Showing 5 results

SUMMARY:
Entries for 1–2 May describe moving a short distance up the spur/ridge north of Lhalung through extremely dense forest, requiring continuous path-cutting and resulting in a foul camp with little water. Coolies were unreliable or refused to proceed, two men promised by Pintso did not arrive, and birds were scarce though tragopan and serow were heard; Ludlow and David suffered swollen hands from biting flies while Sherriff was away.

CONTENT:
seven or eight on my feet. But damdim (Simulium damnosum) flies are the worst nuisance here. They seem to be more poisonous than the Bantan ones. Both Ludlow & David have very swollen hands & wrists.
Sherriff away for 6 days.

1st May. Camp up spur to N. of Lhalung. 3 miles. Clouded but fine till 3.0 pm, then rain rest of evening. I'm afraid the local coolies are no better than the Moio ones. Two did not turn up. The others came early enough & were happy enough too. We asked all about the path. Yes, they knew it, or four or five did anyway, & we should get to the snow easily the second day. We should be in tragopan & monal country too. So off we went at 7.30. We reached camp - 3 miles and 2000 ft only at 1.0 pm. There is quite a good path as far as this, but beyond I could not find it, the jungle is very dense. So I had to consent to camp. When asked where the path was, then all just answered, 'We don't know, there isn't one'. I sent on five men, to cut a path for tomorrow, but fear they won't have done much, though they were out for four hours. Birds are remarkably scarce, since entering the dense forest, I have only seen phylloscopus & one sunbird. So things are not too bright. The two coolies who were to be sent on by Pintso, never turned up, even this evening, so loads are on the heavy side. The only flowers seen were two or three rhododendrons (R. nuttallii? lindleyi is common) which have already been collected. A bad day.

2nd May. Camp 2 m further up the Ridge N. of Lhalung. about 11000' Fine for a couple of hours, then rain most of the rest of the day. This is, I'm afraid, a wild goose chase. On the ridge there is nothing but dense forest, so dense that every step has to be cut the whole way. We took a good six hours for what is certainly not more than 2 miles. It is next to impossible to leave the ridge, as it is knife edge & very steep indeed both sides. However we came on, till the coolies refused to go any further. Then strangely enough we failed to find water on either side. After an hour's search a little was found, there we are in, without exception, the foulest camp I have ever been in. The day was brightened by the call of a tragopan, which we could not find, although we looked for a long time: and by the call of a serow, whose fresh marks we saw. He was only 50 yards away, but there was no hope of getting him. The coolies have never been up here, know nothing of the area & are completely ignorant of there ever having been a path. There has been though, & a Lopa has set snares for tragopan sometime this year. The Lpah once saw a small bird close to them - a Heteroxenicus - & two at once got out bow & arrows & tried to pot it, but missed. They go for anything apparently.

SUMMARY:
The diarist records a cable from Taylor about plans to arrive in Calcutta on April 2, then details travel from Kala to Gyantse with strong winds and dust storms, wildlife sightings and shooting, and use of the wireless. Mail reports from Wright Smith on the 1937 primulas, and upon reaching Gyantse they call on Richardson, Dr Morgan, Colbourne, Hudson, and receive a friendly visit from Tendong.

CONTENT:
NB read a cable from Taylor "Passed Doctor. Absence extended December. Arrive Calcutta April 2nd."
That is one thing now settled. Ludlow went out at the hot springs with his gun, and got 1 teal, 1 pintail and 1 mallard. I sent Punso out here with the .22 rifle and he hit 3 geese but got none. Very cold in the evening, clouded in the North.

3rd March. To Kala. 12 miles. A perfectly fine day. Even when we left at 7:30 the wind was very strong, and we finished in a filthy dust storm. Rham tso frozen all over this end, but a good many duck and geese seen. The river connecting the Rham tso and the Kala tso was quite dry, a most unusual thing. By 1:00 pm clouded all over. We had the wireless out last night, and it was as good as could be wished for.

4th March. To Samoda. 14 miles. Fine, with no wind while we crossed the Kala plain. Even in the evening there was little, a great relief after yesterday. We saw a big herd of kiang on the plain and got a telephoto cine of them. 18 gazelle were too nervous. Above Samoda at the springs were some duck, and one obliging solitary snipe. Ludlow and I had 3 shots at it with the catapult, then Tsompen got it on his second shot.

5th March. To Khangma. 14 miles. A beastly day, wind very strong, with dust storm. Tsompen shot a merganser, Ludlow missed 8 mallard with dust shot .410 and then got 3 partridges with one shot. Jill (dog) rather happier today and her feet not so sore. David has been feeling the height and wind, and having bad headaches, but he seems alright today and much happier.

6th March. Saugong. 14 miles. Fine day, cleared up late at night. Mail came in about 8:00 pm. Wright Smith has now settled all points about my 1937 primulas, with the possible exception of 3301 which he thinks is P. chasmophila. Seeds have germinated, and I expect he will wait till they flower. Saw more duck and partridge on the way and shot 1 partridge, when five burhel got up.

7th March. Gyantse. 15 miles. A very strong wind all day, which caused a dust storm all over the Gyantse plain. Arrived at 12 noon. Called on Richardson, Morgan the doctor (16 B.T.A.) and the two B.O.'s (O.C. 16th Detachment) Colbourne and Hudson. Tendong, now Jongpen of Gyantse, one of Ludlow's old pupils came to call on us, and was most friendly. He is very dirty to look at, but a good soul, and very...

SUMMARY:
The party marches from Kupup to Yatung over the Jelep La in heavy snow, with difficult mule transport and botanical notes on Primula gracilipes. In Yatung they deal with a customs issue over cigarettes, receive mail from Gyantse, trace missing kit sent from Ha, meet a Subedar, and dine with local contacts.

CONTENT:
...a few common orchids. Tseringpen wants to take a press tomorrow, in case we come across anything in the primula line.

24th Feb. Kupup. 13 miles. Fine in the morning, but clouded over by 10 am. The rest of the day there was a heavy snowstorm, with rain and thunder in the valleys. We had intended to stop at Gnatong, but snow was heavy then, and we thought we might not reach the pass next day, so went on. I walked all the way, and was very tired indeed when we got in, as the climb is from 6500' to 13000', with some up and down thrown in. Went to bed early with a splitting headache. Near Lingti Primula gracilipes was just coming into flower, but the scapes hardly showed at all. Cleared up after dark.

25th Feb. Yatung 18 miles. Very fine morning, though the valleys were full of cloud. We were a bit late in getting off, and transport reached the Jelep La about 10.30 am. Snow not very much, but an icy path down this side made the going very hard for the mules. Muleteers wanted to stop in Rinchengang, but we persuaded them to come on here, where they reached about 4.30. Found more Primula gracilipes (3580) on the way down. As soon as we got in, two people came to see us, so we could not have our tea, then Norbhu's son and the head clerk also came. The head clerk was more concerned about two loads of cigarettes which were among our muleteers' things. As there is a strict order against importing them, there was some trouble. We had promised the Khampa mule owners to take these up as our own. All our people seem fit and David is quite happy.

26th Feb. Yatung. Halt. Fine all day. Got a good mail, sent back from Gyantse. Spent the day in writing letters, seeing the Subedar of the Det. 1/15th Punjab Regt., and dining with Norbhu's wife and Charles Marbleu. In between we tried to find out what had happened to our kit which was sent on by tonga, that from Ha. Eventually heard from Phari that the Ha kit was there, but they knew nothing of any other loads. Sub. Maryam Singh is a great talker and we know most of his life history before we left. Dinner with Norbhu's wife was rather a trial, though she, Charles and Charles' fiancée are all nice. We had English-style

SUMMARY:
Field notes from Lhalung and Nyug La record observations on Rhododendron and Primula species, including diagnostic features and flowering behavior. Local river names around Lhalung are listed. Rhododendron xanthostephanum is noted as previously found by David under No. 3666.

CONTENT:
26a
Lhalung

3720. Rhod. edgeworthii bullatum? This seems to agree with R. bullatum, except for the pink flowers, more distinct on the lobes to base lines: 10 stamens: perhaps the size of the flower, which measured 3" across, even as in nature not pressed. It is common here, but on very high trees, & smaller at the top. A marked difference to all Edgeworthii Series is that the flowers are terminal, but only 1 flowered. X 1/5 Found a good many 2-flowered. No 3-fld.

N.B. Name of Main River at Lhalung is YARGYAP CHONG CHU, called usually, YARGYAP CHU.
" - side river passing camp is the NETSANG CHU.
" - river between Kangma La & Nyug La is CHACHURONG CHU.
" - W of Nyug La is CHUDI CHU.

3726. Rhod. xanthostephanum yellow. Found by David under NO. 3666. There mentioned as being a small shrub, but now seen to be 10-12 ft. Number label attached to tree.

Nyug La. 11th May.

3735. Primula Cortusoides Sect. lacerata = 3749. Nyug La. Specimens taken from low altitude, where flowers are nearly over. Shows the formation of bracts, in the same way as are formed on P. bracteosa. These begin when the plant is still in flower.

3736. Rhod. campylocarpum telopeum. Nyug La. Aff. R. campylocarpum. Very little of this was seen. It hardly seems to agree fully with any of the yellow flowered Thomsonii series.

3737. Rhod. micromeres. Nyug La. Flowers not yet open, but seems to agree with the description of R. micromeres. Little seen.

Note on Primula Normaniana: Flowers first seen all had the yellow eye. Now the eye varies a good deal. It seems that at first the eye is yellow, then turns either white, or very deep red.

3743. Primula Boothii gracilipes = 3671. Nyug La. This primula does not show any elongation of the scape just now. In fact the scape is hardly visible at all. The petioles have lengthened.

3744. Primula aff Bariensis porella = 3673. Nyug La. The leaves of this primula have increased a great deal in size. The color of leaves remains much the same, the upper surface being a little less red tinged. A magnificent primula common in a very limited area. Flower heads up to nine counted.

3745. " " " porella " "

P.T.O

SUMMARY:
Notes at Lo La include plant collections and a notable new Primula, with complaints about a soaked camp; David remarks on heavy rain. The following day details a march from Nyugda La to Karchung La through dense forest with rhododendrons and primulas, a hazardous descent on notched logs, late and unhappy coolies, a hut taken by Molo people, and unsuccessful attempts to obtain monal and tragopan despite sightings.

CONTENT:
Lo La. April 25. R. hookeri 3652 & 3655, ciliatum 3654, Phaeodopum 3656, megeratum 3657, Stachyurus himalaicus 3661. Daphne bholua 3658.

Chenogone wretched. The best find was a new petiolarid primula, No. 3648. But P. Normaniana is, when seen at this time, a most beautiful thing. Both are however easily beaten by P. cortusoides Sech, No. 3649 (P. laciniata), which is really a most beautiful one; other flowers, though like P. Normaniana, are much bigger.

Camping ground awful, everything soaking wet too. David is having his eyes opened. Today (27th) he was saying "what an awful place for rain". I agreed, but had to tell him that the rain would not start till after another month or a half.

Nyugda La to Karchung La
26th April. Camp near Karchung La. 8 miles. Fine morning, clouded by 10 am. Rain at 2.0 pm & most of the evening. After crossing the Chudi Chu, the ascent is steep. The hills are covered with dense forest the whole way. Tsuga (Brunoniana?) is a common tree here, & grows to a great size. Rhododendrons abound, but are yet not in full bloom mostly. Two primulas found, P. Boothii, No. 3671 (P. gracilipes), a really magnificent one, 3673 (Primula porecta?). The latter is a grand sight when growing in close clumps as we saw it about 1000 ft below the Nyugda. Over the La the descent is at first easy, then worse than ever, very steep indeed, & down notched logs the whole way. A good deal of repairing to the road had been done to these, but even so they were awful, the path is most tiring. The coolies however are very sad, many were not in camp till after 5.0 pm. We went on further than the coolies expected & they did not like having to come on. They are a very independent lot, more than once muttering of dropping the loads & refusing to go further, as they did yesterday. A Maddenii rhododendron, R. lindleyi 3667 (R. Nuttallii?) was the finest we saw. It really is a most magnificent sight when in full bloom, & like many others of the section, it has a wonderful scent. Ludlow saw some tragopan but failed to get one. Ramzana shot one yesterday, but it was never found. We have had very bad luck with monal & tragopan, having seen quite a number now, but not having got one of either yet. We had a late evening & a perfectly awful camp. My tent was in a bog, Ludlow's on a most uneven bit of ground, with just room for his bed to be put up more or less evenly. A hut had been built here on the only even good bit of ground, but this was pinched by some Molo people, & our own servants used the half we kept clean for them. A tiring day. We could have been in by 2.0 pm, & so saved the coolies, but they were almost pushed up the last mile of 1000 ft ascent, & came in very late.

Nyugda. Ludlow 44. "We are unlucky with monal & tragopan; the net result of 2 years pursuit of them so far is one monal & one tragopan."