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SUMMARY:
Field notes from Damthang and the Ha valley describe rainy conditions limiting bird observations, steep descents from the Ha La, and exploration towards the Kyu La. Numerous plants were collected or noted, and a Serow was observed at close range; ticks and lice are mentioned as prevalent in the jungle.

CONTENT:
23

with small rhododendrons, some of which were in flower.
We saw no butterflies & few birds owing to the rain. There are
new kinds of birds here though & a good number of flowers.

Fritillaria (42)
Lloydia tibetica (43)
Collected a Fritillaria 3/4 m below the Kyu La, near the big
Meconopsis, which should be out in two weeks. It is white, &
probably imperialis: also found an Asphodel. Descent from
Meconopsis bhutanica sp. nov. (44)
the Ha La is very steep for a good two miles & then an
Pieris villosa 46
Euphorbia sikkimensis 47
easy descent into this valley which looks very fine -
Berberis virescens 48
Rh. wightii 49. rather more open than the Charithang valley. It should be a
good place to collect in. Rest House much the same as at
Charithang.

3rd June. Damthang Yesterday was fine most of the day, today only for a
short time in the morning & again in the evening. The jungle is
everywhere very thick & almost impossible to see birds in. Although
there must be new kinds here, we have hardly seen any. Today
we went 3 m up the Ha valley - which is wrongly marked on the
map - that to the North being the real Ha river.

4th June. Mostly fine till midday, then rain. Went up towards the
Kyu La got two new species & a butterfly or two. Saw a Serow (Himalayan goat-antelope)
twice, the last time at 40-50'. It stood absolutely still watching
B.S. cont. us & appeared to be quite happy & unafraid. It was in excellent
Ludlow spotting birds condition, with a good grey coat & fair horns. Found a few
from Damthang well filled ticks on me this morning & Ludlow got a louse. The
bungalow. jungle seems to be full of them, but no leeches anyway -
June 4. Pedicularis siphonantha (53) Pedicularis elephas (52) Spiraea bella (51)
Gypsophila cerastioides (54) Iris clarkei (56)

SUMMARY:
Diary records travel from Lo La and Singo Samba to Molo, where Taylor arrives, followed by several halt days to reorganise. The party then moves to camps on the Langong Chu and above Singo Samba while Ludlow and Taylor explore down the Lilung Chu; mail and future rendezvous plans are noted. Botanical collecting is mentioned throughout, though limited by logistics and weather.

CONTENT:
Lo La
May 16. R. forrestii var. repens 3783, Primula 3784, Calostrotum 3785.
Singo Samba, Loda Chu near Molo. May 16. R. chaetomallum var. chamaephytum 3786. R. ponderosum 3792. 78.
P. calderiana 3788, locosa 3789. Paraquilegia anemonoides 3790. Lloydia tibetica 3791. R. laudum var. lucidum 3793.

masses, just coming into flower now. There is still a lot of snow on this side; Ludlow's Primula elizabethae has still a covering of 3ft over it. But I saw it on the south of the pass in masses yesterday on a small patch clear of snow. It was 1-1 1/2" up, so it won't be very long in coming away now. We hear here that there is no news of Taylor yet in Molo. They know of our coming. However, no news is good news, as had he had to turn back, I think our mail would have arrived with news of Taylor's return. We all crossed this fine bridge in style; Ludlow had no great difficulty this time. He could not have turned whether he wanted to or not.

Taylor arrives
17th May. To Molo. 10 miles. Fine road. Arrived in Molo 1:30 pm. Taylor walked in at about 3:00, before our kit had arrived. A wonderfully well-timed meeting, seeing he was last talked to by either of us in London by phone on 12th Feb.

Molo - Halt, reorganise kit and loads, buying bags of flour, developing photographs, planning future.
18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23rd May. Halt Molo. Dry sunny weather on the whole. Taylor is collecting masses of things, thoroughly happy. I have been too busy to get very much collecting done. Coolies were difficult. We should have been off on the 23rd, but no one turned up at all.

24th May. To Camp on Langong Chu, 5 miles south of Molo. Rained all night. Heavy rain 7:00 to 9:00 then a fine day. Coolies and ponies all turned up and we were off at 7:00. As we had had so much trouble last time, I did not try to go far, and kit was all in by 2:00 pm. Ludlow and Taylor went off down the Lilung Chu, starting at the same time. They have Pinso, Tenduk, Dawd, Ramzana and Tsering. I have Cutha, Kusho and Tsourpon. I fancy they are off to a very good area, though there will be some trouble in getting there. But this area also will be good, and also will be difficult. Nothing of interest to me was found today. The mail went off at 6:30, and then we were glad to get on the move again. We hope to see our next mail when we all meet at Tsala Dz. on 31st July. They will not come via Molo, but direct down the river, and should take 21 days or so.

25th May. To Camp 3 miles above Singo Samba. 7 miles. Height approx. 11,500'. Rained during the night. Fine today except for showers. Nothing much seen along the river bank. The path is in fine forest most of the way, with a few small clearings every now and then. Primula prenantha 3848.

SUMMARY:
Notes describe the Tsari river dropping rapidly like a cataract, with estimates of 500–600 ft per mile after leaving camp. A plant list is recorded at Podzo Sumdo (22 May), and observations at Migyitun note cultivation and a nearby holy lake Tso Kar, with black currants often epiphytic and biting insects common between there and Chick Kar.

CONTENT:
192.4
53

10033
1.0466
10033
40132
60198
1049451

L. p. 96. Killing of newly born calves?
(offspring of "Dzos")

Tsari river falling at a tremendous pace.
For over a mile it was nothing but a
cataract confined to a narrow boulder
strewn bed.

Podzo Sumdo
22 May
Diapensia himalaica 1640
P. atrodentata 1641
spru. "tsariensis 1650
dictyoneura 1654
praealta 1658
glabra 1642
Lloydia tibetica 1645
Pedicularis roylei 1646
Rhod. tsangpoense var.
pruniflorum 1647

• Calostrotum 1649

• lopsangianum 1631
  Anthopogon 1653
  Caloxanthum 1656
  Vaccinium sikkimense 1644
  " nummularia 1655
  Sax. granulata 1659

  9205.
  1.0599
  9205
  46025
  82845
  8284
  9757.379

L. p. 98 I think the Tsari river must be dropping
500-600 ft per mile for the first mile after leaving camp.

At Migyitun the valley opens out & there is quite a lot of cultivation including barley, potatoes,
turnips etc. Half the inhabitants here are either pure Lobas or have Loba blood in them.
A large stream comes in from the North & 2 marches distant is a holy lake "Tso Kar".
Black currants abound between here & Chick Kar. A curious feature about the bushes
is that they are frequently epiphytic.
Biting midges, ticks, fleas, & of course a louse or two.