Affichage de 23 résultats

SUMMARY:
The writer records taking a group photo as the party prepares to split, listing members and discussing conflicting reports about the Tobrang–Pang La route, with Golay warning it is impassable for mules and plans to send Petuk back with them. On the 10th they collected 19 birds and prepared potted flowers for travel, and on the 11th August they marched 11 miles to LAO (11,200'), aided by Tibetans when coolies were short, with misty weather and an owl collected.

CONTENT:
As our party will be splitting up soon, I took a group photo yesterday of everyone: there were F.L., self, Ahmad Sheikh, Rauzana, Ba Kingsa Puntso, Danong, Kusho, Tenduk, Kurtep, Menchung, Petuk (syce), Golay (dak), Dotila (HH's sepoy) and two mules of Torgues'. Reports of the road from Tobrang via the so-far unknown Pang La varied a great deal, but were generally that it was not too bad. But Golay, who brought our mail the other day, came from Singhi Dzong that way, and reports it to be awful, and quite impossible for mules. So we will have to send Petuk back with them when we can use them no further.

10th: Today it has rained off and on most of the day, but we have been out for some hours and collected 19 birds, many of which are valuable. Our collection of birds is probably even now worth £200, the amount promised by the Museum, which we have not yet accepted. I am taking three flowers from here in pots - a primula, an androsace and a gentian, but I fear they will hardly survive the bumping rough treatment of the road.

11th August. To LAO. 11 miles. 11200'. Fine till after arrival in camp at midday. Only 20 coolies turned up to time, but others arrived later, and we were saved by some Tibetans who came to the rescue. Mist low all day, and no views. No flowers, but shot an interesting little owl and a few other birds. Although

SUMMARY:
The writer records numerous alpine plants and seed collections, endures a foul, windy camp, and notes Ahmad Sheikh down with fever while lamenting that Lumsden left the quinine behind. They describe irrigation channels reminiscent of Hunza and then march 7 miles to Trün along river galleries, passing a side gorge bridge and the old village of Tenzika, with environmental measurements noted.

CONTENT:
51

contained a great deal, would be thoroughly worth visiting later. I saw Paraquilegia, Meconopsis (a small one), 4 Primulas, the seeds of one sikkimensis one I collected a few of (1327). An Androsace (1328) a few seeds. Gentians, saxifrages, rhododendrons and many other good looking things. A foul camp with an awful wind and dust. Ahmad Sheikh down with fever, I suppose malaria again. Lumsden left the quinine behind, dash him, but between us we can muster about 20 pills. Birds interesting. The valley is obviously wetter, but is a dry one till the rains come. South face still pretty bare even high up. Up this side valley I noticed two water channels had been taken off the main stream. The engineering reminded me forcibly of Hunza. They must have been a mile or two long and were for the most part along cliff faces.

25th April. To Trün 7 miles. Barometer 194°. Temp 60° Time 4.0 pm. Approximate height 10426'.
Road easy, but along galleries keeping 100 ft or so above the river. At mile 1½ cross a side gorge by a bridge and at mile 3 an old village called Tenzika. Then level past several gorge side nalas to a

SUMMARY:
Mentions receiving mail at Tsona and newspapers for pressing flowers. On 2nd June they camped 3 miles up the Bimbi La route from Podzo Sumdo in the Tsari valley, describing a steep path through rhododendron, bamboo, and evergreen forest. On 3rd June they went up toward the Bimbi La, noting a tiny berberis (specimen 1763) and a pretty androsace covering the hillside, before heavy rain set in.

CONTENT:
85

held up much, though our man found it waiting for him
at Tsona. From now on we should not do so badly. I
got four mail letters from home dated 20th April which is very
good. We had 36 newspapers which are badly wanted for
pressing flowers in.

2nd June Camp 3 m up Bimbi La route from Podzo Sumdo. 9 miles.
B.P. 190.0 Temp. 54 Time 2.30pm Ht. 12441'. Up the main Tsari
valley to Podzo Sumdo at m 6, then turn up the side valley to
the NE. The path here is quite good & the ascent through
rhododendron, bamboo & evergreen forest pretty steep. Good
camping ground 3 miles up in an open space, with fir
rhododendron close by.

3rd June. Halt. Fine till 1.0pm, then heavy rain all day.
Went up to the Bimbi La, on a good path, never very
steep, the whole way. It leads through dense rhododendron
for 2000 ft or so, then on to bare open hillside. Here
I found a very small berberis 1763, growing only a
foot or so high. Also a very pretty androsace which
covered the hillside for 100 yards or more. We went
right up close to the pass, & then turned R. up a

SUMMARY:
Notes transport rates for donkeys, ponies, and coolies on the route Tsetang–Rong–Lhagyari–Lhapso–Lenda–Tromda. Records seeds collected on Potrang La with several taxa and an elevation noted.

CONTENT:
9

Rates
Tsetang to Rong. 3 sangs a donkey. 7 a pony.
Rong to Lhagyari. 2 " " 4 "
Lhagyari to Lhapso. 1 1/2 " " 3 "
Lhapso to Lenda. 1 " " 2 "
Lenda to Tromda 1 " " 2 " & 1/2 sang per coolie

Seed collected on Potrang La.
12002 Rhod sp.
12001 Salix sp. No Herb. spec.
12003 P. florindae - - -
Gent. sp. - - -
Allium sp. - - -
Potentilla aff curviseta.
Androsace cushion plant.
P. sikkimensis 16000'.

SUMMARY:
Diary entries record travel from Tsetang through Rong Dzong, Lhagyari, Lasor and Lhapso to Lenda, with delays due to slow transport and negotiations over animal hire rates. Notes include hospitality from local officials and the Jetsung Kusho’s sister, and botanical observations of Gentiana waltonii and Androsace with seed collected.

CONTENT:
15th Nov. Rong Dzong. Left Tsetang camp at 9.20 & Tsetang at 10.0. In at 4.0 pm. Last kit, on bullocks, in at 6.0 pm. A fine still day. We had long arguments about passports with the Tsetang Dzongpon's scribe - a nasty man. At last he let us go when we paid sangs 3 per donkey & 7 per pony. This was at any rate very much better than our passport rate of 6 & 12.

16th Nov. Lhagyari Dz. Left at 9.0 am: in at 5.0 pm. Only half the kit got in last night. Remainder is not even all in at 10.0 this morning. The distance, given by Bailey at 16 miles, seems much nearer 20 miles. We all agree on this. I suggested we pay 2 sangs per donkey & 4 per pony at Rong. This was cheerfully agreed to by the headmen & Dzongpon's "trap". As a result of the slow transport, we cannot leave here on 17th. Coming up the valley there was a good deal of G. Waltoni & two sp. of Androsace, seed of one of which I took. The Jetsung Kusho here has gone to Lhasa, but her sister is very good to us, & has produced all we need for dinner, including food, plates etc., as our kitchen stuff had not come in.

17th & 18th Nov. HALT. We were unable to get transport in time to leave even on 18th, but most of the kit went then to a village 3 miles short of the Potrang La.

19th Nov. Lasor. Left at 7.30: in at 5.0 pm. Kit which left with us got in at 9.0 pm.

20th Nov. Lhapso Dz. An easy day of only 7 miles. Cloud came up by midday & it was dull the rest of the day. The Lhapso Dzongpon was very good to us. He had been personally to Lasor the day before & produced everything we wanted.

21st Nov. Lenda. Left at 7.50: in at 2.45: transport 3.30 to 4.0 pm. Coolies & transport were very good though hardly halted anywhere. The Lhapso Dzongpon arrangements were very good indeed.

SUMMARY:
The diary records movements from the east side of Kongbo-nga La via Mye to Shu, with delayed coolies and negotiations for transport. It notes forest and plant observations near the pass, attempts to contact Gyantse and Ford by wireless, strong winds, and halts on 1–2 Dec due to uncertain transport.

CONTENT:
Nang.

28 Nov. Camp on E side of Kongbo-nga La. Coolies had not come in by 9.0, so we set off at 10.0 with about 30-40 loads only, leaving Samdup behind. A good day but spoilt by transport trouble. Reached the pass by 2.30 & in at camp - not at Nye - at 5.0pm. Coolies came in soon after except about 15 who only turned up next day. It was good to be in forest again, pine, larch & birch on the west side, & juniper, larch & birch on the E, with pine on N faces. Rhod. vellereum common, with two small Rhodos. On the E side saw some P. jaffreyana & a lot of Androsace of 3 species.

29 Nov. Mye. A short march in today where we should have reached yesterday. Samdup also turned up by 11.0 & our kit has again caught us up. I saw two partridge on the way up the Pass. Ludlow then saw one 'Kuling' & another, while Ludlow missed a Crossoptilon on this side. This is the first village with pent wooden roofs. All to the W of this are flat roofed. The hilltops often have early morning mist on them now - a sign of a damper climate. I was surprised to see no Mec. simplicifolia on the pass - only M. horridula.

30 Nov. Shu. An easy march. We were in by 1.0 (start 8.0) & coolies were in shortly after. A few were late. I tried to contact Gyantse at 3.30 pm (BT) by W/T, but got no answer. Later tried Ford (TASA) but again got no answer. Local Dzongpon's man tried to refuse to give us anything but day to day transport. We demanded 'Dzongyel', & we think we have succeeded, at the price of 2 days halt & a than of cloth & ten cigarettes! Supplies difficult, & we have hardly managed to get anything. Very strong wind in evening.

1st Dec. Halt. Fine, but clouded by midday. Wind by 2.30.

2nd Dec. Halt. Fine & clear & windy. We doubt if our transport will come as promised, by this evening. This is a bad place to get away from - in 1938 we were held up five days at Kyimdong Dzong.

SUMMARY:
Notes record minimum temperatures and weather at Latso and Lunang on 19–21 December, seed collections with numbers near Tse and Tumbatse, and Kodachrome photographs started at Dan with scenes at Dan Phu Chu and Tongkyuk Dzong. Photo subjects include Hippophae and snow peaks, dated 21–23 December 1946.

CONTENT:
37

Min. temp. Latso. 19-20 Dec. 4° F. Snowed during night cleared up by 4.0 am.
Lunang. 20-21 " -4° F. Clear all night.

Seed collected: 12013 Androsace small. again taken near Tse. 19/12
P. capitata ? near Tumbatse.
12015 Notholirion hyacinthinum Tumbatse
12016 Cypripedium sp. " N.
12017 Berberis purple fruit. " S
12018 " red " " N
12019 Rhod. " S.

Kodachrome 10. Started at Dan on 21. 12. 46.
Scenes at Dan with snow peak at head at Dan Phu Chu.
Hippophae rhamnoides, with snow pk. behind.
Close up of Hippophae fruit. 21/12.
Tongkyuk Dzong to snow peak. 22/12
Rest ho. at Tongkyuk Dzong. 23/12

SUMMARY:
After leaving Nagu, a cook’s fire set a hollow willow ablaze at night, forcing tents to be moved. On 25 April at Lilung, the party began using new mule transport and collected several plants, including a clematis, a white Buddleia variant, and an apple/pear (Nyete) near Temshung east of Simbiteng; a local was asked to collect seed for Ludlow, and a cushion Androsace was noted.

CONTENT:
soon dressed. All that took up time and left Nagu at 1.0pm. Then on all was well but it was a long day. A slight hitch added to our troubles at night. The cook lit a fire under a big willow. The roots of it all caught fire suddenly there was a roar as flames shot out of the top of two large branches about 1 1/2' diam, some 10 feet up the tree. They were hollow & acted as chimneys, for there was a tearing wind blowing, the sight was quite a good one. Of course the tree was doomed, & fell about 1.0 am. Tents had to be moved because of this, but we did this when the thing started.

25 April. Lilung. Our first fine day, & a good day too as we set off with our new mule transport which came along very well indeed. We also found rather more flowers. There are not many but at least we saw some. A clematis (12404) is in flower in several places. I imagine they are all the same, usually white. But the one I took was bright madder pink & very pretty. Another colour variation taken was a pure white edition of the purple Buddleia (12401). The prettiest thing taken is an apple - or pear perhaps - No 12402 - which the locals call Nyete. It was growing at a village called Temshung, 1 m. to the E of Simbiteng. I saw it here also, close to the houses of Lilung, & have warned a local to collect seed for Ludlow. It is very fine, white, but pink in bud, & showing big trusses of about 20 flowers together. The only other find was the small cushion Androsace (Brachystelma?) which grows so commonly here & on the Potrang & Kongbo Nga Las. It is a joy to have mules which go well, & which will carry us for 11 days without any change at all. The muleteers also seem good men.

SUMMARY:
List of plants to collect seed from in the Pangotang area, with specimen numbers and locality notes such as cliffs opposite camp, beyond the fir zone, and near Tolegang and the first drogpa. Mentions taxa including Primula, Cypripedium, Saxifraga, Androsace, Meconopsis, Salvia, Potentilla, and others.

CONTENT:
55

Plants to get seed from Pangotang See also later list.

18946 P. barnardiana. cliff 1/2 m below Pangotang
18948 Cassiope
18955 P. elongata. 1 m above camp main river
18957 P. atrodentata
X 18963-5 Legume. to E beyond fir zone
V 18970 Cypripedium tibeticum. below cliff opp. camp.
18972 Saxifraga yellow cushion below cliff opp. camp.
18973 Daphne opp. camp.
V 18974 Androsace below cliff opp camp.
18977 Aster.
V 18995 Meconopsis simplicifolia
V 19009 Primula macrophylla roots.
19011 Primula glabra
V 19021 Salvia Tolegang beyond 1st drogpa & up cliff opp camp.
X 19027 Potentilla. a good one just before Tolegang 150
19030 P. hopeana a good one just before Tolegang
V 18992 small purple pea 2" high.

SUMMARY:
In wet conditions the party split up: the diarist had a poor day on a dry hill while Pasang returned with a strong collection including a new Androsace, a suspected new Cochlearia, and P. macrophylla var. macrocarpa, alongside notes on Diapensia himalaica and several Primula including white P. caveana. The following day they worked up the valley east of camp in soaking weather; Gunden went far and gathered white P. caveana, but little else was found, prompting thoughts of leaving the area within a few days.

CONTENT:
22nd June Haer. A wet miserable day. We split forces, I sent Pasang and Gunden up Dimpuang valley with instructions to leave it when well in, and to try high up on the south side. They are not in yet, but I had a very poor day in the place I chose. I went up the hill dividing the valley to the north of us. It was dry and almost bare of anything. At 15,500 we found masses of Diapensia himalaica, and beside it P. tenuiloba and P. concinna. There is also some P. caveana, which always tricks me. But that was really all—a disappointing chukker we had. I found two plants of white P. caveana; would like to be able to get plenty of seed of that, or roots, if seed not available. Pasang came back at 3:30 and had a good collection: a new Androsace, the Cochlearia(?) which I wanted and which is, I believe, new, first for us in '37; some more P. macrophylla var. macrocarpa in first-class condition, a cushion Androsace, and various odds and ends. So the day was not so bad after all. I have seen a good-looking place for tomorrow, up the valley to the east from the junction. But one can never tell.

23rd June - Hall. Up the valley to the east above camp. A soaking wet, windy, cold, beastly day. This was the place I thought looked so good, but it had nothing in it. Gunden went miles, but for nothing but a good collection of white P. caveana, and we got nothing worthwhile either, while I felt the climb up after leaving the pony a good deal. It was very steep indeed, and in waterproof and waterproof trousers was hard going. I really don't think now that we will be able to stay on here till the end of the month. Another three days will finish all that we can do, and there will be no other side valleys to try. This has been our wettest day yet, I think.