Showing 14 results

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:
The party trekked through spruce, oak, pine, and larch forest, passed below Chunyima, obtained butter and fresh milk from herdsmen with yaks, and noted several plants including Primula atrodentata and Lilium wardii. They reached Tongkyuk Dzong after 68 days, glimpsing the Po Yigrong Range and collecting limited seed of an unidentified Rhododendron, a Gaultheria, and an evergreen Berberis.

CONTENT:
hard indeed - so much so that the kukri we used to cut out plants was broken slightly, & sparks were actually made when striking the ground! This might possibly be P. bhutanica or Whitei. Like P. atrodentata the buds were covered with dense farina. We did not see Chunyima at all, but passed below it scarcely a few miles (2?) to an open space, on the other side of the river from which is a herdsman's hut where there are two men with 50 yaks. Up behind that is a very fine snow peak (Sangdam Pu?) where the valley looks very good for flowers. We got some very dirty butter from them at 9 sangs the piece, about 1 1/2 lbs. Also most excellent fresh milk as a gift. The milk was brought in a ladle made of Rhododendron wood, holding about 1/2 gallon. Our 4 coolies caught us up today joined us here, so did 7 extra pony loads which had come on "sadsi". The path all day is through fine spruce, holly oak & latterly a little pine larch. Rhododendron in places plentiful. For the first mile or two the valley is open: thence it is a gorge, but everywhere very pretty indeed. My one only pair of shoes have given out, & am reduced to gym shoes from now on. We saw a little Mec. betonicifolia at Lunang, but no more anywhere else. I also saw one Prim. chungensis. Prim. atrodentata is everywhere & is all ready for moisture & a little warmth, to put it into flower.

22nd Dec. Tongkyuk Dzong. Home at last, after 68 days. It is worth it though, from what we can see. The march today was through conifer & rhod. forest all the way, but the forest was too thick for us to get but a glimpse of the Po Yigrong Range N. of Tongkyuk. We left at 7.30 & got in at 1.30. The road is good most of the way. In the plant line the most interesting things on the march were Lilium Wardii, common on the steep bracken covered slopes in the picea & pinus forest. A Rhododendron of which we got a little seed is one I don't recognize. We also got a Gaultheria & an evergreen Berberis, but saw no...

SUMMARY:
Botanical and route notes describe a smaller valley near Tsona with Primulas, and a fine day. On 21st May the party camps 2 miles below Podzo Sumdo at about 10,500 ft, traveling along the Chidichar river and the Tsari through forest and gorge, passing Podzo Sumdo and the valley from the Bimbi La, with observations of Meconopsis, Berberis, and rhododendrons.

CONTENT:

• "not so big as at Tsona, but lovely for all that. The valley I was in is small but should be very good, already holds Primulas atrodentata, roylei, 1621 & 1614, the last two new to us. A perfect day, with hardly a cloud in the sky all day."
• "21st May. Camp 2 m below Podzo Sumdo. BP. Temp. Time Ht. 10500'. A fine day again, clouding in the evening. Path down R bank crossing the Chidichar river over its lateral moraine, steeply down to a bridge over to the L bank of the Tsari. Thence through forest in a steep sided valley. At about m 5 the descent is rapid where the Tsari falls in a gorge. Pass at m 6 Podzo Sumdo, one house, at the entrance from the north of the broad valley from the Bimbi La. Continue down L bank for 2 miles where valley opens out a little. Some grazing. No houses. We are a good deal lower here, & the vegetation is much more advanced. I did not find much though. Another Meconopsis 1637, in few numbers, near Podzo, Berberis all the way - a fine big flowered one, though the flowers are not too numerous, 1626, some rhododendrons, the best of"

Wait, I missed the marginal notes in the final text. I'll include them as they appear

SUMMARY:
Notes from Chendebi on the Trongsa Road record plant observations and collections, plans to stay two days, and mention of H.H.'s 'kazana' caravan of 200 loads passing through. The writer recalls a very wet visit in 1933 with comic hardships, and on 12 May notes more rain and identifies Rhododendron griffithianum as common just below Chendebi.

CONTENT:
Chendebi - Trongsa Road R. arboreum 3017, R. virgatum 3021, Enkianthus deflexus 3020, Gaultheria griffithiana 3019
Chendebi. R. rhaedoforum 3035 Berberis 3034

...takes its place & is very common just below Chendebi. A few Rhod. edgeworthii too were seen. We will stay here two days. In any case that would be necessary, as H.H.'s 'kazana' - his lakh of rupees & many other things - 200 coolie loads - are just in Chendebi this evening, & they have to go on tomorrow.

My recollections of Chendebi in 1933 are amusing but not very pleasant. We never saw more than 100 yards or so in any direction owing to the thick mist. It rained hard all the time we were here, & dinner in our bamboo village was comic. Rain came in through the roof everywhere, & a young torrent found its way to the dining room. We all sat on the table with our feet on the chairs like that. I also remember a plate of soup being brought in with a leech on the edge of it. It has started to rain this evening, but I don't think will be very much.

12th May. Halt Chendebi. Some rain yesterday evening, & more again this evening. Went out in the morning, & picked up a few flowers. The fine rhod. we found yesterday is Rhod. griffithianum. It is a beauty & very common just below Chendebi, but seems to stop abruptly here. Also one shrub of another red rhododendron, which...

SUMMARY:
Travel from Gacha to Trume and near Kamchang with hot weather and limited flowers at first, then more flowering plants along a stream at SHAGE. Notes local assistance from Gacha's son, mention of the Orang Chauzo whose son's fractured skull was treated by Elliott, and a later setback with mules and wild dogs near Shu.

CONTENT:
26 April. Gacha. Fine bright very hot. Little seen on the way in flower, and little at Gacha, but there is great movement there - everything green coming on. Gacha, as before, were most kind and helpful. Orang, as before, did nothing much to help. And that in spite of the Orang Chauzo having had his son's head put right by Elliott. It was a fractured skull, with the brain visible, and as usual, in a mess. Now there is barely a scar, though the eye remains down and in not too good condition though healthy. Gacha's son came and called and gave us presents and did all he could to help. He also came and saw us off from Gacha. They are a nice friendly lot.

27 April. Trume. Fine and very hot, but becoming heavily clouded by evening. Little seen, but very pretty going through the pine forest. The difference of this march compared with the same before with bullocks has to be experienced to be believed. We got along at a fine speed with no trouble at all.

28 April. near Kamchang. Fine again and very warm. A good day, as we saw more than usual. Although it is drier here, where there is water, there is more in flower because the heat of the sun is very much greater. We halted short of Kamchang, at SHAGE, a mile or 2 short of Kamchang. Here there is only one house, and a stream comes down beside the house. Up the stream are several good things, a lot of the pear called 'nyete' and a good many of the cherry, probably the same as No 12394. This is No. . Locally it is called . Better for its in flower and immature fruit. Berberis is also in flower.

29th April. Camp 1 1/2 m W of Shu. A poor day from the start. First the mules had strayed rather far and came in late. The man who went to get them on the hillside found one dead, eaten by wild dogs, said to be very numerous there. Then it clouded over very quickly, and we had

SUMMARY:
Entries record weather, lakes and birdlife near Kala, transport difficulties along the Kalimpong–Gyantse route, and stages from Samoda and Kangmar to Gyantse and on to Gobshi, Ralung, and Nangartse. The party met Hugh Richardson and Pailthorpe at Gyantse, and noted snow, winds, and logistics issues with local headmen and supplies.

CONTENT:
25 October Kala. There was a curious low fog all over the plain from the main Range to the hills to the N. of us, only 50 ft up. This did not dissolve till about 1130. Then the views were wonderful again. The Rham Tso is very high & the Kala lake higher than any of us have ever seen it. Ludlow shot two cranes & 2 gadwall & 1 garganey teal. Many birds about, but all very wild. Saw three white fronted geese.

26th October. Samoda. Cloudy & cold with bright patches. Weather all along is most unlike October weather. We did well to get through transport from Kalimpong to Gyantse. Chowkidars report difficulties all along the line. The headmen of Chumbi - upper & lower - started the objection to our through transport, but Pangdatshang stopped trouble. Then Phari. Then Tuna. At Dochen & Kala the headmen will not give any dung or other supplies & it is much the same here. They give, but the chowkidar complains he always has trouble. In my opinion the trouble is likely due to two causes - the rate of exchange is against the locals, & there is only a head clerk at both Gyantse & Yatung.

27th October KANGMAR. Fine but very cloudy. Saw no game at all on the river or partridge on the hill side.

28th October. Sunkang. Fine but more cloudy than yesterday. No game. Berberis on the hillside very fine colour indeed, but no seed.

29 October. Gyantse. Cold when we arrived, & gradually got colder. Snow at night. Met & lunched & tea'd with Hugh Richardson & Pailthorpe.

30. 31. 1st. Halt. Snowed hard on 30th. 31st v. fine indeed.

2nd. Nov. Gobshi. Fine, but v. cold in the evening. Camped at Gobshi.

3rd Nov. Ralung. Fine, but strong wind up valley after 9.30.

4th Nov. Nangartse. Fine & warm. Wind strong down valley to Nangartse. Left at 0615. In at 1615 & kit about 1 hour later.

SUMMARY:
Notebook list of Kodachrome photographs showing Clematis, Berberis, Prunus, and Primula, along with scenes including mules, a Mani wall, a monastery, and tsampa-making. Locations mentioned include Nye and Kongbongala, with entries dated across late April.

CONTENT:
88

Kodachrome 26.
Clematis white, blue sky. 27/4.
Mules on path near cliff 28/4.
" " against sky 28/4.
Clematis in mass at stream 28/4.

27.
Clematis in mass at stream & closer up 28/4.
Berberis & Clematis together 28/4.
Prunus close up. 12423 29/4.
Mani wall near Nye. 30/4.
Monastery " Nye 30/4.

28
Monastery Nye with white poplars 30/4
Making Tsampa at Nye 30/4.
Sophora sp. 12424. "
Prunus sp at Kongbongala. 12426 "
Primula atrodentata. "

SUMMARY:
Diary entries at Kula Phu Chu describe persistent rain and wind, difficulties drying collected seeds, and concern for Tsongpen traveling to the Tsanang La amid snow. Seeds of several species were gathered, and after a brief illness, Jill recovered by the 22nd; a sunny 23rd allowed successful drying and collection including Nomocharis souliei.

CONTENT:
ripe: some of the beautiful spotted saxifrage and a few other things of less importance. In the Primula marsh I failed to find any Prim. micropetala, and of all the capsules of Prim. littledalei I found, only 5 had any seed in them - fairly ripe. It is raining again this evening, but does not look too bad. Locals say a great many Lopas came over the passes this year. They also say that when the Lopas come, they bring the rain with them - true enough this year anyway. Tsongpen has gone up to the Tsanang La, where he will have a very cold and wet time I'm afraid, he has no tent. We are not used to this very strong wind which has been common for the last few nights. One would think it would drive off the rain, but it does not seem to.

Kula Phu Chu
21st September. Kulu Lungma. Rained at night, and all today lightly. The hilltops were all covered with snow this morning, I fear Tsongpen will have a bad time on the Tsanang La. I got a few seeds today, but everything is soaking wet, and I can't think how they are to be dried. There was no sun at all today, and all seeds remain very wet indeed. Jill was her usual bright and lively self all day till after she had her dinner at 2:30 pm. Then she suddenly became ill, and seems pretty bad this evening. She can still wag a tail a little, but is lying without a movement under a blanket with a hot water bottle. I wonder if she has distemper, or whether she got a cold yesterday on Go nyi re. This is the first time I have ever seen her the least bit sick or sorry for herself.

Kula Phu Chu
22nd September. Halt. Rained all night and all day. I went up the valley to get seed of a white P. alpicola, and a small lactuca, both of which I found. Besides a Berberis, there was nothing of interest. Opposite camp I got seed of a good coloured Mec. betonicifolia (Mec. betonica 6520). There is very little seed in P. Dickieana capsules, the masses I saw here in July have all been eaten by yaks and ponies. Rather a disappointing day, the rain continues so steadily, that drying these soaked seeds is a very great problem. Jill has completely recovered, her trouble seems to have been no more than a very bad tummy ache.

Kula Phu Chu
23rd September. Halt. A fine sunny day thank goodness. All or nearly all of the seeds were dried in the sun. We got very good Nomocharis souliei seed, and some enormous bulbs, the biggest I have ever seen. There was a good deal more snow again last night.

(N. souliei seeds 6518. I collected seeds 6517, P. bellidifolia 6515, Prim. calliantha flower 6524.)

SUMMARY:
The diarist acquires a sheep and extra ponies to reach Temu La, aiming for views of snow mountains, and notes various birds including geese, a kite, Lophobasileus, a crossbill, a black woodpecker, a Sitta, and a large flock of Grandala. At Latsa Lunang above Tumbatse, poor visibility prevents mountain views; seeds of Notholirion hyacinthinum and two Berberis are collected, and weather and snow conditions are recorded before proceeding to Lunang.

CONTENT:
26

very obliging, ready to help. We are getting a sheep here, & taking on 2 extra ponies to the Temu La. About 2 miles from here there were many geese, some duck on the open plain & on some odd water. I also saw one kite - only the second to be seen since India. Our main idea in coming on is to try to get views of the snow mountains from the Temu La while the good weather lasts, but I wonder if it will last. Clouds came up fast today & we would not have had good views had we been there today. Yesterday B & I were out up the valley for birds & got 2 more Lophobasileus, a crossbill, a black woodpecker & a Sitta which seems different to any we have yet got, & different to anything in the Fauna of B.I.

19th Dec. Latsa Lunang (above Tumbatse). Left 7.30: in 3.30: transport 7.30 to 4.30 ponies. Clouded up during the day, & nothing visible from the La except hazy up the Tsangpo. An ice mass lay at 40° & another at approx 80°, but nothing could be identified - a great disappointment to us. We did not try to reach Tumbatse. This is a good camping ground, with about five houses. The Sancha can almost be seen from here, & seems to have more snow on it. Here the locals tell me, snow hardly falls at all. I got seed of Notholirion hyacinthinum within 500' of the La, SE side, & two Berberis, one blue fruit, one red N of the La. There was hardly a bird to be seen or heard in the forest on either side, particularly N side, till we got here - I heard a few calling only, but when we reached here, saw a large flock of Grandala, males & females, about 100 together. They were constantly on the move, between a tall Picea & some Hippophae which were covered with fruit. Shot one male or female. This evening it is heavily overcast, is snowing low down to the N beyond Tumbatse, perhaps even down to Lunang. Saw a jay, above Temo.

20th Dec. Lunang. Left at 8.0: in about 2.0. Road very easy & open.

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