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LSH/1/1/4/1/169 · Part · 1933-10-19
Part of The Ludlow & Sherriff Collection

SUMMARY:
Diary entry from Thang describing a clear day’s march avoiding the Tun La by going down-valley and up to the Rala La, noting snow conditions, frozen lake, and wildlife. Seeds of gentian (no. 2006) and other seeds were collected, and birds were shot and skinned; blackbirds were seen. Plans to arrive on the 8th with transport on the 9th are mentioned, and the Tsonpen is unwell.

CONTENT:
high ones tomorrow, and then only remain the passes on the way from Tsona to Tawang. Pintso has been warned that we will arrive on 8th and hope will have transport ready for the 9th without our having to wait.

7th November. Thang 14,000' 13 miles. Another perfect day, but a few clouds beginning to come up this evening. Left at 6:30, in at 2:00 pm. Yaks went very well indeed. Temp. last night down to 8°F, but wind was very slight all night. Instead of going over the Tun La we went straight down the valley to m 1 1/2 where we turned up the nala leading to the Rala La, and met the Tun La road at m 4. The N face of the Tun La was very thick with snow. Collected a few seeds of gentian 2006, that little beauty first seen on the Trakan La. Also a few other seeds. Shot 1 snow cock and skinned it, and two partridges in perfect plumage and skinned one of them. Tsonpen not too well in the tummy. I think we'll have to halt a day somewhere, though I feel as fit as a flea and have walked everywhere since 4th October. Rala La almost free of snow, only a little on NW side. Lake nearly frozen over this side of pass. A few blackbirds seen as usual here.

LSH/1/1/4/1/153 · Part · 1933-10-19
Part of The Ludlow & Sherriff Collection

SUMMARY:
The diary records a halt with fine weather, Tsonpen’s recovery, collecting G. Waltoni seeds, paying off coolies, and concern about snow on the Drichung La and Le La while planning to reach Chayul to meet Tenduk and Danang. The next day brought strong winds, continued seed searches including Ceratostigma, and frustration that many seeds (Primula, Meconopsis, Rhododendron) were eaten by bugs.

CONTENT:
...been bad enough for that. We got a pretty good collection of ripe seeds of Gent. Waltoni, but otherwise nothing.

29th October. Halt. Fine all day, but clouded in the morning: much new snow near the Kashong La. Tsonpen is much better today, & should be fit by the morning. Collected two more packets of G. Waltoni. Paid off all coolies at the rate of 3 shao a day. I am now anxious to get to Chayul, & meet Tenduk & Danang & hear how they have got on. There is a lot of snow up the Drichung La range, & I hope there has not been too much on the Le La. The gyunpo says the Drichung La is never closed, but sometimes after snow, they cannot cross it for a few days.

30th October. Kap. 8m. A beautiful morning till 11.0, then clouded over snow on the hills all round. A very strong cold wind blowing up the valley. Got a few more G. Waltoni seed, searched for Ceratostigma seed. But we could only find four seeds. Every bush has been attacked by some bug & all seeds eaten, most annoying. I wonder if this year is specially bad that way, because nearly all seeds have been eaten, Primula, Meconopsis & worst of all, Rhododendron.