Showing 53 results

SUMMARY:
At Tso Bunang Lake Camp, the writer questions K.W.’s purported new plant and notes a yellow rhododendron; Tenduk arrives unwell and is found to have gonorrhoea contracted in 1934 at Cyanbe. On 18 August they remain in camp developing photos and repairing gear amid mixed weather. On 19 August the writer explores west while Danzing collects notable gentians and a delphinium from the Changchu La toward Senguti, and Ludlow secures a second specimen of a new bird.

CONTENT:
148

K.W.'s new one, though I have my doubts, 2078: a yellow Rhododendron 2085 (R. wardii 2085). Tenduk arrived with fever and not looking at all well. After a lot of talk we found he had got gonorrhoea, contracted while with us in 1934 at Cyanbe. It is not too bad, and hope will answer to treatment.

Tso Bunang Lake Camp
18th August. Halt. I stayed in camp all day and developed photos, mended boxes and repacked stores. Each day we have had some rain and some sun, always overcast.

Tso Bunang Lake Camp
19th August. Halt. I went up the hills to the west, but saw little but what appears to be a gentian very like Waltoni (See Aug. 20), No. 2097 (Gen. tianshanica), and one which may be G. stictantha again 2099 (G. przewalskii 2099). I sent Danzing up the valley leading to Senguti, to a pass called the Changchu La. It usually rains up there, so I thought it might contain some different varieties. It did, and he got a fine gentian, which I hope may turn out to be new. It is a white one with blue markings outside, and very long lobes which open right out, 2092 (G. otophora 2092). He also got another gentian which we have not yet seen, 2095 (Lomatogonium deltoideum 2095), and a pretty delphinium, of a very rich deep blue purple colour, 2096 (Delphinium viscosum). Ludlow got a second specimen of a new bird today. It looks very much like a

SUMMARY:
The diarist reflects on gentians, noting color variation of G. amoena between dry and wet zones, and describes the variable weather around Tso Bunang. At Tso Bunang Lake Camp, they halted as Danong and Tenduk returned from the Tahar La trip with supplies, including gentians from the pass such as Swertia handelii and G. nankeenis.

CONTENT:
Przewalskii 2015 2033
nankeenis 2054 - Swertia 624
otophoroides 2073 147
Otophara 2092
algida 2098
2063 orange-white

Gentians
Last night I was thinking of the gentians we had seen, and where we had seen them, and it certainly appears that all the creamy ones come from the dry zone, or at any rate the transition zone. Wilkie describes G. amoena as light colored, but sometimes blue all over. As far as I have seen, it is common up here, it is always white or cream in the dry zone, or N. of the main range. We collected it twice S. of the range, in the wet zone, once at the Ma-ha once at Sanden, in each case it was a beautiful rich blue.

Tso Bunang is a curious place. All yesterday the S. lake was in shadow, the E. side was in rain, our camp half in sun with a little rain, and the hill to the N. at the end of the lakes in sun all day.

Tso Bunang Lake Camp
17th August. Halt. Found nothing here. Danong and Tenduk came back from the Tahar La trip. They brought some food stuff.

Among the best were three gentians from the top of the pass.
Swertia handelii G. nankeenis
20

SUMMARY:
The diarist notes abundant P. rotundifolia near Taktsang and decides to cut across rather than go to Potrang. An officer in the Tibetan army from Lhasa, met at Tama La, initially questioned the diarist’s presence on the route but ultimately supported the party and reprimanded some coolies; he questioned Tenduk about the diarist and departed early for Potrang.

CONTENT:
...been pretty hard at it since leaving Chienchar. The P. rotundifolia are in masses near here, and there are lots of bellidifolia too, but none of the red ones. I have decided not to go to Potrang but to cut across from here.

22nd June. TAKTSANG. 4 miles. Approx 13,500'. Late in the evening an officer in the Tibetan army from Lhasa, who is on the pilgrimage, arrived at Tama La. I sent him tea and cake, and he came and called. At first he was a bit worried about my being on the 'kinglam' and thought I had no passport, and he asked my name. But eventually he was quite happy about everything. Some of the coolies - not the Chienchar ones, had been at him, so I heard. However he told them off pretty good and proper and said there was to be no nonsense, and that they were fairly to run over the pass with my stuff. He stayed till nearly dark, then I went and saw him, and came back to dinner at 7:30. He asked Tenduk all sorts of questions about me. One was, what were all those flowers for? Tenduk told him I took them home and put them up as decoration on the wall. He went on at 5:30 this morning to Potrang and we arranged to

SUMMARY:
The diarist recounts a shooting outing near Gyantse with Henlin and Worth, marked by mishaps and a listed bag. At SAKANG, they describe comfortable staged travel, leaving Kusho behind and continuing with two servants and Tenduk, with clear weather, views of Gyantse, and harvest scenes en route to O. Sowgon.

CONTENT:
a game again. We were much amused to see Henlin & Worth together. Worth, although kind to us, is a fool, & a very typical I.C.S. man. He has most annoying ways, which are bound to get up against people in an out of the way place like Gyantse, at 13000 ft. Yesterday we induced all of them to go out shooting with us, we having got permission from the Kengchung. It was great fun really, & the fun was added to by Worth, who knew neither the country nor anything about shooting, & by Henlin, who has done no shooting before, letting off his gun & peppering the syces, & thereby making Worth furious - all very funny. Henlin is an enormous man 6' 4" & very broad indeed. He has a voice & a laugh you can hear a mile away. - Bag. 6 snipe 5 golden plover. 2 garganey, 1 black necked crane.

25th September. SAKANG. 13400' 15 1/2 miles. To O. Sowgon. Travel here is the acme of luxury with a bungalow at each stage, where everything is kept. We therefore left Kusho behind, & now only have with us our two servants & Tenduk. Today was a bright clear morning, clouding over at midday, & Gyantse looked very pretty when we left early this morning. The crops have ripened very quickly since we arrived, & now harvest is in full swing. It is an unexpected sight to see men & women, all strapped to the waist, cutting the barley. One doesn't somehow imagine a place this

B. 32. Gyantse from the bridge: A woman carrying water

SUMMARY:
Halt days near Shing-itun with Danang and Tenduk exploring a valley to the southwest, where a yellow primula was found above a bridge. The next day the author revisited via the right-hand valley to Champa Phé and a higher thang, noting a wren’s nest, abundant Paraquilegia, other primulas including possible P. sapphirina on west-facing cliffs, and that Lumsden’s white primula was already in seed. Weather included rain on the first day and fine conditions on the second.

CONTENT:
83

Rhod. thomsenii var. pallidum 1728, 1730.

29th May. Halt. Danang & Tenduk went up the valley SW of Shing-itun, keeping to the W of the village. At the top of the hill seen from camp, the valley divides in two. They crossed the stream & went into the Southern valley. Here they found a yellow primula 1732 [P. jucunda sp. nov. 1732], a good mile above the bridge. It is a fine valley. Rained part of the day.

30th May. Halt. A fine day. I went up the same way as Danang & Tenduk yesterday, as far as the bridge on the ridge. But this time we took the R hand valley, just above the bridge it opens out into a fine thang, called Champa Phé, probably about 12000'. Above this there is another small thang, with a hut, where we found a wren's nest. On the rocks Paraquilegia [Calderia macrophylla] grows in profusion, & both Roylei & the purple primula. Above this again, to the left a bit, is a valley full of avalanche snow. We went up this for some way, & on the cliffs to the R hand side going up — West — we found P. sapphirina? [P. flabellifera 1737]. It was growing on almost perpendicular cliffs, which were damp & open to the sun. Lumsden's little white primula 1644 [Vernicosa 1644], was already in seed. It is a poor thing. No flower to speak of, very short lived. Another...

SUMMARY:
Notes seeds collected at Shagam La and Tama La (specimen numbers 2570–2572). At Bembi La Camp on 11 Sept., the diarist explored a nearby valley and nala, noted a delphinium and gentians amid heavy rain, and decided to wait for rhododendron seeds. The page sets revised plans and routes for Danong and Tenduk, including movements via Chayul, Tsona, Tawang, Sakden, Mera, Pintojong, and a later rendezvous near Dirangdzong.

CONTENT:
Shagam La & Tama La. 11th Sept. Seeds of:—
P. nyasifolia subsp. jorandrum 2570. P. iocossa 2571.
P. carvana 2572.

Bembi La Camp
11th Sept. Halt. Went up the valley, then to the West to the nala where
there is a small lake. Found nothing but a delphinium, but I
saw there Danong's white gentian of the Chang Chu La. The Chiram
gentian also is nearly in seed. Rained all day, hard in the
afternoon. We think that it will be advisable to wait for seeds
of rhododendron, having taken all the trouble to find them. So
plans are altered & dates now are for Danong & Tenduk to
stay in the Lo La - Langong area till 20th Oct. Then they return
to Chayul meeting me there about 2nd Nov. In the meantime I
will remain in the Lung-Kashong La area from 2nd Oct to 2nd
Nov. Then together we go down via Tsona to Tawang, Sakden
Mera & Pintojong. Danong I hope will manage another trip
from Tawang up the Nyam Jang Chu to the Sang La, Chukar,
Me La, Trashiyangsi & so to Pintojong to catch us all up in
Dirangdzong about 27th Nov, when we

SUMMARY:
Travel past yakherd huts at Sezi to Omta Tso, where a camp could be made. Despite foul rain and wind making photography difficult, primulas were collected and photographed, with abundant plants near Thita Tso and difficult cliff-face specimens that even Tenduk struggled to reach; P. hopeana was massed at camp.

CONTENT:
P. macrocarpa 3385
Mec integrifolia 3386
Lilium elatum var humile 3388 Prim macropetalum 3389.

space where there are some huts, used by yakherds, at m. 3. This is
called Sezi, the valley comes to an abrupt end here. Beyond this
the river is seen falling almost sheer for 500 ft. or so. The path winds
up on the left bank, under a cliff and then up to the Omta Tso at
m. 4. The Omta Tso is about 80x long and 40x across. A camp
can be made here, and there is some rhododendron for fuel. // I
spent the day in alternate cursing and rejoicing. Cursing the
weather, which was really as foul as anything could be, and rejoicing
in the flowers, especially primulas: rejoicing in their beauty or
newness, and cursing because photography on a day like this is really
very trying. Most exposures for colour were 10-15 minutes, in pouring
rain, with a wind, and under two umbrellas and various people trying
to keep wind off the flowers and rain off the camera. However it was
a good day: any day must be good when one gets primulas like
Nos. 3383 and 3384. The former just covers the hillside on the
shores and above, of Thita Tso. The latter was hard to get,
only on the most sheer cliff faces, where even Tenduk could
hardly reach. In fact we only got enough to press. There is lots
more, but it will be a job to get seed, unless the cliff is quite
dry. Here at camp P. hopeana is in masses.

SUMMARY:
Movements are recorded near Lung, with Lumsden and Tenduk exploring a southern valley, Tsongpen a southeastern one, and Pintso reporting a steep climb and descent in the Char Chu gorge; despite a reportedly reasonable route, the party decides to return to Charme via Chayul. Ludlow collects Suthora fulvifrons and rhododendrons, while the diarist notes an early start, a Lopa path possibly leading to Kushung La, and dense mixed forest.

CONTENT:
Lumsden & Tenduk up the valley South of Lung itself. Tsongpen himself up a big valley to the South East of camp. Pintso reports a climb of about 1500 through the gorge of the Char Chu, very steep, & an equally steep descent again. Otherwise the route is supposed to be pretty reasonable, but we have decided to go back to Charme. It seems silly to do so as Charme is 11 miles from here, will take us 8 days going back via Chayul. Ludlow got some Suthora fulvifrons, saw a good many rhododendrons & some other flowers. I had an excellent day, & a long one. Left camp at 5.30 & got in just after 2.0 pm. The first 1300 ft or so was up a burnt hillside, which helped a lot. Then I was lucky in finding a Lopa path through the bamboo. This must I think eventually lead to a pass, perhaps the Kushung La. The jungle is pretty dense, consisting of bamboo & rhododendron, birch, fir, pine & larch. The fir looks like Abies Webbiana again. We found eight more rhododendrons, some of which are particularly fine. The prettiest I thought were Rhod. fulvum 1383 with a nicely spotted upper half, & a blush pink flower: a fine

SUMMARY:
Notes several rhododendron specimens (1385–1390) and a primula (P. whitei) collected around 12,500 ft, including a reference to an earlier Sanden Mera specimen. Danung will go higher tomorrow to search for more, and Tenduk found a yellow primula; a brief sighting of tragopan is mentioned. The party intends to move on toward Tsari soon.

CONTENT:
57

big cluster of pale pink flowers, each on a long pedicel, a magenta patch at the base, 1385 (Rhod. hodgsonii): an almost equally big one, rather mauve pink when fully open, 1386 (Rhod. preptum): a beautiful deep crimson tree 1387 (Rhod. erosum), which looks like a barbatum series. The most delicate of the lot 1390 (Rhod. sherriffii), a bell shaped flower, with umbels of 3 or 4 flowers, of a very deep carmine colour (P. whitei). We also found the primula which had been found, withered, near here. It was still in full bloom at about 12500 ft, and turned out to be our old friend of Sanden Mera, No 1168. I collected it under No. 1388 (P. whitei).

Very likely there are more flowers higher up, and Danung will go up tomorrow to see what he can find.

I also saw, just a fleeting glimpse, what I think were tragopan, but could not get a shot at them.

There must be a good many about though, as I heard them calling. One could stay here quite a long time, but Tsari is our aim, so I think we should get on there as soon as possible now. Tenduk found the yellow sikkimensis primula again, just a few specimens of it.

SUMMARY:
Notes successful collection of several primulas (including from Tsari La) and other plants, with roughly 150 specimens and some seed, though access to Lo La was denied and the Tsari route was difficult due to deep snow. At Chuchar nothing was obtained, perhaps due to the headman; Danang remarked a 1 Sept departure would have been better. The Dzongpen seeks a Mauser pistol license via R.B. Norbu, and the Kyimdong Dzongpen was very helpful; both collectors seem fit.

CONTENT:
Ramzana's blue primula had no seed, gone over the Lo La
they could not get as they were not allowed over there.
Otherwise I think they have done well. Ludlow's yellow
primula, the almost black one, the reddish violet sikkimensis
from Shugden & the yellow which we hope is KW's
new one, from the Tsari La, are all collected. They have
brought a number of plants too, which may remain alive,
on the whole I think they have done very well. But as yet I have
not had time to see what they have got. Both seem fit.
The Bimbi La was very deep in snow & snow was down to
Chosam; so the Tsari part was very difficult. At Chuchar
they got nothing, but perhaps that was the fault of the
headman. It is interesting to hear that rhododendrons were
more than ripe, & that Danang says if they had left us on
1st Sept, it would have been better. Altogether they seem
to have about 150 specimens, with seed, some of which of
course, I also have. The Dzongpen is very keen to have a
Mauser pistol, & I have said I will speak to R.B. Norbu
about a license. The Kyimdong Dzongpen was very good
indeed to them. Tenduk was impressed to show how a cake