetime's standing by one old man. All seem reasonably pleased, but I don't suppose they will like carting us about very much.

24th May. Halt. Went up the valley to the North (E) of Migitun. It was too misty to see much. About 2 miles up on the R. are two waterfalls. On the way to these we found Danong's little yellow primula 1658, in masses, growing on the now free course of a perennial snow avalanche. Beside these were also a few of what I think is 1621, two other primulas of the sikkimensis section, one reddish the other yellow. I take the former 1685, to be P. violacea. Danong also found a new primula, but very little of it 1686, which is a pretty thing, though whether really it is white or should have some colour I rather doubt. On the whole a pretty good day for flowers, but otherwise foul, as it rained hard all day, and could not see where likely places were, the mist being right down the hillside. There are leeches here, but as yet not very many. The chief pest are midges, which are very trying. I went into

SUMMARY:
Diary entries describe uncertainty about coolies, plans to reach Bumthang before Betty departs Denchung, and subsequent marches from Amhlungnang over Jü La and Goktang La to Gorzam Camp above Dhur. Noted were heavy rains, a halt day, and rich alpine flora including Meconopsis species, Primula hopeana, a high-altitude iris, and the discovery of a new lily during a fine day interrupted by a storm.

CONTENT:
stuff. We are not now sure if our coolies will come tonight or not. It will be bad if we can't get off tomorrow, but we still can reach Bumthang before Betty, who leaves Denchung on tomorrow. Quite a fine day for such a soaking place as the Bhomali is.

20th July. Amhlungnang. 4 m S of Jü La. A fine day. A long march from 5.45 to 2.30, over two high passes, 14,500 + 15,500 about, and rain very heavy all day. Danong had been over the whole place ten days before, so we were not likely to find much again. Mec. bella very common and growing on open grassy slopes as well as cliffs. Mec. horridula also very common, and a fine colour, often favouring marshy very wet places, in a queer way. M. sinuata also common. P. Hopeana with a red tube, either white or yellow, in great numbers. Down here, there is an Iris, the first high altitude iris I've seen yet. I should think the area is good for a pretty thorough examination, but we will have no time for that. The passes are called the GOKTANG LA and the JÜ LA, the latter being the higher.

21st July. Halt. Stayed in camp. Very wet day.

22nd July. GORZAM Camp 4 m above Dhur. This was a very fine day altogether. It was misty and damp when we left at 6.0 am, but cleared up and we saw blue sky and sun for some hours. It was fine till 3.30 when a terrific storm of rain came on, half an hour before we reached camp. I don't know how long the march was: it was a good long way, but there were plenty of flowers, and good ones, and we did not notice how far it was. I started with a yellow iris, but the pick of the bunch came about halfway, with the finding of a new lily. How lucky this was can be guessed when one thinks that only one flower was seen, and that that happened to be almost exactly where I stopped to put flowers in the press. We would almost...

SUMMARY:
At Bimbi La Camp, Tenduk brought in plants and a Tsongpen sent seed from Chuchar; subsequent halts record collecting seeds of Primula and Gentiana near a pass, with fine weather followed by rain. On the 9th, Lumsden, D and Tenduk accompanied the diarist toward Bimbi La and a talao, collected Androsace seed, and shot three partridges, while mail from Sanga Choling was delayed.

CONTENT:
Bimbi La 157

Cyananthus wardii 2557 sp. nov.
It, under No. 2557. Tenduk brought in a beautiful allardia
allardia glabra 2553
2553, a Tsongpen sent some seed from Chuchar.

Bimbi La Camp
8th Sept. Halt. Went with Danong below camp then up E to a
Gentian
pass about 15500 & collected seed of P. macrophylla & G. przewalskii
P. muscoides 2567 P. macrophylla 2560, 2561
It was fine again again, a perfect night, & only a small
thunder shower in the day. Lovely evening again. Took what
may be another gentian like the Chusam one, up the hill
Gent. trichotoma var. brevicaulis 2558, Gentian phyllocalyx seed 2559
a bit, much paler, not so tall, under No. 2558.

Bimbi La Camp
9th Sept. Halt. Lumsden, D, Tenduk & I went up towards the Bimbi
La, collected some androsace seed, then on to the talao, where
we found some partridges & shot three. Lumsden got one in flight
with No. 2 dust shot. Also saw a lot of G. ornata (?) &
higher up some fine specimens of G. stictantha & some seed
of P. glabra. Then we went on past a dying glacier, over the
ridge to the right & down an awful scree to where Lumsden
had shot kuling before. A lovely day: fine all day. Out
from 7.0 till 3.0pm.

Bimbi La Camp
10th Sept. Halt. Stayed in camp. Rain most of the day, though
P. sikkimensis pantlingii 2568
never very heavy. Still no sign of our mail, which the Sanga
Choling people must be delaying, damn them.

SUMMARY:
French tourists arrived, forcing the party to clear half the bungalow while bird specimens were drying, and the author notes their early routine. At Changu Tsomgo on 11th May, coolies brought needed stores and mail, and Danong returned with news that his brother had gone to Yatung via the Jelep La. Two lamas lost two mules in deep snow, and help was requested from the Divisional Engineer as they arranged for their own mules and set off early.

CONTENT:
is another sahib at Karponang threatening to come up here today or tomorrow. I hope he won't, as there is none too much room, with birds lying about everywhere drying. Sky remained clear till 1.0 p.m., then fine hail started to fall again. 5.0 p.m. A couple, male and female, of French tourists arrived here about two, so we had to clear out of half the bungalow in a rush — rather a nuisance, as we had birds and all sorts of things lying about both rooms. They are just up on the usual tourist trip — to the Natu La and back — to see Tibet from the boundary. I'm afraid our habits are not likely to be similar: we get up at 4.30 a.m. and are in bed by 8.15 p.m. I'm glad Ludlow likes these hours: they certainly suit me best, and a great thing for us is that we save oil or candles.

11th May, Changu Tsomgo. Yesterday evening two coolies arrived with some much needed stores for us, and my mail. Danong returned this morning, having found out that his brother had gone on to Yatung over the Jelep La. The two lamas got over the pass with all except two of their mules. These fell and their loads were not found in the deep snow below. As the evening was beautifully clear, we sent word for our own mules to come up, and asked for some help from the Div. Engineer in charge of the road. At 5.0 a.m. it was still a lovely day, and we set off at 6.15 with much down

SUMMARY:
The writer describes playing a local stone-throwing game with Phuntshog (Pintso), some rifle practice, and issues with Lepcha assistants, deciding that Changu will return. On 29th May at Charithang they climbed to see a bird’s nest, collected a few birds, learned Tobgye will not arrive until 3rd June, planned to go to Damthang on the 1st, dealt with many ticks, and sent a large Meconopsis (imperialis) to Yatung after finding plants near the Kyu la not yet in flower.

CONTENT:
21

with Phuntshog (Pintso) and some other locals this afternoon. It is presumably quoits, but played with round flat stones, which are thrown about 15 yards. We then had a little rifle practice with the .22 rifle, which was much enjoyed. The Lepchas are not proving so good as we hoped. Danong is working well enough, but his young brother Changu is useless. D. produced tears and a story of the death of his daughter this afternoon, and said one of them must return. So Changu will go tomorrow.

29th May. Charithang. Rather a poor day, with rain on and off all day. I went a long climb up the hills to the North to the watershed to see a bird's nest. We found it but I missed the bird, probably a sun bird, and it never came back again, so I left the eggs. Collected a few birds on the way down. Heard that Tobgye will not arrive here till 3rd June, so we have asked for transport to go to Damthang as soon as possible, and hope to leave on 1st. The forest here is full of ticks, and I must have picked off over 50 during my outing. I would rather have them than leeches, of which there are none here yet. Sent back a huge meconopsis (imperialis) to Yatung, in case it will flower and seed there later. Found them near the Kyu la in fair numbers, but not yet out.

SUMMARY:
At Chichechar, the party searched in the evening for new game birds; Ludlow heard them and later saw one, while Pintso also saw one, yielding two skins for identification. Danong returned from Thijijitum with flowering magnolia, a rhododendron, and Meconopsis but no primula. The group then split, with Ludlow and Sherriff joining M. over the Bimbi La while the writer proceeded to do the Kingkor.

CONTENT:
Chichechar 12th June
Pr. prenanthoides 2126. P. alpina violacea 2128, Pedicularis corydaloides 2127, Lonicera cyanocarpa var. porphyrantha 2129. 89

to be new. Although there was a lot to do, we just had to go out in the evening, because Ludlow had been among the new game birds. He had not seen any, but heard them, as did Pintso, who saw one. So we all went up to the waterfall, and just before coming home at 6 p.m., Ludlow saw another one. Now we have two skins, enough to name it by. This one was found in quite thick Abies rhododendron forest. Danong returned from Thijijitum, with some quite good stuff, the magnolia in bloom, another rhododendron, Meconopsis, but no primula, which I had specially hoped for.

L. & S. Separate - S. to Chichechar - L. to Kyimdong Dzong.
Sieru
Bimbi La
P. bellidifolia 1801
P. bryophila var. jerdoniana 1895
Pedicularis oederi 1802

12th June. Chichechar. 12500', 8 miles. We parted today, Ludlow and Sherriff joining M. over the Bimbi La, while I came on to do the Kingkor,

SUMMARY:
Itemized payments and advances including dak runners and postmen at Trashigong, customs duty, coolies, luggage, and railway tickets via Sealdah and Siliguri, plus car, lorry, and other travel to Gangtok, Calcutta, Rawalpindi, and Srinagar. Personal disbursements include payments to Kuntip, Pintso, Danong, and Ahmad Sheikh, along with purchases such as a watch for the postmaster, sparklets, a Roorkhi chair, bacon, and cotton wool and flour.

CONTENT:
14.10. Pay for Trashigong Dak runners. x 40.

Pay Kuntip Rs. 70. x 70. Balance ex 2000 cash = 40
" Pintso Rs. x 250 " ex A. Sheikh adv. = 20
" Danong Rs. x 150

Additional to postmaster. Rs. x 58

Pay T'gong postmen 2nd month x 40 + A. Sheikh pay 270
P.M. K'khata for Customs duty on parcel. x 25 Coolies pay 240
Dak runners K'khata. x 20 510
Luggage Rangma x 207 4591
Servants tickets Sealdah. x 14 5101
Own tickets Siliguri. x 62 Ramzana 270
Pintso etc. " x 15. 5371

3 Boxes to Cooks. Calcutta x 7
Ahmad Sheikh advance for travel x 100
Car to Gangtok. x 60
Tickets to Calcutta. x 78.
Tickets to Rawalpindi. x 268
Lorry to Srinagar. x 60
Watch for Postmaster. 1524
930
2032
5 doz sparklets. 44 / 157
Roorkhi chair. 20
Bacon 23
Cotton wool & flour 11
1624.

SUMMARY:
Page records expenditures for provisions, tickets, excess luggage, wireless, and transport, including routes via Rangiya, Howrah, Pindi, Bombay, and the Diwangiri–Chungkar–Dewri stages. Payments and advances are noted for individuals including Ahmad Sheikh, Danong, Guba, Pintso, Tenduk, with sums handled via the Postmaster and Pradhan, and an item for Tsongpen.

CONTENT:
1
Curry Powder 10 Seers. 10
Saffron 12 Tickets to Rangiya 120
Advance. Spencers. 250 Excess Luggage Rangiya 45
Beads. 9 Cox's charges. 35
Harrods - £50. (38) 500 Postmaster. 200
Danong. Adv. 40 Lorry to Mala 20
Kit Pindi - Rangiya. Tomb. 153 Cash from Bank Rs 3500.
Ahmad Sheikh (incl Jan 40 Rs) 200 less to Pradhan 1000 = 2500
Guba (incl Jan 35 Rs) 150 Pintso & Tenduk Clothes. 40 + 20 60
Statesman 9 mths. 27 Diwangiri Bill. Selves 2/10/- Kashmir 1/10/- Pintso 2/4/- . 22/2 6-4
Kit Bombay. Rangiya 236 Diwangiri to Chungkar 77 Coolies 31-2
Wireless 200 Chungkar 7 to Dewri 13. 20-0
Spencers Balance 272 Cox & Kings Calcutta. Cal to Rangiya. 177
Lorry to Pindi 95 Dak runners T'gong 80 Servants 20 Notes. 100
Car " " 50 Danong from S. Choling own wires. 50
Tickets to Howrah. 280 Tsongpen (to be sent by Pradhan or P.M.) 25
Excess - 140
Wireless Batteries 50
Hats. 42
Toys. 10

SUMMARY:
Notes damp weather, farewell to Pimbo, Kuntip, and Danong while taking on Tenduk, with praise for the Bhutanese workers; Tenduk will help with Kusho until the party returns to Sikkim. Describes dry, treeless country, the Kuru Chu gorge near Lhakang and its several local names, steady progress by coolies including many women wearing the Lhassa head dress, and few notable flowers or birds. A margin note mentions reunion at Yatung on Oct 3.

CONTENT:
81

Disappointing, weather still inclined to be damp. Some rain & hills always in clouds. We parted with Pimbo & Kuntip & Danong today, but are taking on Tenduk with us. These Bhutanese have been perfectly splendid workers, on for anything at any time, never having to be told to do a thing. We shall miss them, but Tenduk is a good lad will help us a lot with Kusho till we get back to Sikkim. The country today is all dry with no trees except in the villages. The gorge of the Kuru Chu is a fine one even at Lhakang, but must be much finer further down, where it cuts right through the main Himalayan Range. It is impossible to find out the name of a river here. The Kuru Chu is known near Lhakang as the Thing Chu, further up more generally as the Lhobrak Chu. It also has other names - the Mo chi chu & so on, varying at most stages. The coolies were good today & kept up an average for the first 10 miles of about 2 1/2 m.p.h. About a third were women. The women here wear the Lhassa head dress, a triangular affair perched precariously on the head. No flowers of any interest seen, & hardly any birds at all, except one bunting, choughs (red billed) & pigeon of three kinds.

reunited on Oct 3 at Yatung. S. 105
B. 26. Gorge of Kuru Chu - down

SUMMARY:
The writer records taking a group photo as the party prepares to split, listing members and discussing conflicting reports about the Tobrang–Pang La route, with Golay warning it is impassable for mules and plans to send Petuk back with them. On the 10th they collected 19 birds and prepared potted flowers for travel, and on the 11th August they marched 11 miles to LAO (11,200'), aided by Tibetans when coolies were short, with misty weather and an owl collected.

CONTENT:
As our party will be splitting up soon, I took a group photo yesterday of everyone: there were F.L., self, Ahmad Sheikh, Rauzana, Ba Kingsa Puntso, Danong, Kusho, Tenduk, Kurtep, Menchung, Petuk (syce), Golay (dak), Dotila (HH's sepoy) and two mules of Torgues'. Reports of the road from Tobrang via the so-far unknown Pang La varied a great deal, but were generally that it was not too bad. But Golay, who brought our mail the other day, came from Singhi Dzong that way, and reports it to be awful, and quite impossible for mules. So we will have to send Petuk back with them when we can use them no further.

10th: Today it has rained off and on most of the day, but we have been out for some hours and collected 19 birds, many of which are valuable. Our collection of birds is probably even now worth £200, the amount promised by the Museum, which we have not yet accepted. I am taking three flowers from here in pots - a primula, an androsace and a gentian, but I fear they will hardly survive the bumping rough treatment of the road.

11th August. To LAO. 11 miles. 11200'. Fine till after arrival in camp at midday. Only 20 coolies turned up to time, but others arrived later, and we were saved by some Tibetans who came to the rescue. Mist low all day, and no views. No flowers, but shot an interesting little owl and a few other birds. Although