Showing 4 results

SUMMARY:
The party crossed the CHAKZAM CHU by a bridge and ascended to the village of MUKTUR in heavy daytime rain that turned the path into a river. They were seen off by the Kazi, offered chang by locals, dispensed medicines, improvised an Oxo drink, were housed in a waterproof hut by Tibetans, and noted Rhod. rhabdotum flowering near Muktur.

CONTENT:
21
No.
steps, till at m 10 the (CHAKZAM CHU) is crossed by a
bridge. Thence along the R bank of this river nearly
level to m 10 1/2. Here a steep ascent for half a
mile begins & the last mile is level over several
shoulders to MUKTUR (map MOTOK). Muktur is a village
of 30-40 houses, & lies a good height above the river.
Dense jungle surrounds the cultivated area. // We left
at 6.0 am, & got in at 2.0. but the kit was not
all in till 4.30 pm. Heaviest rain we have had so
far in the daytime, & the path was just a young
river. The Kazi saw us off. He was very kind
indeed & most helpful. Then some men & maidens
produced chang on the way. Till we went, we
were asked for medicine, & besides genuine medicines,
we also gave Worcester sauce for stomach ache.
We were very hungry & thirsty when we got here,
& at last found 2 cubes of Oxo which we heated
up in an empty cigarette tin, filled with water.
It makes a good drink in such cases. The
Tibetans have built a more or less waterproof
hut for us here & we are quite comfortable.
1 1/2 miles short of Muktur, at the bottom of the
final ascent towards Muktur, I came across
more Rhod. rhabdotum in flower, & further on, at the

SUMMARY:
Notes on Primula and Meconopsis around Nyuksan/Nyaksung La, with messengers from Tawang and plans to go to Mago on 10 July. On 8 July at Sakden, the writer went with Danuong and a Kazi’s servant to Nyaksung La on the Mera road to bag specified Primula and Meconopsis numbers and pot seedlings, noting a scarce primula beneath overhanging rocks.

CONTENT:
18

Nyuksan La
Primula gambeliana (608), top, on the left under rhododendrons. A magnificent Meconopsis is also just below the basti, with Primula No 598 (P. waltonii). Its no. is 600 (Meconopsis grandis). There is also an interesting Primula (612) (P. strumosa), yellow, beneath the firs & rhododendrons short of the top. Danuong went up to a similar height on the Dirang Dzong road, & got very similar flowers. Messengers have come from Tawang, & all seems set for the next move to Mago, where we hope to go on the 10th July.

Nyaksung La
8th July SAKDEN. Went with Danuong again to NYAKSUNG LA, on the Mera road. Took one of the Kazi's servants, & put bags on the following: 598 Primula (P. waltonii) 6 Bags; 600 Meconopsis (Meconopsis grandis) 4 bags; 608 Primula (P. gambeliana) 5 bags; & 612 Primula (P. strumosa) 5 bags. This man is to return in the Bhutanese 8th month to collect the bags.

Megacodon stylophorus 633
Primula elongatoides 634
Primula bellidifolia 635

I have also potted the following seedlings: 598 (P. waltonii) - 4; 608 (P. gambeliana) - 4; 632 (P. strumosa) - 1; 635 (P. bellidifolia) - 1. The latter is an unknown Primula very like P. eburnea & growing in the same situation, under overhanging rocks. It was at the foot of the high cliff 500x short of the Nyaksung La on the Mera road, on the East side of the Pass & to the North of the road. The cliff is 200x away from the road. Only 5 specimens were seen, & all had last year's seed pods intact. These were collected. No more new flowers were seen. No 632 (P. strumosa) is a small

SUMMARY:
The diarist halts at Sakden and ascends toward the Nyuksang La, but cloud prevents views of northern snow peaks; the pass height is recorded. Gentiana amoena is abundant on the Meha and some Primula seed is collected, though many bagged specimens were eaten by sheep or yaks. The Kazi has tended the potted plants, most of which have survived.

CONTENT:
113

[Marginal note: Ludlow p. 149. The Nyuksang La is just a subsidiary pass leading from the Sakden valley into the Mera valley, the latter river emptying into the Gamri Chu above Phongme.]

...of the Meconopsis grandis, a wine-red Primula and perhaps the yellow one too, but I doubt about the blue one. The bags on the latter were all eaten by yaks. The Kazi has looked after the potted plants well enough, and all but two (a saxifrage) are alive.

20th October Halt Sakden. Another grand day, though there were clouds away to the North even early in the morning. I left Sakden at 5.20 and went up to the Nyuksang La. Left the ponies at the hut, and walked up to the North to a peak. But the clouds covered all the view of the snow hills to the north. Although it was very pretty, there was no chance of getting any bearings or even a useful photo. Then walked along the tops to the Nyuksang La, where I took the height (B.P. 187.7 Temp. 55° = Ht. 13766').

[Marginal note: Gentiana amoena 1001]
There were masses of that lovely Gentiana amoena found on the Meha (1001). The locals eat this, either when in flower or dead: it is cooked in ghee and said to be very 'sweet'. I tried to collect seeds up there and found some of Primula No. 602.

[Marginal note: Primula glabra 602]
[Note above text: Primula gambeliana]
The other one 608 (or 611) I could not find. The Kazi did not find the bagged specimens either. All have been eaten by sheep or yaks.

[Note above text: Primula strumosa]
No. 612 could not be found either. It had also been completely cleared by animals, but I have three bags of...

SUMMARY:
The diarist notes movements of people from Sakden to Phongmi and Rungsung and trade with Dirang, then halts at Taktu with a good morning after birds, mails sent and received, and a visit from the Kazi. A quoted letter from the postmaster at Kumarikhata reports the death of Mr. S. M. Lemarchand and mentions earlier mails from Bhutan; nights are frosty and chilly.

CONTENT:
119

The whole of Sakden moves down to Phongmi + Rungsung about now, or else they are busy exchanging their butter + yak produce for Indian corn from this side or Dirang.

28th
27th Oct. Halt Taktu. Had a very good morning after birds. Then prepared to send a mail off. Another mail arrived in the afternoon, with letters from Srinagar of 9th — pretty quick work. A grand day again. The Kazi came down in the evening + stopped here the night. There is just a touch of frost here at nights, + it is very chilly, with a breeze all night.

A letter from the postmaster Kumarikhata is so good, that I quote it:— "Dear Sir, I am very glad in receipt of your letter with the mails sent on 28th Sept from Bhutan I am enclosing the list of mails in which you will come to know everything. I am extremely glad that both of you are doing well in Bhutan + pray to Almighty God for your safe arrival at Kumarikhata. I am sorry to report to you untimely death of Mr. S. M. Lemarchand. After returning from Gauhati he proceeded England, but before his arrival at home he breathed his last breath. At last I beg to acknowledge receipt of one letter to Director General of Post + Telegraph in which I hope it will be good for the office as well"

[Marginal notes:]
Cine film
14 + 15 C
F Packs
4, 5 + 6
Contax
12 + 13
sent 28/10.