Showing 2 results

SUMMARY:
The diary records medical aid to many locals, hunting and bird observations near Tonse and Saman, and a major forest fire near Tonse Dzong filling the valley with smoke. After halts and a cold, windy lake crossing to Be, the writer notes help from the local headman and visits nearby iron mines, describing the shaft and a small blast furnace and taking ore samples.

CONTENT:
57

Threatening looking. Half the population came today for medicine. There were about 20 in the morning, followed by 60 after lunch. We did not go out today. Lahu got 3 geese, 1 at the Tonse and 2 near Saman.

6th Feb. Halt. Went upstream again towards Tonse Dzong. Last night the forest on the hill near the Dzong had been set on fire and was blazing all day today. The whole valley was filled with blue smoke, visibility very poor. We did not quite reach the Dzong. I saw 3 kingfishers, and shot two. The little ringed plover I got the other day are paired off and apparently breeding. Saw a few geese - about 30 mallard. The kingfishers are I think only the second we have seen in SE Tibet in all our trips. Once we saw one near Charme (Sanga Choling). There are undoubtedly fish in the lake, as there are a number of goosander and some cormorants always to be seen. The locals say they cannot catch fish in winter, as the water is too clear and the fish see the hooks.

7th Feb. Halt. Stayed in camp. It is getting very warm nowadays, as the max. temp shows. The whole valley is now filled with blue smoke, the fire at Tonse continues.

8th-9th Feb. Halt.

10th Feb. Be. Cold and a strong wind up the lake. We took 2 1/2 hours in the double boat to reach here, and it was very cold indeed. The Dzongpon's 'tsap' refused to come at the last moment.

11-12 Feb. Very cold all day, but gradually clearing up. Local headman is a good soul and helps a great deal in getting our supplies.

13th Feb. Went up to the iron mines, about 3 miles above Be, and 200' up from the lake. The shaft goes into the hillside at an angle down of about 10°. It is 40-50' long and does not appear to be used much. I took samples of the ore. It is smelted at the same place. The blast furnace is a hollow about 6 ft x 3' x 3', with two hollow holes and a hole in the roof.

[Diagram labels:]
hole for smoke
holes for bellows
this part bricked up when full of ore and charcoal. Iron when smelted goes to bottom and is then taken out.

SUMMARY:
Entries for early February describe halts near Laka, arrival of loads, and cordial interactions with locals who report oppression by soldiers and taxes to Kanam. The author notes bird observations and hunting attempts, mentions an iron mine near Chara, sends Lahu to search for game, asks the Tonse headman for Crossoptilon, and records geographic details around Makutang, Sibhe La, and Temo Channa.

CONTENT:
...their houses and beat them up. But others are unpopular: taxes also have to be paid to Kanam; why that should be so I don't know when Kanam is not here.

1st Feb. Halt. Clear at first and very cold. Only 15 loads came yesterday. The rest arrived about 3:00 pm today. Lahu and Balbahadur were left behind for the day. Locals here seem to be glad to see us. They are outspoken about 'zulm' here, chiefly by soldiers. Laka headman's son is a nice lad. He says there are lots of 'Chaugai', also 'kap', monal and blood pheasant. I am sending Lahu up there in a day or two to look.

2nd Feb. Halt. Cloudy and pretty cold, but improving.

3rd Feb. Halt. Clear and beautiful day. We went up the spur East of Laka and had a fine view of the lake and silted up bed, which a local says is covered with water in summer. Locals are all nice. They come and talk and offer to do anything wanted without thought of money. All headmen from round about have come in, with presents. There is an iron mine up behind Chara in the hills, said to be better than the Be one. It can be reached by a path and one can get there and back in a day. Crossoptilon are said only to be near Tonse. I have asked the Tonse headman to get me one or two and he says he will.

4th Feb. Halt. Clear all day. Went up to Makutang. Saw a number of geese, missed three sitters. Also for the first time saw some waders, got 2 out of 3. There were a number of mallard too up near Makutang with the geese. I saw marks of one crane, which the locals say occasionally come here. There is a small 'tru' near Tonse, but in summer this does not function, is replaced by a 'dring', the rope of which is made of bamboo. This bamboo is said to come from 1 day's march upstream. This shows that there is more rain up there. Lahu was in the hills above Laka today. He found 3 small clumps of small bamboo there too, but says there is very little. The nala from the Sibhe La does not come down to Temo Channa, but comes in about a mile or 1 1/2 miles to the East of the Channa fan. It is a very steep sided gorge.

5th Feb. Halt. Clear till evening. Clouds come up most evenings now, but they aren't very...