Showing 38 results

SUMMARY:
Notes problems with transport, dispatching Pintso and Tsongpen from Podzo Sumdo to Chinchas to begin a second Kongbo seed-collecting round, and leaving Migyitun for home. Short excursions around Bimbi La record collecting seeds of androsace, gentians, primulas, and widespread Cyananthus, including a halt at Bimbi La camp and work with Ludlow.

CONTENT:
Bimbi La

inducing them to turn up in time, or even at all. They have brought us up as far as our old camp, but will not go on any further. I hope they agree to stay the night & take us up in the morning. Pintso & Tsongpen left us at Podzo Sumdo & went on to Chinchas, where Pintso will send Tsongpen off on his second round of the Kongbo, to collect seed. I gave him 260 shao to see him through. I hope Pintso may also trace the mail, & send it up at once. We are now on our way home, having left Migyitun for the last time - without many regrets.

6th Sept. Fine, sunny most of the day. Went up toward Bimbi La, to the top of the rhododendron zone, to collect seeds of a lovely little androsace which was in flower here before, & got a good packet. It is not all ripe yet though. Found also a fine gentian - or Lomatogonium growing among masses of Cyananthus which covers the hillside. Only out for the morning.

Bimbi La camp

7th Sept. Halt. Fine. Went to Bimbi La with Ludlow. Saw Gentiana shetantha, & a fine blue one on the la which looks like G. ornata. Collected some seed of 1778, the nivalis primula found by Danang. The other, P. rotundifolia (orbicularis?) sp. was not ripe. The Cyananthus everywhere on the hillside looks a little different, so I collected

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:
At Chendebi, the diarist notes mostly fine weather, ripe buckwheat being cut, and a white Crawfurdia observed. The party splits: kit sent to Ritang, Pintso to Dungshinggang for taxation inquiries about Nepali sheep, and Tenduk collecting iris seeds near Punzor; plans are made to travel via the Rinchen Chu and Tang Chu. On 4 August, a halt at Chendebi is recorded; Primula seeds are unripe, a plant clump is taken to send by air mail, and Tsongpen goes to collect P. bracteosa roots.

CONTENT:
3rd August. Chendebi. 14 miles. Fine all morning: some rain in the evening.

This is the wettest month in Bhutan, but so far we have been very lucky. At Domkhar there was always rain, but only at night except on two days, when it rained from 11.0 am on, very hard. Since then we have only had afternoon or evening rain. The only interesting thing seen today was a white Crawfurdia 3504 (Tripleurospermum volubile 3504).

Here the buckwheat is ripe and is being cut. Fields of it on the hillside are rather pretty, the colour of bracken in autumn, only rather redder. From here we split up: My kit, except 10 loads, goes off to Ritang tomorrow: Pintso goes off to Dungshinggang in the Mangde Chu valley.

Tenduk is now down at Punzor, collecting, I hope seeds of an iris (Iris 3535), and will return tomorrow. Then he, Tsongpen and I go up the Rinchen Chu and back to Ritang by the Tang Chu, where Pintso will meet us. Pintso goes to find out about the Nepali sheep, how many there are and so on for taxation purposes.

4th August. Halt. Chendebi. Went to have a look at Primula 3052 (P. flagellaris 3052), but the seeds are not yet ripe, and will not be for a month. So I took a lump to carry along with us and send home by air mail. Kit has gone off to Ritang and Pintso to Dungshinggang. Tsongpen has gone to collect roots of P. bracteosa. (Aster sheriffianus approx 4000 3532)

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:
Notes on identifying Meconopsis 1613 and a small primula found by Tenduk with Lumsden in the Chickchar valley. On a halt day, Pintso is unwell; the party visits Chickchar, with Ludlow and the author exploring different routes, finding primula Nos. 1621 and 1614 common, and Paraquilegia in flower.

CONTENT:
I suppose it is well known. It is exceedingly common here.

We all found a Meconopsis 1613, which works out by Taylor's key to M. quintuplinervia. This I hardly think it can be - if only because of geographical reasons. It should be simplicifolia. A few other things of not much interest were found. The best of all was a little primula found by Tenduk, with Lumsden, growing up in or beside the snow, up the Chickchar valley. It is, as yet no beauty, pure white & has no stem visible, but I think it will grow that soon. One flower was seen pale lavender.

20th May. Halt. Pintso is not much better, still very sorry for himself. He must have an abscess somewhere in his jaw. All went round to Chickchar, a very pretty valley indeed. The village can be little if any higher than this place, & has some very fine snow peaks behind it. I went up the valley to the W. of the village & Ludlow up the main pilgrimage route. We both found primula No. 1621 growing beside 1614, & both are pretty common. Paraquilegia is in flower at last -

SUMMARY:
Diary notes describe travel from Chosam to Senguthi with observations on terrain and vegetation, including early-season flowers. Medical events include Danang receiving a third dose of treatment and Lumsden extracting Pintso’s wisdom tooth, which caused a difficult night. The party halted on the 17th and then proceeded to Yarap on the 18th.

CONTENT:
72

Chosam to Senguthi
16th May. Senguthi. 4 miles. B.P. 188.4 Temp. 48° Time 4.30 pm.
Ht. 13198'. Path keeps up the left bank, almost level.
Pass Chosam, which has 20 houses, at mile 1, where there is a bridge over the Tsari Chu. Keep level to mile 3 where the path drops to the big open plain of Senguti. Here the valley is quite open, some hundreds of yards across of flat rather boggy ground. The hills both sides are covered with trees, on the south face chiefly juniper & rhododendron, on the north face abies & rhododendron.
There are signs of a good many flowers coming, but not much up, only a fine Adonis 1600 (Adonis brevistyla v. sutchuenensis 1600), & a little Gentian 1603 (Gentian bryoides 1603). Meconopsis will be in flower in a fortnight or so. Danang had his 3rd dose, & Lumsden pulled out one of Pintso's teeth, a wisdom tooth, & an overdose of the local anaesthetic gave him a very bad night today. I hope he recovers soon.

17th May. Halt. Went up nala to the NW of camp, but saw nothing out, but a solitary rhododendron here & there. Fine with a short shower.

18th May. Yarap. 10 m. B.P. 190.1 Temp. 60° Time 3.0 pm. Ht. 12550'.

SUMMARY:
The party camps by warm small lakes near Dungshinggang, organizing searches for blood pheasant nests without success while noting the diarist’s recovery and the conditions of Tsongpen and Pintso. On 24 June they start early toward the Bl. Mountain, cross the Chuthangha, traverse steep hills in changeable weather, take bearings to Nabzi La and the Bl. Mt., but find little.

CONTENT:
essentially a high cliff ledge primula, growing among grass.
I am much better today, but still have a head and weak knees. Tsongpen started well, but was done by the time we reached camp. But I think he is improving slowly. Pintso seems alright. We are camped by a little lake, which is surrounded by land, is very warm for this height, the temp being 64° F. There are a lot of small lakes here. On the way up we had organized searches for blood pheasant's nests, but never found one, though we are pretty sure they were near us and had eggs. The locals say they breed later on Dungshinggang and that is certainly correct. None have their young out yet.

Dungshinggang S. of Nabzi La
24th June. Halt. A lovely morning, fine till 12.0, then a heavy shower, and after 3.0 heavy rain the rest of the day. I decided on an early start, thinking we might even go to the top of the Bl. Mountain. So we left at 4.30 am, and got back at 2.30 pm. We crossed the Chuthangha, BP. 186.4° Temp 59° Time 1.30 pm, and then spent our time going up and down over the most awful steep hills. But we really found very little. From the La, the bearing to the Nabzi La is 320° M and to the highest pt. of the Bl. Mt. about 143° M.

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:
The author considers Meconopsis 2531 to be Bailey's var. argemonantha and marks plants for seed collection. From 2–5 September, they halt near Nga La and Pang La, receive news of a dak from Tsona, recover and butcher a lost sheep, and record further hunting by Tsongpen, Dawang, and Tenduk; they then move via Migyitun to Bimbi La, photograph three lamas, and note coolie difficulties.

CONTENT:
L.P. 177. I think the white poppy we found the day before yesterday (2531) must be Bailey's var. argemonantha of which only the flowers and leaves are preserved. 155

The Meconopsis 2531 we think may be Bailey's var. argemonantha. I have marked a dozen plants for seeds.

2nd Sept. Halt. Camp above Nga La.
Pang La.
P. macrophylla 2538
P. rhodochroa 2539
G. prolata 2540
Last night was perfect, and today was again fine with no rain, but clouds coming up fast in the evening. Tsongpen shot two kuling females. Collected a few seeds, but found nothing of much interest. News came to Migyitun of a dak having been sent from Tsona. The lost sheep was found, brought up here, and within 5 minutes was in 4 pieces — one for Pintso and Co, 1 for the Kashmiris and one for us, with some odds.

3rd Sept. Halt. Nga La Camp. Mist all day and some rain. Dawang and Tenduk went out with the gun and got one more kuling, in good condition.

4th September. Migyitun. 9500' 5 miles. Rain in the hills all morning, mostly fine in the Migyitun valley. Dak said to be in S. Chöling, but nothing more known about it.

5th September. Bimbi La Camp. 11 m. 12500'. A fine morning, and hardly any rain all day. Three lamas turned up and wanted to pose for their photographs, so I took them in colour. Coolies are getting a bit difficult, and poor Pintso has a hard time.