Showing 2 results

SUMMARY:
Ludlow and S.D. struggled to collect birds due to swarms of leeches. The party arrived on the 25th, met Price and Waters, heard of Williamson’s engagement and plans to bring his wife to Bhutan, and lunched with Tobgye (Raja S.T. Dorje) in Kalimpong, whose wife is sister to the Maharaja of Sikkim.

CONTENT:
Ludlow and S.D. tried to collect a few birds but badly handicapped by swarms of leeches which infest the jungle near here. He seeing L.D. dare not move off the stony path - if they did they were immediately attacked by myriads of leeches. Someone says that a bird which dropped about a yard behind the path way, they had to make a dash for the bird, retrieve it and flee back to the path to pick off the leeches. After they lost the specimen if they don't find them on trees.

or bird, so long as we do so carefully and near villages or monasteries.

We came here on 25th, to find the Prices here also Waters just arriving. Price is from the China Consular Service and seeing a few places on his way home on leave. Williamson surprised us by saying he was engaged and would soon be married. Moreover his plan is for his wife to come with him to Bhutan. We don't like that, but it can't be helped. I'm not sure that Tobgye will either, as it will mean an increased amount of transport required and all sorts of extra trouble. We lunched one day with Tobgye in Kalimpong. His wife is a most charming woman, the sister of the Maharaja of Sikkim, on whom we are calling today. Tobgye - Raja S.T. Dorje - is the nicest Oriental I have ever met and one can talk to him just like any British official. He and his wife both speak English very well. The drive here was over a very bad

SUMMARY:
Travel in rain from Karponang toward Gangtok is noted, alongside frustration with Williamson over inaction on Tibet permission. On 23rd May at Chumbitang, a well-attended wedding took place with ceremonies at the White Hall and lunch at the Residency, supported by the Maharani of Sikkim; Waters played the organ and the writer acted as official photographer.

CONTENT:
a little rain, below Karponang mist till near Gangtok, where it seems beastly hot and muggy. Mules came on well and were in by 1.0 p.m. Williamson has done nothing at all about our Tibet permission, and presumably will do nothing. He thinks of nothing and no one but himself, and his motto is undoubtedly 'Anything for a quiet life'; this attitude in any question one of complete inactivity for as long as possible.

23rd May. CHUMBITANG. 34 miles. The wedding was a great success, except that it rained all morning. W and I rode down to the White Hall accompanied by three bands. The Hall was beautifully decorated and was crowded with from 100 to 150 people. Waters was organist and played parts of three records on the gramophone. After it was all over we had an excellent lunch at the Residency at which about 40 people were present. Lunch was outside, under tents luckily, as it rained pretty hard. I had the Maharani of Sikkim and the Maharaja's sister, Tobgye's wife, on either side. They are both very nice indeed. The Maharani especially enjoyed the whole wedding, and took such a lot of interest in it. Three of her children and one of Tobgye's were train bearers and looked very well in Tibetan dress. She supplied spare cutlery, silver, crockery, chairs and anything that was wanted, including masses of flowers and the roses for the bouquet. Among other duties I had to perform that of official photographer, which was not too easy in the awful rush.