Showing 3 results

SUMMARY:
Notes on the death of the Thimbu penlop and Tobgye’s sending of English medicine, causing concern with the Maharaja. On 30th June Ludlow and the author travelled to Lomi-Tsa-wa via Do Kyong La in clearing weather, collecting flowers including Magnolia globosa and observing that vegetation in the Trashi-cho-dzong valley and at the pass resembled Sikkim.

CONTENT:
35

Thimbu penlop. He died of dropsy & a short while ago his
relations asked Tobgye for English medicine. Against his own
lamas advice, Tobgye sent some, but with strict instructions
that the lamas should first of all decide in their usual way
whether it would do good or not. After taking one of the two
medicines, the man felt weaker, & the whole thing was
immediately reported to the Maharaja, who is said to have been
angry with Tobgye. They said nothing of the fact that the
other medicine did a lot of good. I can't believe that the
Maharaja will put any blame down to Tobgye in the end.

30th June. TO LOMI-TSA-WA. 12 miles - 6700' (An. Ht. 7700'). Ludlow & I
Embelia oleracea 182
Anemone rivularis 183 were at last able to go on our own & were allowed to shoot
Rhod. Keysii 184
Symplocos ramosissima 186 as soon as we reached the DO KYONG LA, 10410'. So we
Pedicularis megalantha 187
left at 5.30 am, although it was raining pretty hard. By
Meconopsis villosa 189
Rhod. camelliaeflorum 190 7.30 however it cleared up & remained fine till 5.0 pm. On
Berberis celestina 191
the way up & at the top we found a number of flowers,
Mag. globosa 192
Pyrola rotundifolia 193 including the magnificent Magnolia Globosa in full bloom at
Streptopus simplex 194
10000'. We also got a strange rhododendron which Dawang
Geranium pratense 198
Didissandra lanuginosa 199 has never seen before. In the Trashi-cho-dzong valley
the vegetation is quite different to what we had seen before:
trees were quite scarce, & what there were, were mostly
small. The forest again became thick, but at the pass the
vegetation was much more like Sikkim - no pines or firs, a
good deal of bamboo undergrowth & numbers of rhododendrons.

SUMMARY:
The diarist describes heat, severe flies, scarce water, and an unsuccessful color photograph attempt due to hot water, but notes finding a beautiful orchid. On 27 June they marched 8 miles to PINTSOGONG en route to Ludlow Pountso Jong or Ronglung amid rain and bothersome biting flies, and list several plant specimens collected. Ludlow’s hands are badly swollen from bites.

CONTENT:
8

now they are not in bloom, but should be in a fortnight,
when the hillside must be a wonderful sight. We had looked
forward to this camp, as being one which should be
more or less free from leeches & flies. But it is hot, &
the flies are perfectly dreadful. We can't get a moment's
peace, & they are chiefly of the kind which raises a
blood blister, frightfully itchy. At least there are no
leeches. There should be many kinds in the jungle
here, but standing for them is agony. Yesterday I
tried to take a colour photo of the Primula 552, but
water was so hot that the film all came off. The
film colors seem to be alright, though I can't say
definitely till I have cold water to try them in. There
is little or no water here. A fine day, but cloudy
generally. Maximum in open tent up here 95°. Min.
last night 65°. Found one beautiful orchid on a
tree today - the first of its kind seen. Mostly are
over flower. (G 567).

To Ludlow Pountso Jong or Ronglung
27th June. PINTSOGONG. 8 miles. (B.P. 202.9° = 4802'. Temp. 75°.)
Last night was awful again with flies. We both are
covered with bites, especially the blood blister kind,
which are so annoying. Ludlow's hands are swollen
up very badly. It rained heavily in the early
morning, but was only 'misting' when we left.

Hoya lanceolata 565
Anemone rivularis 566
Agapetes incurvata var. incurvata 568
Rhod. maddenii 569, 570
Pieris ovalifolia 571
Prim. Sherriffae 552
Dendrobium falconeri 567

SUMMARY:
Notes abundant Abies delavayi and Corydalis, sightings of Cyanopica, and Ludlow’s separate route south where he found Fritillaria cirrhosa (1574) and Thermopsis barbata (1573). Plans to move on to Migyitun with fine weather and no mail; on 11th May the party traveled 7 miles from Kyimpu to Charme along the left bank, noting Charme at the junction of the Char and Kyimpu rivers with good camping, supplies, and crops, and recording Anemone rivularis (1581), Iris decora (1582), and radishes.

CONTENT:
Abies delavayi 1572 - up to 100 ft high. Covers the whole slopes of the valley here. 67

Corydalis was found, same as on the La La, and another yellow one 1571, but that was barely out. I saw any number of Cyanopica which flew, putting a shot at flying birds. It is easy enough to hit them, but not so easy to find two coming over together. Ludlow went a different way to the South, found a Fritillaria 1574 and a Thermopsis 1573. We are still too early for a place like this, and should get on now to Migyitun. Still no sign of our mail. Fine again.

Fritillaria cirrhosa 1574
Thermopsis barbata 1573

Kyimpu to Charme
11th May. Charme. 7 miles. B.P. 19.43 Temp. 66° Time 10.30 am. Ht. 10200'.

Very cold in the morning, fine all day. The path is good the whole way, down the left bank, except for a few hundred yards after a gorge is passed. Charme is at the junction of the Char and Kyimpu rivers. Good camping ground and some supplies. Beans and barley grown. Water excellent.

Anemone rivularis 1581
Iris decora 1582
radishes