Showing 5 results

SUMMARY:
The diarist travels from Changphu to Chumkarah and on to Pinshogong and Hach, crossing the Bhutan–Tibet boundary near Jangphu, aided by mules from the Trashigang Dzongpon. They collect more Albizzia sherriffii seeds, note fruit sent by the Dzongpon, observe otters, visit a new Dzong, and receive a warm welcome from Dzongpon Dopola while mail arrangements via Basu Pradhan remain unresolved. Weather is noted as improving after rain, with hot conditions in the valley.

CONTENT:
To Changphu
16th November, JAMGPHU. Rain yesterday evening and last night. Fine and bright today. Changed transport twice, but everything ready for us. It is a long climb up from the bridge to Jangphu, the last 2 miles being more or less level. Three mules were sent to meet us, but only for the level stretch, so we all had a good sweat. Hills much drier here, being barer and more cultivated. The boundary of Bhutan with Tibet is crossed 300 yards W of Jangphu — a small very insignificant little valley. Oranges I'm glad to say are ripe, or near enough so to be eaten, and are very good after a climb like today's.

To Chumkarah
17th November, Chumkarah. Clouded and a little rain at night: fine all day. We are getting almost too civilized now. People turn out to meet us, tea is produced by the roadside, and camping grounds are prepared. I would rather just be allowed to wander along. However it is nice to have the Trashigang Dzongpon's mules here to help us on our way. I have hardly ridden at all since we left Kalimpong in Feb. — only on 3 or 4 days for a short while. But here it is hot, and a mule will be very nice to have. Changed transport once again today.

I could not find the original tree of Albizzia Sherriffii, although I recognized the place, but took more seeds again today, so surely should have it by now. The Dzongpon sent some pears, bananas and oranges, which are just what the doctor ordered for this hot valley. I hear that there is still no mail in Trashigang, so again our arrangements have gone wrong, though why I cannot think. I wrote to PM Kumarikata Basu Pradhan in August, and Tobgye has forwarded our letters to the latter.

To Trashigong Dzong
18th November, Pinshogong. Fine and very hot. On the way, I spotted three otters having a great time in the river, always keeping together, and hunting for a few minutes, then joining up on to the hot sandy beach and rolling and playing about. Owing to a cliff I could not get very close, but took a tele-cine picture of them. Went and saw the new Dzong, which is a fine building and seems well designed. Then came on here about 3.0 pm, for a very warm welcome from the Dzongpon Dopola. Rained pretty hard at night.

19th November, Hach. Fine all day. Stayed in camp, and talked to the Dzongpon. He says the same

SUMMARY:
Notes discussions with H.H. on a new treaty affecting Bhutan, mention of Tasho Jigme’s freedom to travel, and soldiers sent up the Bumthang road to collect flowers including Prim. bracteosa, a Magnolia, and a Daphne. On 8th April they watched Bhutanese dancers and later hosted H.H. for a long session reminiscing about Calcutta and P.O.'s Gould, Williamson, Bailey, and Bell; letters from Kalimpong reported Ludlow’s departure and Norman’s sale of Glenulli.

CONTENT:
almost 300." I hope something may be done, because certainly already many lakhs of rupees worth of damage has been done in the last 30 years or so. H.H. was undoubtedly interested, & doubly so as the new Treaty, although it promises 5 lakhs of cash annually to Bhutan, also says this may be stopped at any time if the Treaty is not kept. This sounds like a convenient loophole. We also talked about Tasho Jigme, & H.H. said that he could travel where he liked in Bhutan. I still hope to have further talks, as H.H. seems to like it. H.H. sent three soldiers up the Bumthang road to see what flowers they could get, & they brought back Prim. bracteosa, a Magnolia & a Daphne that were interesting.

8th April. Our time here has not all been lazy. H.H. has entertained us fully & we have entertained him too. We were down on 6th to watch Bhutanese dancers, male & female, & the next day we had H.H. up for a good long session, 1.0pm till 5.30. He was then in great form reminiscing, mostly about his Calcutta visit & various doings of P.O.'s Gould, Williamson, Bailey or Bell. Mostly he talks of Bailey, of whom he certainly has the highest opinion. He would very much like to see Bailey again, & thinks he may come here sometime yet. I know Bailey is anxious to come, & if he does, he will get a welcome. We have not bothered much about flowers, but took a few more yesterday from round about, including Albizzia Sherriffii (18657), which is a fine tree. Tobgye sent a few letters on from Kalimpong, which arrived yesterday. No special news, except that Ludlow got off alright, & that Norman had sold Glenulli.

SUMMARY:
Page lists film subjects and locations with dates, including crab apple, rhododendron, Primula, and village scenes at Bumthang, Tang, Pokpe, near Lhuntse Dz., and views toward Singhi Dz. from Rip La. Notes include people photographed (Ashe, Wangmoo, and Betty) and film batch dispatches on 15/04/1949 and to Kurizam on 21/04/1949.

CONTENT:
15

B.W. Filmpack 2.

1. Crab apple. hupehensis 18690 Bumthang 12/4
2. Village at Tang. 13/4.
3. Crab apple tree. hupehensis 13/4 18690
4. Rhod. arboreum 13/4.
5. P. gracilipes. Pokpe 14/4
6. Rhod. Madd. Ser. 18720 Griffithianum
7. P. cerasoides v. rubra. 20115
8. Ashe Wangmoo & Betty - 17/4.
9. Village near Lhuntse Dz. 19/4.
10. View to Singhi Dz. from Rip La. 23/4
11. Bryocarpum himalaicum 18744
12. Primula Normaniana. 18740

Dufaycolor 2nd Batch.

1. Crabapple 18690 12/4
2. Crab apple tree " 13/4
3. Rhod. arboreum by river 13/4
4. }
5. } P. gracilipes Pokpe. 14/4.
6. }
   Dufay 1 & 2 sent on 15/4/49.

C.S. 6. Kodachrome.
Crab apple close up 13/4 18690
" " tree. 13/4.
P. gracilipes. Pokpe. 14/4.
Rhod Madd. 18720 (3) Griffithianum
Prunus cerasoides v rubra 20115
Ashe Wangmoo & Betty. 17/4 (Sent Kurizam 21.4.49)
Albizzia Sherriffii. 19/4.
last 10 ft. stuck.

Dufay 3.
1 & 2 Rhod. Madd. Ser. Griffithianum 18720
3 Prunus cerasoides v rubra 20115
4 Bryocarpum himalaicum 18744
5 & 6 Prim. Normaniana 18740

SUMMARY:
Notes on seeds sent home in 1949 to G.T. at the BM (Nat Hist), with about 12–14 packets sent to Taylor around 16 April. Includes listed taxa and localities such as Rudo La and Kantanang.

CONTENT:
Seed sent home during 1949, all to G.T.
at the BM (Nat Hist).

About 12-14 pkts seed sent to Taylor on or about 16 April. Included
Albizzia sherriffii, Prunus from Rudo La

18907 Sorbus.
18924 Rosa sp. red.
(2) 19058 Berberis sp. Kantanang.
19092 Allium sp white.
18993 Myricaria sp.

SUMMARY:
Entries describe marches and halts from Trimo to Le, Pangchen, Shakti and Karteng with snow, rain and heat, while collecting seeds and specimens including rhododendrons. Notes include Ludlow’s rapid travel from S. Chöling, recovery of Pintso and Tsungpen, efficient Monba coolies, Tawang people wishing to come under Assam while taxed by Tsona, and Guha going missing after taking a wrong path.

CONTENT:
85

Trimo
11th November. Halt. Clouded all day: no sun: snow falling on hills & slight rain here. Much colder than I expected. Pintso & Tsungpen both recovered, Pintso not fully yet. Collected odd rhododendron & other seed. Ludlow moved quickly here from S. Chöling, the same marches as I did, & apparently quite easily because he was able to use dzong-dzong transport, which I could not.
I hear the Tawang people are all anxious to come under Assam, but are still paying large taxes to Tsona in the form of wooden planks.

To
12th November. Le. Clouded all day till 4.0pm. Snowed all night right down to Trimo village, & rained all day till we reached here at 3.0pm. As Tsering has taken 150 specimens between Trimo & Shakti, I am not likely to find anything that he has not got. Got a few seeds & about 15 specimens. Clothed for snow as I was, found it very hot marching down here. But the evening is cool enough. These Monba coolies are very good & fast, waste no time on the road.
R. crassum 6676.

To
13th November. Pangchen. Fine all day. First clear sky in morning. Clouds low in evening. Nice & warm down here at 7000 ft. Found Rhod. rhabdotum (Dalhousie 6694) at the same place just above Pangchen that we took R. lindleyi from in 1936, but seeds not begun yet to turn brown.
P. prunifer

To
14th November. Shakti. Heavy rain last night. Fine today: clouded in evening. It was very hot coming up from the bridge over the Nyam Jang Chu — a long steep climb. I sent Guha on from the bridge at 11.30, he must have taken the wrong path, as he has not turned up at 5.0pm. Poor old Guha, he will be sorry for himself. Got a few more seeds today & took about 15 specimens.
Codonopsis ovata 6702, Crawfurdia Campanulaceae 6703, Prunus cerasoides 6708, Wightia gigantea 6700

To
15th November. Karteng (Kapleng). Clouded nearly all day, with rain in the evening. Rather nice having rain now as it keeps it cool. Changed transport twice, & should have changed a third time too. Karteng is directly opposite the bridge leading across the river. The people here — & from below Pangchen are all Takpas; only Monbas are above Pangchen. Both seem a good crowd. Took seed of what I think is Albizzia Sherriffii & saw near here a good deal of Luculia gratissima, which always strikes me as a most beautiful shrub. It is a pity it is not hardy.
Kapleng & Jy-iper. Sarcococca hookeriana 6716, Luculia gratissima 6720, Lindenbergia grandiflora 6721