Showing 10 results

SUMMARY:
The diarist halts at Sakden and ascends toward the Nyuksang La, but cloud prevents views of northern snow peaks; the pass height is recorded. Gentiana amoena is abundant on the Meha and some Primula seed is collected, though many bagged specimens were eaten by sheep or yaks. The Kazi has tended the potted plants, most of which have survived.

CONTENT:
113

[Marginal note: Ludlow p. 149. The Nyuksang La is just a subsidiary pass leading from the Sakden valley into the Mera valley, the latter river emptying into the Gamri Chu above Phongme.]

...of the Meconopsis grandis, a wine-red Primula and perhaps the yellow one too, but I doubt about the blue one. The bags on the latter were all eaten by yaks. The Kazi has looked after the potted plants well enough, and all but two (a saxifrage) are alive.

20th October Halt Sakden. Another grand day, though there were clouds away to the North even early in the morning. I left Sakden at 5.20 and went up to the Nyuksang La. Left the ponies at the hut, and walked up to the North to a peak. But the clouds covered all the view of the snow hills to the north. Although it was very pretty, there was no chance of getting any bearings or even a useful photo. Then walked along the tops to the Nyuksang La, where I took the height (B.P. 187.7 Temp. 55° = Ht. 13766').

[Marginal note: Gentiana amoena 1001]
There were masses of that lovely Gentiana amoena found on the Meha (1001). The locals eat this, either when in flower or dead: it is cooked in ghee and said to be very 'sweet'. I tried to collect seeds up there and found some of Primula No. 602.

[Marginal note: Primula glabra 602]
[Note above text: Primula gambeliana]
The other one 608 (or 611) I could not find. The Kazi did not find the bagged specimens either. All have been eaten by sheep or yaks.

[Note above text: Primula strumosa]
No. 612 could not be found either. It had also been completely cleared by animals, but I have three bags of...

SUMMARY:
After descending in snowy conditions, the writer reached Sakden and collected Gentiana amoena and other material, preparing seeds to send via Trashigong. The following day they halted at Sakden to process seeds and flowers; Lumsden treated patients and cut the writer’s hair, while Ludlow improved the camp with a fireplace in the dining room amid cold nighttime temperatures.

CONTENT:
Sakden 13th March.
Prim. white 1215. P. gracilipes 1216

... in flower down to about 12,500, when it gave out, was replaced by 1166 again. I collected a bit of ground which had a lot of Gentiana amoena on it. No seeds were left in the capsules, but they must be in the ground with the living sprouting roots. I will send them by air if the post leaves Trashigong on our arrival there. I have put it in a tin with a hundred or more holes. Similarly I have tinned some of 1166. There was a lot of snow on the way down. I reached Sakden at 2:00 pm, to find Ludlow and Lumsden very fit. Ludlow had some food birds again, and flowers much the same as I collected.

14th March. Halted Sakden. I only went out for three or four hours this morning, and have been doing up seeds and flowers since. Lumsden has been very busy with patients. However he helped to cut my hair with clippers, and made a good job of his first effort. Here there is the usual village built for us, but Ludlow has added a fireplace in the dining room. It is very fine and a great boon. It is cold at night here. The temp. inside my room 3 ft from the ground was 23° last night. The days are

[Margin notes: Gentiana amoena, Sakden, Juniperus recurva, Tsuga dumosa 1180, Rhod. cavaleriei-florum 1181 1183, Rhod. arboreum 1182]

SUMMARY:
Kuship and Damong rejoined the party; Damong reported seed collections from the Mela and brought two gentians (Nos. 1001, 1002). The diarist treated a wounded Tibetan while moving him toward Sana hut, stayed in the Dzong, paid coolies, and noted rain overnight and fleas despite the building being relatively new.

CONTENT:
103

both met us on the way, both looking very fit. Kuship has had no fever. Damong got a good number of seeds at the Mela, and had awful weather all the time he was away. He says he sent a man up to Chukas for the seed bagged there. We stay in the Dzong - a new part of it - which saves a bit for the next march. Coolies came up in numbers this morning. When they took us up, I gave 3 tankhas and 1 extra between each two. This they thought was too good, and boys ran away from their houses, where they should be watching the makki to come up and earn as much again. The Tibetan went down yesterday evening to Sana hut and I visited him there and dressed his wound. He went on early this morning and we dressed him again half way. He walked what he could - short stretches of 200 yards here and there, and was carried the rest, about 10 miles I suppose. He progresses well. Damong brought down two good gentians in flower - Nos. 1001 and 1002 - which I photographed here.

(Gentiana amoena 1001 "silvostriata" 1002)

10th October. Halted Trashiyangsi. Rained all night, cleared up by 8.0 and was fine all day. We both spent a pretty miserable night last night. Although pretty new, this part of the Dzong has been occupied long enough for it to be well stocked with fleas. I have never

SUMMARY:
Notes on Cine film No. 1 with views of Kangchenjunga from Lagyap, scenes near Galingka and Lingmothang, and plant observations at Lingmothang and Gautsa. Records currency exchanged at Phari with rates and totals.

CONTENT:
314

Kalimpong 14th October 1946
to

Cine film No. 1 Kangchenjunga from Lagyap.
Primula gracilipes
Views near Galingka & Lingmothang
Gentiana amoena at Lingmothang.
Fruit of Sorbus sp. at Gautsa.

Changed money at Phari @ 3.35 sangs per rupee
Rs 2000 = 6700 sangs.
and Rs 1000 = 3400 sangs at 3.4 Doke Ripon
Rs 800 = 2680 ? 3.35
12780

SUMMARY:
Travel from Gyantse to Dochen via Phari and Tuna with notes on weather, flowering plants, and limited seed collecting. Transport disputes with local headmen lead to a bribe; Pangdatshang intervenes, the party meets Dorje Tsering, exchanges currency, attempts wildfowl hunting, and receives letters of introduction from Tsarong.

CONTENT:
21st October. Gyantse. Very fine day after three days of heavy rain. We are not taking any specimens yet, but only a few seeds here & there. Today there were several fine clumps of Gentiana amoena in full bloom. Besides these there are many of a sp. of small blue Swertia, some Asters, Cyananthus lobatus, the usual odd blooms of Rhod. cinnabarinum which always appear in October. The Headmen of Yatung lived up to their reputation. They will not supply transport at the rates laid down. We have transport from Kalimpong to Gyantse, & yesterday the headmen tried to stop it going beyond Yatung. However Pangdatshang ordered them to let us go without hindrance.

22 October. Phari. Very cold in the morning, with thin clouds. Cleared up later and was lovely. Met by Dorje Tsering this time. Exchanged rupees at 3.35 sangs per rupee. The only seeds collected were P. bellidifolia. I could not find P. tenella under the snow.

23rd October. Tuna. A clear but very cold day indeed until we reached Shabra Shubra, about 12.15. As usual we could not get off to time, even though we had our own through transport. Last night the Phari headmen demanded a bribe. We could take our own transport if we liked, they said: if we did then they would of course not supply any other sahibs. Rs 20 bribe paid that night. Saw no gazelle or game of any kind.

24 October. Dochen. Fine still. Went after duck & geese in the afternoon. Have seen but we could get near nothing. Got a large letter from Tsarong enclosing several letters to people on our way. These should be very useful later on. All are in Tibetan, so we have not been able to see yet who they are addressed to.

SUMMARY:
Log of black-and-white and Kodachrome photographs and associated plant specimens from Bumthang and nearby areas including Phobsukha, Bumthang Chu below Sumitang, and wildlife observations at Pangotang and Tolegang. Mentions G.S., Pasang, and a guide near Chachu La, with a consignment noted as sent on 12/9.

CONTENT:
124

BW 13 Ludlow F.P. from Bumthang.

1. Houses in Phobsukha village. mist 28/8 1. Incarvillea grandiflora 16722 1000.
2. View up Bumthang Chu below Sumitang 6/9 2. Rhod. sp. 16752 "
3. Gentiana sp. 19706 8/9 3. Potentilla sp. 16792 "
4. Aconitum sp. 19710 10/9 4. Cushion plant. 16784 "
5. " " 19710 " 5. Prim. umbratilis. 16811 "
6. Pleurogyne sp. 19728 " 6. Mec. horridula, all colour forms. "
7. Gentiana amoena 19721 " 7. Prim. uniflora. 17106. No good
8. " " " in camp. flos. open. 11.9. 8. Lychnis sp. 17154 (or)
9. G.S., Pasang + Guide nr Chachu La. 13/9 9. Mec. horridula. red issue. "
10. Polygonum vacciniifolia 19689 16/9 10. Prim. tsariensis v. alba. 17140 "
11. Allardia sp. 19716 16/9 11. " " " " 17140 "
12. All V.S. 12. " umbratilis v. alba. 17161 "

Kodachrome 29
Buckwheat fields at Bumthang. 3/9.
Ibis bill at Pangotang. Tele. 7/9.
Gentiana 19706 8/9
Aconitum sp. 19710 10/9
Pleurogyne sp. 19728 "
Burhel at Tolegang "
Sent 12/9.

SUMMARY:
At Haat, the author stayed near camp while Tundru and Pasang collected flowers, noting scarce seed and planning routes toward Waitang, Marlung, Chu doen, Sin La, Dhen, and an arrival at Bumthang, with shifting weather. The next day they made a long excursion from Haat; Tundru collected Allardia glabra near Tolepong Tso, and they found P. umbellata and a wine-purple Gentiana on screes, though seeds were mostly unripe.

CONTENT:
138

9th Sept. Haat. I stayed near camp today, Tundru and Pasang went off to the N.E. They got some flowers, but seed again were difficult. Seed of P. sphaerostachyum was all eaten by bugs. Also a very fine Polygonum (Polygonum griffithii 19715) had no seed - I got 14 seed out of at least 1000 flowers! I spent some time in making out dates from here to Waitang, Marlung and across to the Chu doen and the Sin La to Dhen. Our real movement will start on the 19th and we will have a very full Oct 7th when we reach Bumthang. Today was the same as the last three days - a lovely morning, and heavy rain in the afternoon. But it does not look like the monsoon rain. No doubt we'll get lots more rain, but I don't think it will be the same as before.

10th Sept. Haat. Fine all day except for a short shower at midday. This was a good day on the whole, though few seeds were got. We left at 5.30 and returned at 5.0pm. At the first drogpa above the forest there is masses of the fine Aconite found yesterday, and we should get roots of it if not seed. The two best flowers found were both high altitude ones, from about 15000' or above. Tundru got a very nice wine coloured Allardia (Allardia glabra 19716) from the left hand valley after turning R. at Tolepong Tso. I did not see this myself anywhere. We went up the right hand valley, as before, and on the same scree found a good many Sax's of course P. umbellata. This is the almost white one. Seed was not ripe, though it should be by 1 Oct. want to go again. This scree is at the right hand end of the big cliff facing one, as one leaves the Tolepong Tso. Away behind this in a cup to the right there are some more screes, and in one of them we found a fine Gentian (Gentiana amoena 19721). This is G. amoena or near it, but grows only in sand scree, which amoena doesn't. Also it is not blue, but a deep wine or wine purple, rather a nice, or more unusual

SUMMARY:
Page lists photographic subjects and notes for multiple film rolls, including Gentiana veitchiorum, Aconitum sp., Polygonum vacciniifolium, yak, and views such as Kangkar Punsum. Locations mentioned include Tolegang, Chachhu La, Waitang, green lake, Ngadap, and Namgre, with dated entries from 13 to 27 September 1949 and several dispatch notes.

CONTENT:
148

B.W. 14
1 Gent. Veitchiorum from above. 19759 20/9
2 " " on bank. " "
3 " " " " "
4 " " lake & snows behind .. "
5 Ngadap & Namgre.
6 Aconitum sp. 1977. 23/9
7
8
9 Not taken
10
11
12

Dufaycolour 23
1 Polygonum vacciniifolium. Tolegang 16/9 19/16
2 )
3 ) Phardia 19716 16/9
4 ) 4. Sent 18/9.
5
6

Dufaycolour 24
1 Gent. Veitchiorum 19759 20/9
2 " " " "
3 " " on bank "
4 " " " " no filter "
5 " " " " "
6 " " with lake behind & snows ..

7 ) add to 24.
8 ) Aconitum sp. 1977 23/9
9 )
4 ) 24 & 9 pieces
5 ) sent 25/9
6 )

Kodachrome 30
G.S. Pasang near Chachhu La. 13/9.
Polygonum vacciniifolium 16/9.
Burhel above Tolegang in skyline. "
Phardia. 19716 "
Gentiana amoena 19721. camp. 18/9.
5' out of focus. view. Sent 18/9.

Kodachrome 31
Gent. Veitchiorum 19759
" " on bank, with tele lens etc. All on
lakeside green lake. 20.9.49
Yak, snows behind.
" " "
Sent 25/9

Kodachrome 32
Gent. 19759 by stream camp Waitang. 21.9.
Aconitum sp. 1977. 23.9.
Drogpa women spinning wool, outside. 26.9.
Kangkar Punsum 27.9.
Yak & " " "

SUMMARY:
After shooting two snowcock, the party descends to the Seti Chu, then ascends the Dza La en route from Mago toward Tsona and descends to Cen where herdsmen are camped. They collect Gentiana amoena (2773) and another Gentian (2772) but most seeds are worm-eaten; Tenduk is sick, others have headaches, and the day is very cold and windy over two 17,000 ft passes.

CONTENT:
196

Shot two snowcock. Descent easy on South over open scree, yaks and shepherds still at the head of the Seti Chu, which is reached at about m. 8. Here the Mago road continues to the South. The path to the Dza La - direct from Mago to Tsona turns right handed and ascends pretty steeply to the pass at m. 9 1/2. Thence easy descent over rocks at first, grass later, to Cen, where yaks and herdsmen are still camped. On the Dza La I found the Gentiana amoena (G. vernula 2773) we have come all this way for, and collected a good many hundred heads. On sorting them out this evening, I find about 50-60 seeds only, the rest all being eaten by some blasted worm. We also got lots of another Gentian 2772, which may be G. musigena, but it is so dried up that I cannot say what it is. Tenduk was sick this side of the Dza La, and I think the rest have headaches. A hard day, with two passes over 17,000 ft. Last night the wind never dropped at all, but blew hard down the valley all night and today too. The passes were very cold indeed. Here the wind is much less. The atmosphere was as clear as could be. I rather think there may be a few clouds forming for tomorrow, but we have no grouse, and the worst passes are over.

SUMMARY:
Knight arranges to forward mail to Tsona or Sangachöling, with plans to have someone at S.C. bring it on. The diarist travels in heavy rain from Cyandro to Kyimpu, changing coolies en route, and notes several alpine plants, hoping to find Gentiana amoena in flower on the Leda.

CONTENT:
Knight fixed about the mail, but he will always forward mail either to Tsona or to Sangachöling. We must get someone at S.C. to bring it on to us. I think perhaps this is the best way of doing it.

26th July. Cyandro. 12 miles. Rained all day very hard. Nothing seen at all till near Cyandro, where I saw a good deal of that pretty vinca-blue creeper 2423 (Codonopsis vinciflora), collected again under a new number. Here there is one big Aconite (Aconitum orochryseum sp. nov. 2433, viridiflorum 2433) 5 1/2 - 6 ft tall, but nothing else of interest seen. Had to change coolies half way, but there was not very much delay, as notice had been sent on. Great hopes for tomorrow: we should find some good things on the way up the Leda, & I hope that Gentiana amoena will be in flower on the top.

27th July. Kyimpu. 12,500. 12 miles. Yesterday was really a foul day; it rained all evening then all night. Today was reasonably fine till about 10. Then rain hard all day. There was not very much to be seen all day - on the way up a small campanula & a very small Meconopsis (Meconopsis 2451), with fine blue flowers. Gentiana amoena seems hardly any further on than when I was there last, three weeks ago. Near it were two Cremanthodium (Cremanthodium sherriffii 2458, Cremanthodium purpurifolium 2454), one of which I had (Rhododendron lepidotum 2447, Codonopsis convolvulacea 2448, Cyananthus incanus 2452, thermile 2457, Fritillaria fusca sp. nov. 2459).