Showing 12 results

SUMMARY:
A local messenger is sent over the Sebri La to Charkakora to arrange a meeting at Pangkar. After heavy rain, the Kuomo Chu bridge is washed away; two Tibetans visit from Tsari Chikchar, Pasang departs for Julu to collect mice, and Ngudup recounts a recent landslip that killed 11 people. The following day brings more rain, little of botanical interest, and hopes for a letter from Betty.

CONTENT:
by sending a local over the Sebri La to Charkakora. I said then back in four days, so as to meet me at Pangkar. A man agreed at the great cost of Rs 7/- + the chance of a tip! So off he goes early tomorrow.

28th April. Halt. We had an absolute deluge of rain last night till a late hour, & that finished the rain for a little, as today has been perfect. But the bridge over the Kuomo Chu was washed away early this morning. It is as well we did our tour on the other side yesterday. The bridge even then was very shaky, & I knew it would soon go. Got nothing of interest today. Two Tibetans came into camp, & one recognized me. They had come from Tsari Chikchar, & one had been a coolie with me round the "Kingkor". They remembered our last visit quite well. Pasang goes off tomorrow to Julu, for the mice there, & back on 30th. We tried up a very steep side valley to the west today. I thought Ngudup was nervous all the time, & he told me this afternoon that that valley had come down in a landslip only 5 or 6 years ago, smashed all the houses & killed 11 people. After last night's rain he expected a repetition it seems.

29th April. Halt. A fine morning, suddenly clouding over, & raining by 1.0 pm. Pasang went off at 6.0 & I went up more than half way with him. There was hardly anything to be seen, certainly other than we had already collected. Rhod. Lindleyi very common everywhere, as is Magnolia Campbellii. I fear Pasang will get very little. Betty should by now have got my letter, & I hope will send one back tomorrow. It will be interesting to hear how they got on. While

SUMMARY:
The diarist travels 9 miles to Le in wet monsoon conditions with difficulty obtaining coolies, noting a fine, sweet-scented rhododendron near the top end of the Pangchen plain and abundant magnolias above camp. A preceding note mentions plants at Sanga Choling and Chosam, lack of gentians and Cyananthus wardii seed above Sanga Choling, and time spent in Tsari in July and September.

CONTENT:
36

Sanga Choling, Adonis at Chosam and several other plants. I got no gentians nor seed of Cyananthus wardii which is abundant above Sanga Choling, — ... I was in Tsari for a week in July and a bad week in September."

4th April. To Le. 9 miles. B.P. 197.5° Temp. 51. Time 4.30 p.m. Ht. 8050'.

Quite a good day, but very wet from 10.30 on. The monsoon seems definitely to have begun in earnest. Coolies difficult to get, some had not arrived by 7.0 p.m. The finest flower seen was a Rhododendron 1269, about 1/2 m above the bridge at the top end of the Pangchen plain. It really is a grand flower & sweet smelling as well. More R. Boothii (R. gracilipes) also seen at most waterfalls. At one, beside the second bridge, it must have been a wonderful sight a month ago, but is all over now. The path is good the whole way, but built up on galleries here & there over the river. But it is well built everywhere, & not in bad repair. Only a few houses here. Rhododendrons not numerous, but magnolias (Magnolia campbellii) are a wonderful sight just above us here.

SUMMARY:
Notes describe masses of Primula denticulata near Ayipu and few flowers around a halt at Shakti, with magnolias and pine noted on nearby hillsides. The march to Pangchen (10 miles) includes river crossings by bamboo bridge, travel along the right and left banks, and a landmark Chorten Qorra, with observations on weather, temperature, and altitude.

CONTENT:
here at Ayipu. They were first seen at Kini, but on this side one sometimes sees the ground covered with them. At the moment they are only a foot or two high. Primula denticulata (Tahtoo) is here in masses too. There is a patch of fine old pine trees (Pinus wallichiana 1231) above the village (1231) - magnolias are common a little further up. A lovely day till the afternoon, then clouded, some rain by 5.30 pm.

26th March. Halt Shakti. A fine day again. But I can find no flowers anywhere, only a few trees of interest. Primula denticulata (1202) is wonderful in places, whole stretches of the hillside being covered with them. And Magnolia campbellii too shows up as a belt of white at about 8500, running round the hillside. (Juniperus recurva).

To 27th March. Pangchen. 10 miles. B.P. 199.8° Temp. 66° 3.0 pm. Approx height 6953'. A better march as far as length is concerned. Down to the river, which is crossed by a bamboo bridge at mile 2. Then up the Right bank, close to the river the whole way to an enormous Chorten Qorra at mile 8. Cross the river again just above here to the Left bank. Then sharply

SUMMARY:
The diarist reports scarce, undrinkable water and a poor route. On 3rd May they camped on a ridge south of Jirgang Chu, with rain overnight, clear morning, and mist returning at noon; coolies traveled from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. They glimpsed Dungshigou and noted abundant rhododendrons and magnolias (Nos. 2980, 2982, 2983) with color variation by elevation.

CONTENT:
down, but I could not get a clear space through the forest to get a photograph. There is some drift snow still on it. The water here is quite undrinkable and very scarce. Tomorrow there is none at all, either on the way or at camp. In fact this is not too good a route altogether.

3rd May. Camp on ridge S. of Jirgang Chu 5 miles. Coolies 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. Rained pretty hard a good deal of the night, but was clear and bright in the morning, mist came up again at 12:00. Got a glimpse of Dungshigou through the trees at 6:30. The path was more non-existent than ever today, and a lot of cutting had to be done. But it follows the extreme ridge almost all the way. We came across first a white epiphytic Rhododendron (No 2980, Rh. Dalhousiae? Lindleyi?) then a lot of Magnolia Campbellii (No 2982). Then Rh. grande (falconeri) (No 2983) which covers an area on the hillside everywhere. It is in full bloom and really a grand sight. Low down it was definitely yellow with a biggish magenta blotch, but higher up was much paler with a small blotch. Here there were some pink

SUMMARY:
Field notes from Gyechar describe an early start aided by two of H.H.'s men and an ascent to Tunk La, with observations of primulas (including P. bracteosa, P. gracilipes, and P. whitei) and changing vegetation with altitude. Weather was fine to cloudy with mist at night, elevations ranged from about 9525' to ~12900', and magpies were seen in the evening.

CONTENT:
which were not in flower. Magnolia campbellii (18648) was a very fine sight indeed, in full bloom, very common. Of primulas we found P. bracteosa (18644) almost over, another I don't think I have seen before, perhaps P. listeri (18669). It is really lovely to get away on the job again. We had a fine day with interesting flowers on the whole. Fine, clouding later, mist at night.

10th April. Gyechar. 10 miles. 195.4. 64°. 2.0 pm. 9525'. There was some rain at night, the day was cloudy with bright intervals. We were very early up & off by 5.45 which was good for our young team. Having two of H.H.'s men helps a great deal. They are good & what's more they are prepared to work. P. bracteosa was very common on the way up, & I took it again in better flower 18675. While taking it, I saw growing with it P. gracilipes 18673, which was very pretty there. P. bracteosa gives place to P. gracilipes above 11500'. Later on, further up, we came across P. whitei 18676, and was common up to the top & much further down this side. I must say I think it one of the best primulas there is. It was markedly short of the usual farina, in fact showed none of the copious farina so usual until we found some quite low down on this side. The path up & down is quite good, & the Tunk La is about 12900' (BP 189.3. 58°. 9.30 am). We made it 5 miles up & 5 down, the east side being easier on the whole. Vegetation changes rapidly. Rhododendron species predominate at the top, & give way suddenly to Tsuga, Picea & Pinus excelsa, the last of which continue down here. I saw two pairs of magpies here this evening, as I've seen them

SUMMARY:
Observations note a steep-sided Nyam Jang Chu valley with villages high above the river, abundant Primula denticulata, and few other flowers. On 24 March a halt at Gyipu included a jungle walk with Magnolia campbellii and rhododendron seen, and on 25 March the party marched to Shakti over ridges with scarce flowers but plentiful Lilium giganteum in damp places.

CONTENT:
3 or 4 ft. of snow on it. Primula denticulata is very common here again. I can't see much else, but in the jungle some way away there are flowering trees. The Nyam Jang Chu valley is very steep sided. Villages here are numerous & fairly big, all situated 2000 ft above the river. Hence the reason for going up & down all the time.

24th March. Halt Gyipu. A lovely morning, with no clouds, but by 2.0pm, it was clouded over. No rain here, but some up the valley. I went up through the jungle, but saw nothing but a primula not in flower, a lot of Magnolia Campbellii & a Rhododendron. The main valley is precipitous most of the way up as far as we can see.

Prim. denticulata? is everywhere, as at Takhtoo.

25th March. To SHAKTI. BP. 199.9 Temp 58° 5.5pm Approx ht. 6790 ft.

The usual march, round a few ridges, down 1500 ft & up about the same again, across a side valley etc. There is not much difference in this place & in Gyipu. Flowers are few & far between. I have never seen so many Lilium giganteum as there are in nearly all damp places, both

SUMMARY:
Orchids and magnolias were noted near the pass, and a snake that struck the diarist’s shoe was killed by Tsongpen. Rinso struggled with the local dialect, and the writer records route details around Nabzi, including the confluence at Nimjhong, the path to Trongsa via the Takotse La, and camp and weather notes.

CONTENT:
Coelogyne corymbosa 2954 Dendrobium nobile 2957 10
Phaius flavus 2956

Other flowers were mostly orchids. We passed and killed one snake, said to be poisonous. It ran right into my foot, hitting my shoe, but did not seem to be particularly angry. Tsongpen dealt with it with a stick. Magnolias were very common up near the pass; as there were some pink ones, they are probably Mag. campbellii. But the one we took was neither that nor M. globosa, probably a michelia. The locals talk a dialect Rinso has a great deal of difficulty in understanding. Beside the village, opposite, there are some Pinus longifolia, but not enough to exploit. This river meets the Trongsa Chu at Nimjhong. From Nabzi a path leads to Trongsa and takes five days from here. There is sometimes some snow, but the path is open all year round, over the Takotse La.

29th April. Nabzi. 1 1/2 m. BP. 204.2° Temp 4000' 76° Time 4.0 pm.
Kept the coolies and came on here this morning, as being a better camp. Path crosses river by bridge and leads straight up to the cultivated fields of buckwheat. At the top of these lies Nabzi, where there is a monastery. Fine all day yesterday and all last night.

SUMMARY:
Notes describe a valley with magnolia and pine, a Jasminum dispermum at a bamboo bridge, and Primula gracilipes at a waterfall by the Chorten, thought to be where Kingdon Ward previously collected it. On 28th March at Pangchen, a few orchids and Mahonia sidneyi sp. nov. were found; ticks were troublesome, and the party decided the locality was poor but stayed due to illness.

CONTENT:
up where an old landslide has made a block in the
valley. At mile 9, the valley opens out and there is a
plain about 2 miles long and at most 500 acres. Got
a Jasminum dispermum at the first bamboo bridge 1238, and a few
other shrubs of not much interest. Primula gracilipes was still
just in flower at the waterfall beside the Chorten, but
nearly over. This must be the place that Kingdon Ward
took it from. I saw it at no other waterfalls today.
This place is lower than I had hoped. Most flowers are
probably above 10,000 or below 6,000 just now. Magnolia
campbellii trees make a white line along the hillsides,
they are abundant and beautiful, between about 7,500 - 8,500 or a little higher. There are
a fine lot of pines here. The East face is more or
less covered with them right down to camp.

28th March. Halt Pangchen. Nothing found today but a
Cymbidium hookerianum 1245, Mahonia sidneyi sp. nov. 1247,
Dendrobium and Primula gracilipes again, above Pangchen to the East.
Ticks are now becoming a curse; I found myself
covered with them several times this morning when in
bamboo forest among ferns. We have decided this place
is no good, will go on as soon as possible, but had to stay on account of illness.

SUMMARY:
Notes list Kodachrome and Dufay colour shots of Rhododendron species and Primula filipes, a view toward Tom Tom from Rip La, and a sun bird on Piptanthus. Locations include Denchung (river and camp) and Shambling, with mentions of items sent off. Dated entries include 29/04/1949 and 06/05/1949.

CONTENT:
22

Kodachrome C.S. 7.
Bryocarpum himalaicum. 18744
Primula Normaniana. 18740
View toward Tom Tom from Rip La. Magnolia Campbellii & Rhododendron arboreum in foreground.
Rhododendron Lindleyi (2 shots) 18739.
Sun bird on Piptanthus. 23/4.
Rhododendron Edgeworthii 18777
Rhododendron Griffithianum 18776
Rhododendron Edgeworthii by river.
6+7 sent 6/5

B.W. 2. Dufay Colour 4.

1. Rhododendron Lindleyi 18739 trees in background. 1 Primula filipes 18749
2. Rhododendron Lindleyi 18739 sky + clouds - 2 }
3. Primula filipes habitat 18749 3 } Rhododendron Edgeworthii habitat 18777
4. Primula filipes close habitat 4 Rhododendron Griffithianum habitat
   5 } 5 }
   6 } Rhododendron Edgeworthii habitat 18777 6 } Rhododendron Edgeworthii camp river 18777)
   7 Rhododendron Griffithianum 18776
   8 Rhododendron Edgeworthii 18777
   9 ? Rhododendron Lindleyi. Denchung 29/4/49 Dufay 3+4 Sent off
   10 from Shambling
   11 River at Denchung with Bhutanese. 30/4 6/5/49
   12 River at Denchung camp - 1/5

SUMMARY:
Travel over a ridge to Changpu with cultivation; vegetation noted as rhododendron and deciduous oak, a primula without flowers near camp, and a drawn study of a small-flowered magnolia above camp. The party then marched about 4 miles to Sanglung, crossing the frontier at a side nala, passing a small village, with rain from midday; inhabitants mostly Takpas with some Tibetans and few flowers seen apart from an acacia.

CONTENT:
Then steadily up pretty steeply most of the way over a ridge to Changpu. There is some cultivation on the way, and a lot at Changpu. Here the vegetation is mostly rhododendron deciduous oak. I found a primula growing in a damp place close to camp, but no flowers to be seen. All had been eaten by sheep & cows. Dawaing for an interesting magnolia, new to us, 1220. Flower much smaller than M. Campbellii. It is above camp about 800 yards up from the path. We are in for a good deal of trouble now I fear. Marches seem to be restricted to 3 or 4 miles, & we are at the frontier tomorrow, where transport will be very uncertain.

22nd March. To Sanglung. 4 miles. B.P. 202.7° Temp. 63. Approx Ht. 5208'.
Road is down hill for 1/2 mile, crossed the frontier at an insignificant side nala, then climbs gradually to a ridge where at m 2 Behing a small village is passed. Thence down hill, steeply in places to a side nala & up to Sanglung on the other side. Inhabitants nearly all Takpas, with some Tibetans. It rained a little last night, & again today from midday onwards. No flowers seen but an acacia