Showing 9 results

SUMMARY:
Notes Babax waddelli singing and common at Chamu, mentions Ludlow at Loba in Packakshiri, and lists botanical items (Cremanthodium and Rhododendron with numbers). Describes the gradual ascent to Lo La through silver fir forest and reports coolies finding three arrows on the road, taken as a warning of opposition from the Packakshiri people.

CONTENT:
Babax waddelli common Chamu, singing quite prettily.

Ludlow at Loba Packakshiri
Cremanthodium 1892
Rhod. campylocarpum 1893
L. p. 138-9 Ascent to Lo La gradual slope. 2/200 " cinnabarinum 1894
the road does not leave silver fir forest until " ludlowii 1895
within a mile of the summit. " mekongense 1896

139
apparently the coolies are alarmed: they
expect opposition from the Packakshiri people.
They found 3 arrows stuck in the ground
on the road. This is supposed to indicate
opposition to our entering into their country.

SUMMARY:
Notebook page listing plant specimens with collection numbers, taxa, and localities such as Marlung, Pangshang, Chela La, Tseli La, Natu La, Ha (Hato), Shanthang, and Changu, along with day–month collection dates. Brief notes occur for some entries (e.g., possible flower color).

CONTENT:
19776 Lloydia yellow? Marlung. 27.9
19698 Cremanthodium Pangshang 8.9
19856 Prim. capitata v. crispata Maruthang. 17.10
19853 Cyananthus rosatus. Chela la 24.10
19854 Mec. simplicifolia Tseli la 26.10. May be pink 195
19855 " panic or nepal. Tseli la "
19544 Thalictrum chelidonii Damthang. 30.10.
19620 Codonopsis sp. nov. Ha (Hato) "
18040 Crabapple. Ha. 25.10.
19689 Polygonum vacciniifolium Natu la. 31.10 200
19860 Prim. capitata crispata Shanthang. 31.10.
19859 " Kingii. " 1.11
19861 " capitata Natu la 2.11.
(2) 19862 " obliqua Changu. "
19863 Mec. nivosa " "

SUMMARY:
The party halted at Shingbe in heavy rain, arranged outgoing mail via two men from Tiyangpi, and spent the morning collecting birds and noting flowering plants. Ludlow and the diarist obtained several birds including a young Heteroxenicus stellatus, while Dancong located Meconopsis sinuata and marked other plants; a family of Tibetans was also present. A short list of target plants with collection numbers is noted.

CONTENT:
76

I want to collect. If our flower list had been out while I was at home, I should have been able to remember all the ones wanted, as I could have seen the dried specimens. There is rather a nice family of Tibetans here just now — a married couple & five children. When the woman was asked how many children she had, she replied "Five, quickly, one after the other."

25th August. Halt at Shingbe. Rained nearly all day. Two men up from Tiyangpi, so packed up the mail for one of them to take down tomorrow. Ludlow & I went out in the morning & got quite an interesting lot of birds, including one Heteroxenicus stellatus young bird. In the evening we could get nothing though. Dancong found one or two Meconopsis sinuata (886) in flower & bagged or marked various other flowers for collecting later on. Last year our stay here was the finest part of our trip from the weather point of view. This year it seems to be going to be nearly the wettest. It is a pity as it is a beautiful place, & a good collecting ground. Our next incoming mail should have been here about ten

Delph. bhutanicum afflatum 887.
Cremanthodium 888.
Prim. crispata 889.
Pedicularis excelsa 890.
Gentiana clivorum 891.
Mec. sinuata 886.

SUMMARY:
Entries describe camps and travel around the Langong Chu Valley near Langong with rainy weather, extensive botanical observations (including Berberis, Meconopsis, and several Primula), and bird sightings such as snowcock eggs and blood pheasant. Notes mention an attempt toward the Lo La pass, information that Tsari Sama (Tsari SARPA) will not open until August, and companions Tsongpen and Chulia (the latter unwell).

CONTENT:
29

Berberis ludlowii 3851 is very common just in flower now. A fine big-flowered Berberis, 3851 is also common. The flowers are not yet close together however.

Langong Chu Valley
26th May. Camp 2 miles E. of Langong. 7 miles. Rained all night. Fine with showers all day. We started off in good style, finding many flowers, but then got out of the area, and here they are hardly out yet. Found the first Meconopsis betonicifolia 3869, in flower, a good colour. Primula alpicola is just coming into flower in one place, with the yellow form, otherwise red form. Not enough to take as specimens yet. Cremanthodium do exist here; I have seen several close to camp. Saw many snowcock eggs. Blood pheasant also seen in two places. Tsongpen shot one, but it fell at our feet and was too quick for us, running at the rate of knots into the forest again.
Fritillaria cirrhosa 3865, Pieris diffusa 3863, Rhododendron anthopogon 3861, Lysimachia prolifera 3860
Meconopsis betonicifolia 3859, Myricaria dahurica 3870

To Langong, Langong Chu Valley
27th May. Langong. 3 miles. B.P. 190.8. Temp. 58°. Time 11.00 am. Ht approx. 12083'. Rained at night. No sun today, clouded with some showers. This is a lovely valley, broad, with open grassy meadows on the left bank, but forested down to the river on the right. There are very few flowers of interest though. We saw lots of old signs of Primula cawdoriana in one nala. Primula pantlingii, P. hopeana (3880), P. sikkimensis, and P. alpicola are all coming into flower. The headman is not here just now. From information Tsongpen heard, Tsari Sama will not be open till August. It is known more as Tsari SARPA (= new) than Tsari Sama, though both are used. I shot one blackbird here today. They are very common indeed. Instead of skinning, I have injected 8 drops of a 1 to 20 solution of formalin, and 2 drops up the anus. Chulia has a bad head, looks as if he might have fever. I have no aspirin, but luckily have a little quinine and some Ortal. There are lots of Cremanthodium about.

28th May. Halt. Langong. Misty and rain nearly all day. Tsongpen T. went up towards a pass almost due South of Langong. The only name I can get is the Lo La. There is another Lo La further West. All seem to be called the same, just because Lopas come over them. It was misty; I never saw the actual Pass, though I should think it would be 15,000' and about 5-6 miles from Langong. We mean to go again. For a long way, there was nothing at all in the flower line; it began to be a bit...

SUMMARY:
The writer follows a graded path up the Char Chu past villages to Shirap, noting butterflies, hares, and fine weather. They camp above Shirap en route to Trakan La with rain clearing to a fine evening and many Tibetan partridge, then halt at the pass for Ludlow's birthday, making botanical finds.

CONTENT:
142

Delph. brunonianum 1977, Pedicularis globifera 1979, Meconopsis horridula 1980, Aconitum gymnandrum 1981

The path is well graded the whole way, but gets narrower as one gets up. Two villages are passed in the main Char Chu, then at mile 9 or so the path leads up steeper away from the Char Chu left bank to Shirap, where there are several groups of houses. Got some good butterflies here. Hares abound all over the hillside. It is lovely to be in the warm sun all day again, and the rolling hills look very pretty indeed.

9th August. Camp 5 (4 miles above Shirap) of Trakan La. 15000'. 5 miles.
(Gent. krasica 1983, Ajuga lupulina 1984, P. alrodentata 1990)
An easy ascent over grassy hillside up a broad valley. Rain in the morning, then cleared up to a magnificent evening. There are a great number of Tibetan partridge on the hills round about and also hares.

Trakan La
10th August. Halt. Ludlow's birthday. Yesterday we all suffered from headaches, and the servants were none too bright. This must be one of the passes where one gets head, even if not high. Went up to the Trakan La this morning, then split up and came down separately. The best finds were a dwarf Delphinium on the pass, with huge flowers 1997, a fine Cremanthodium 1996 and a pretty little gentian 2008. Another blue gentian hardly in flower 1983 is also a fine one. There is also a primula in seed 1998, probably a nivalis: the seed are
(Delph. labrangeense 1997, Delph. brunonianum 1995, Cremanthodium 1996, Gent. krasica 1983, Gent. aglaia 1999, Gent. marquandii approx 2006, Prim. sinoplantaginea 1998, Wardaster lanuginosus 2001)

SUMMARY:
Page lists plant specimens with collection numbers and localities across Dhur Chu, Goshon La, Jin La, Namda La, Lintang, and Shu Chu. Taxa noted include Anemone rupicola, Carduus, Primula species, Trollius, Meconopsis, Polygonum, Cremanthodium, Pedicularis, Swertia, and a white Crucifer.

CONTENT:
16916

19135 Anemone rupicola Dhur Chu. 3-10
19467 Carduus sp. " "
19750 Prim. macrophylla. Goshon La " X
19785 " sapphirina Dhur Chu. " X
19791 " glabra " " X
19792 Trollius Ranunculus sp. Jin La. "
19793 Mec. bella Namda La " X
19794 Polygonum sp. 2" spikes. Jin La. " X
= 19441 ? 19795 ? Namda La " X
19796 Prim. geraniifolia. Lintang "
19797 Cremanthodium yellow. Namda La "
19798 Pedicularis sp. Jin La. "
19801 Swertia aff hookeriana. Namda La "
19802 (2) Mec. simplicifolia Dhur Chu. "
19803 Crucifer white = 1937 acc Jin La " X

• 804 Prim. pusilla " " X
• 6 (2) Mec. horridula " " Goshon X
• 7 Polygonum sp. 4" tassels. Shu Chu " X
  = 19464 - 8 Prim. sikk. Hopeana red tube Goshon La "

SUMMARY:
Botanical observations near camp included Cremanthodium, P. littledalei, Meconopsis integrifolia, and saxifrages. After leaving the Thira La, Taylor returned to the Gyanda Chu and the party halted at Chomo Dzong to collect coracles and cross the river, observing barley harvesting and local papermaking, before abandoning a planned route from Kyakden to the Rong Chu and proceeding to Dzeng on the Tsangpo, where Primula and Gentiana waltoni were noted.

CONTENT:
Near our camp were very fine. On the high rocky slopes were several species of Cremanthodium, we saw here more fruiting plants of P. littledalei than anywhere else, always growing among boulder scree, or at the foot of cliffs, in crevices protected from rain: a few were still in flower. Beside them grew Meconopsis integrifolia, some still with an odd flower on them. Saxifrages too were common here, the prettiest perhaps being a little wine red one only once seen, Saxifraga (No. 6).

Leaving the Thira La, Taylor returned to the Gyanda Chu, by a valley further North which entered the Gyanda Chu at Chomo Dzong. Here we had to halt a day while coracles were collected to ferry us across the river to the right bank. Barley crops were now ripe and we watched the Tibetans collecting the heads by putting two canes together and drawing them up the straws, pulling the heads off, while leaving the straw standing. Later on we watched the more dangerous method used in cutting the straw. In a small field a dozen or more men stripped to the waist, were let loose with murderous looking scythes on long handles. These were not wielded in the sedate way they are at home, but to the tunes of shouted songs were wildly swung over the left shoulder and head before being brought down in a sweep worthy of a professional golfer. The men did not advance in line, but wandered about where they fancied. Another occupation in which the people of Chomo Dzong were busy, was paper making, we watched this very simple and efficient manufacture from the peeling of the Daphne bark to the setting out of the cloth trays to dry in the air.

Unfortunately we could not manage the proposed trip from Kyakden over the hills to the East into the Rong Chu valley and had to turn down the river to Dzeng on the Tsangpo. Primula was seen on these dry slopes near the valley bed and Gentiana waltoni now appeared on an open dry hillside.

SUMMARY:
The writer describes a difficult return to camp after gear failures, arriving after dark to Ludlow’s camp in snow and thick mist, and notes splendid views around Gorpo La and the Tibetan plateau. On 16 August they traveled to Dongkar Dzong via the Sang La, collecting gentians and butterflies and viewing the Nyamjang Chu and nearby hills toward the Cho La.

CONTENT:
60

valley and 2000 ft down. When I started to return, first Ahmad Sheikh's pony's girth broke, then Culla was thrown, then the girth broke again. Finally we got to where Ludlow had decided to camp, after dark. The rain came on and turned to snow, and there was thick mist. So everything was pretty beastly. Dinner was equally beastly. It was a poor ending to a most perfect day. The mountain to the north of the Gorpo La is magnificent, covered with snow. The view E from the pass, over Tibetan plateau was equally magnificent. During the night there was an inch of snow. On the pass found a Corydalis like flower, pale lavender and a few saxifrages and cremanthodiums.

287 16th August. TO DONGKAR DZONG. 5 m. 13350'. Another
good day but patchy. Climbed up the R. bank to
Sang La Aug. 16. the SANG LA (17129') and rested there for an hour or
Gentiana algida 828. more. The sun came out, with it the gentians,
" " algida 829. parnassius and fritillary butterflies. Caught a
Donkhar number of them and got a few gentians. The view
Hedysarum sp. nov. 832 up the Nyamjang Chu was fine over typical
dry plateau. Dongkar is seen directly below to
the W. of the Sang La and the hills to the SW. near
the Cho La were occasionally seen. Lunched

SUMMARY:
From Tongkyuk Dzong, the party reconnoitred toward the Soshe La but was turned back by deep snow, placed a thermograph, and noted views of Gyala Peri. Botanical observations included Meconopsis and Nomocharis, abundant capsules on Lilium wardii, and a noteworthy Lonicera; weather was cold with light snow. The old Dzongpon prepared to depart for Lhasa, and local peaks including Rangzen Karpo were discussed.

CONTENT:
moraine, when the road disappeared, & became too bad for ponies. Here I stopped and Ludlow went on, on foot, to try to reach the pass. He was held up by snow up to his knees & had to give up. While he was away, I looked at the cliff beside me & at the foot of it, & found many Mec. paniculata, a few M. speciosa, Primula aff. hyacinthina, several Allium, a Nomocharis & other signs of good things. We returned to camp at 6.0 pm.

1st Jan. 1947. Tongkyuk Dzong. Left at 8.0, & back at 2.0 pm. Nothing new seen on the way. We looked for Cremanthodium, but found none. The only game bird seen on the trip was one ♀ tragopan on the way up. The trip was worth while - we placed the thermograph: we saw the Soshe La: & saw that the area is undoubtedly a good one for flowers. There is a very fine view of the snow peaks around Gyala Peri from a little below the entrance to the Soshe La, with the river in the foreground.

2nd Jan. Halt. - Cloudy all day + cold, though min. temp. was high. Ludlow found two Lil. Wardii, one with 22 pods & one with 14. Both bulbs very big — one 8" in circumference. (Later saw one with 28 capsules). We can get little information about the mountains to the SE of here. The big one most obvious from here is called Rangzen Karpo & Gyala Peri is said to be more to the South i.e. right from here, but not visible.

3rd Jan Halt. - Cloudy all day, with snow in the evening down to about 10,000' but clearing up. Ludlow found a very interesting shrub 12062, a Lonicera, in flower. We have never seen this before.

4th Jan. Halt. - Only a very little snow fell, none in Tongkyuk, but pretty well up the hills. Even what fell will not last for long. We find that the old Dzongpon is going back to Lhasa now, so are sending with him a few