Showing 9 results

SUMMARY:
Travelled about 9 miles down the valley near Tora under fine weather that later brought hail, noting Iris lactea in flower and likely matching K. Ward's 'Karta' iris, with poplars, willows, and buckthorn near a hillside monastery. Sheep were seen struggling for forage during lambing season, six partridges were shot, and a possible Ceratostigma was observed.

CONTENT:
Locals say they are white.

Tora 19th Tora 9 miles B.P. 189.47 Temp. 49° Time 4.30pm. Approx ht. :

A fine day, clouding over, with some hail in the afternoon.

The iris (Iris lactea), which we saw first yesterday, continued down the valley, is here in flower in a few places. It does not appear new, and yet surely must be K. Ward's 'Karta' iris. I have a few seeds of last year, will collect more in the autumn. The road goes down the valley the whole way, passing ruined villages and inhabited ones here and there and some cultivation. There is a biggish monastery here, perched on a hill on the right bank about 300' above the bank, and a number of trees, mostly poplar and willow (Salix babylonica?), which will soon be out. There is also some buckthorn scrub (Hippophae rhamnoides). The sheep have an awful time. On the plateau at 15,000–16,000' they have some grass which seems to do them pretty well. Down here there is no grass, and we see them in the fields, which have not yet been sown, scraping up the earth just like hens, to find some roots coming up. How they live like that I don't know. And this is the lambing season, and most have already lambed. We shot 6 partridges on the way down, and saw quite a number. Here I think there is a Ceratostigma.

SUMMARY:
Notes record seeds sent via Tashi to Ha on 21.8., and plant collections/observations along routes between W' phodrang, Tsalimape, Pyimitangha, and Paro. Species noted include Astilbe, Campanula, Cotoneaster, Ceratostigma, Clematis, Anemone japonica, Polygonum wallichii, Luculia pinceana, Saxifraga, and Codonopsis. MK is mentioned as having met the party.

CONTENT:
115

Seed sent Tashi to Ha on 21.8. 19613 Podocarpum himalaicum
19280 Streptopus simplex

Pyimitangha to Paro. Seed of big white Astilbe. } where MK met us.
✓ purplered "
yellow Saxifraga near top L side 1/4 m down
Codonopsis

Tsalimape to Pyimitangha. ✓ Campanula. all open steep earth bank.
✓ Cotoneaster. 19632
X many colored shrubs R bank river below 3rd br.
✓ Ceratostigma 1st village.
X Red Clematis upper ruined village below Pyi.
✓ Anemone japonica between 2 ruined villages ...
W' phodrang to Tsalimape. ✓ Polygonum wallichii opp Tahudu.
X Luculia pinceana 1/2 m above "
✓ Red Clematis 2nd clearing beyond S/G bridge R bank

SUMMARY:
Notes describe an aircraft wreck near the upper Langong Chu with four bodies, intact but scattered wreckage, and items such as rusted machine guns and iron hooks; the time of the crash is guessed by a Dzongpon’s man as about three years prior. Subsequent entries record a halt day with clear weather and a march to Nang Dzong, noting transport arrangements and plant observations including Box, Ceratostigma, Sophora viciifolia, and Juniper.

CONTENT:
What rotted was a 'tent' (parachute?) One man still had a little flesh on his bones, the others had all been stripped bare - presumably by animals. Mistris were sent to take the plane to bits, but they failed to do so. Only bits & pieces were collected & put under seal, as were any papers found. The plane was not burnt. The place mentioned is probably in the upper waters of the Langong Chu, about 2 full days march from Kyindong Dzong. A few rupees were found close to the wreck. Four useless (through rust) machine guns were found in the wreckage. The clothes of the 4 men are described as being winter wear & very good indeed. They wore two pairs of boots - one ordinary & one rubber on top. I was unable to make out how many engines there were. The wreckage was strewn over a biggish area. The time of the crash is only guessed by the Dzongpon's man as 3 years ago owing to the state of the bodies & of their clothes & notes. The area it fell in is a very wet one in the monsoon & things would easily rust. One of the few contents noticed was 30 things like walking sticks of iron, hooked at one end, rather longer than a walking stick, but having on the stick part a "lot of rings, some round some square & some other shapes".

26th Nov. HALT. A good day. There have been some clouds to the south the last 3-4 days, but generally very clear.

27th Nov. Nang Dzong. Left at 7.35. In at 3.20: transport in at 5.0pm. Transport about half & half coolies & pack animal, mostly pony. On the hill just before Nang, Box grows well. We collected a little seed. Ceratostigma is the dominant shrub again all the way, with Sophora viciifolia a good second. Juniper from deep to the edge of the escarp just below.

SUMMARY:
Notes record Ludlow at Chayul Dzong, listing seeds of P. tibetica, Ceratostigma, and Iris decora. The page also indicates movement toward Tro Shika.

CONTENT:
Ludlow at Chayul Dzong

Seeds of P. tibetica
Seeds of Ceratostigma
Seeds of the beautiful Iris decora

Ludlow to Tro Shika

SUMMARY:
The party interacted amicably with locals handling poisoned arrows, with Tsongpen’s umbrella causing amusement. Notes include a dog-bite remedy using burnt dog hairs, paying off coolies, headmen assisting with a letter to Ludlow bound for S. Chumbi, and Tsongpen’s plan to cross the Drokung La. On 23 July at Kap it rained, and a new but unstable bridge was seen at Trim, with Ceratostigma common along the valley.

CONTENT:
we looked at their bows & arrows. Tenduk nearly touched
an arrow, but was hurriedly stopped by the Lopa. Of course
they are all poisoned arrows. Tsongpen had his umbrella
which caused great amusement, & they all wanted to
put it up, & they danced about with it. They seemed very
friendly, & did not even ask for anything. I hear the
woman who had her leg bitten by a dog is getting on,
but her leg is swollen & sore. Tenduk says that in
the they put some of the dog's hairs, burnt, in the
wound, & it does a great deal of good. Paid off all
coolies, but they come on tomorrow. The two headmen
have been very helpful indeed. One goes on to S. Chumbi
with a letter to Ludlow. Tsongpen will go from here over
the Drokung La.

23rd July. Kap. 8 m. 11000'. Rained last night & up to
10.0 this morning, but only a light rain. A little rain
at Kap in the evening. A bigger but extremely wobbly
bridge has been built at Trim close to where the old one
was. I doubt if it will last the summer. There is a good
deal of Ceratostigma all the way up the valley, mostly on

SUMMARY:
After an early start, Tasho and his man led the diarist to Codonopsis aff. vinciflora, and there are notes on discussing with HH the organization of medical work in Bhutan, including a hospital at Tongsa and rest houses. On 23 August at Isalunape heavy rains had altered the river and plants were later than in 1937, with the Zimpon improving the lodging. On 24 August at Tahudu the party reached camp early despite washed-out paths, noting large patches of Lilium wallichianum, finding Luculia pinceana, and collecting old seed of Streptocarpus simplex.

CONTENT:
After 6:00 am Tasho rode up the first mile. Here one of his men pointed out Codonopsis 'aff. vinciflora', the one I was looking for when we last passed. It was just where we had been looking, but then it was not in flower, all mixed up in the holly oak foliage. Now we saw about a hundred plants, all just coming into flower, so it must be about a fortnight later this year. Tasho was nicer and showed more life this time. He appears to have been talking to Jigme Dorji about various things in the country - hospital at Tongsa, getting the doctors going, and medicine organised etc. I am going to talk to HH about it all, and see if HH will give Tasho the job of organising all medical work now in Bhutan, also putting the rest houses in order.

23rd August. Isalunape. 5:30 to 10:00. Mist and some rain, but just fine all day. It is obvious that there has been exceedingly heavy rain lately. The river is quite different now and it is over the path in 3-4 places and much discoloured. This certainly seems the wetter month in Bhutan. I notice all plants here are later than in 1937. P. capitata and crispata are just coming into flower now, and in '37 they were in full flower by 12 August. Ceratostigma also is just becoming a fine sight. The Zimpon met me here, and has obviously taken great trouble to make this place better than before. Beds are made, curtains hanging (!) and all sorts of improvements. All I'm afraid of are fleas and bugs.

24th August. Tahudu. Fine most of the day, but misty and damp. There has been terrific rain everywhere lately, and the path is washed away in very many places. We were all in camp by 2:45 or 3, after 5:15 start. The only interesting things were the sight, across the valley here, of 2 patches of each of about 100 Lilium wallichianum. And I found Luculia pinceana. It is a beautiful tree, with very fine big flowers. Got (old) seed of Streptocarpus simplex.

SUMMARY:
The diary records a halt with fine weather, Tsonpen’s recovery, collecting G. Waltoni seeds, paying off coolies, and concern about snow on the Drichung La and Le La while planning to reach Chayul to meet Tenduk and Danang. The next day brought strong winds, continued seed searches including Ceratostigma, and frustration that many seeds (Primula, Meconopsis, Rhododendron) were eaten by bugs.

CONTENT:
...been bad enough for that. We got a pretty good collection of ripe seeds of Gent. Waltoni, but otherwise nothing.

29th October. Halt. Fine all day, but clouded in the morning: much new snow near the Kashong La. Tsonpen is much better today, & should be fit by the morning. Collected two more packets of G. Waltoni. Paid off all coolies at the rate of 3 shao a day. I am now anxious to get to Chayul, & meet Tenduk & Danang & hear how they have got on. There is a lot of snow up the Drichung La range, & I hope there has not been too much on the Le La. The gyunpo says the Drichung La is never closed, but sometimes after snow, they cannot cross it for a few days.

30th October. Kap. 8m. A beautiful morning till 11.0, then clouded over snow on the hills all round. A very strong cold wind blowing up the valley. Got a few more G. Waltoni seed, searched for Ceratostigma seed. But we could only find four seeds. Every bush has been attacked by some bug & all seeds eaten, most annoying. I wonder if this year is specially bad that way, because nearly all seeds have been eaten, Primula, Meconopsis & worst of all, Rhododendron.

SUMMARY:
The diarist notes receiving Wright-Smith's list of last year's primulas and describes relentless rain flooding the Thimbu Chu while marching 11 miles to Pyimitanka and then 10 miles to Paro. Local officials from Paro sent extra servants and a mule, which proves inconvenient, and a specimen of Ceratostigma is collected.

CONTENT:
91

with it Wright-Smith's list of last year's primulas, which makes more pleasant reading. I have not studied it fully or counted the new species yet, but they are pleasantly numerous. A particularly foul day, and we have now had three equally foul running. But it is cool, and the primula roots will not suffer as much as if the sun were bright.

13th To Pyimitanka 11 miles. There is still no stop in the rain, either day or night. Rivers are very high, and the path along the Thimbu Chu was well under water for long spells. The water was over my knees several times. There seems absolutely no reason why it should not rain for another fortnight. Luckily nothing of ours has got wet yet, at any rate the flowers are still dry. I do wish the local officials would allow one to arrive in peace. I have all the servants I want, but three were sent out by Paro a three days' march, with a mule, to meet me. I sent them back one day, but now must keep them with me, they get in the way the whole time. It is of course, very kind of the officials. I wish we could go on straight through Paro without a stop, but I must have a day there. Took a specimen today of a Ceratostigma - nothing else interesting.

14th August. To Paro 10 miles. Another equally foul day: rain all last

SUMMARY:
The party proceeds via Chagal, while the Dzongpen departs to Drokpa La with the Trim jigmpu and a coolie, leaving Tenduk, Ahmad Sheikh, and the diarist with 14 coolies. At Chagal Dzong they record weather and notable plants, and exchange calls with the Dzongpen who arranges matters for the next day.

CONTENT:
134

the south side. 2422. Otherwise the only flower of interest was a Delphinium 2424, with white sepals & black petals. Crops are nearly ripe here, & already some are being cut & threshed. When we were here last, they were only about 2-3 inches up. Dzongpen has gone off to the Drokpa La today with the Trim jigmpu & a coolie, leaving Tenduk, Ahmad Sheikh & I with 14 coolies to go on via Chagal. Nothing of any interest here, no birds worth recording.

24th July. Chagal Dzong. 6 m. Fine all day, with clouds & sun. Rain last night. A dull march in, with nothing much to see. Plenty of Ceratostigma on the hillside, & a lot at camp on the N side of the river. The little Primula tibetica collected here on our way to Lung first time, is still in bloom, & has a scape about 2" long. Also a very bright yellow Pedicularis, all over the boggy meadow. Dzongpen very kind. I see him tomorrow. Tenduk visited him this afternoon.

25th July. Halt. Chagal. Fine most of the day, but no sun. Exchanged calls with the Dzongpen, who was very pleasant, & has made all arrangements for tomorrow. Nothing very

[Marginalia:]
Delphinium 2424
Ceratostigma minus
Pedicularis fletcheri 2427
Pedicularis longiflora v. tubiformis 2429
rec. Sherriff on Dricheng La. 2436
Cremanthodium plantagineum 2435