Showing 14 results

SUMMARY:
A halt day with damp conditions; the diarist photographed and tended drying flowers, and noted Tibetans trading salt, wool, and cloth at Pangstang with rice sent to Towa Dzong. On 20th June they crossed the river to inspect west-side cliffs, where few plants were in flower; Pasang collected P. muscoides, and P. strumosa was confirmed with notes on its hybridization with P. calderiana.

CONTENT:
about 5 feet across, stopped 50 yards above camp. So back we went to bed. The boys were out across the river down below, but had a poor day, got nothing. I did some photographs in the morning, changed flowers and that is about all today. Flowers take much longer now to dry. The atmosphere is always damp, and our fire is not so good in the tent as in the huts we've been used to. I'm told now that many Tibetans will be coming down in the next few days, with salt, wool and woollen cloth. They exchange at Pangstang for madder mostly, and some rice. But more of the rice is H.H.'s and Her H.'s and other officials, all is sent to Tibet for sale in Towa Dzong and other places.

20th June Halt. It was misty and doubtful when we got up at 5:30 this morning, but there was a clear patch of blue sky to the south, which I was sure would mean a good day. But we didn't go straight for the pass. I wanted to investigate the cliffs on the West side as soon as we could cross the river which we did about 9:00 a.m. But there was very little indeed in flower. Mec. horridula had not opened its buds at all. P. bellidifolia was common, and Pasang got P. muscoides (19303) to add to the list. I had seen a yellow mass through binoculars and went to find out what that was. It turned out to be P. strumosa (19304), and I now know that all the colour varieties we found before were hybrids of Calderiana and strumosa as I supposed. What is interesting is that P. strumosa has the exact same unpleasant smell as Calderiana has, which would seem to put it nearer P. Calderiana than ever. There is no doubt they are the parents of all the mixed colours around here... It was a fine day after the first

SUMMARY:
Describes a frosty halt day, continued collection of Gentiana (lacunulata), and praise for the seed collector Tupden. Notes comparisons of the Dhu Chu area with the Bumthang Chu, reports a letter from HH about upcoming arrivals (Hicks, MK, Tasho Drunyer), tallies seed and plant collections, and mentions confirmations by Ludlow and Taylor regarding Mec. Sherriffii.

CONTENT:
with Mec. paniculata, simplicifolia & horridula, all of which are in cultivation at home. Tupden is one of the best seed collectors there could be. He takes great pains & always goes on till called away. I wished to have had him from the beginning. Now I know him, I find him very good indeed. He is a Khampa, probably a runaway murderer or something like that, from Markham. The area of the Dhu Chu is something like shown opposite.

4th October Halt. Another lovely day, & very cold hard frost last night. The tents each night now are covered with frost inside & out, & this makes them very heavy. Nothing special happened today. I went out to look for more of yesterday's Gentiana (lacunulata) 19789, & after a while we found a lot of it. It reminds me of G. amplicrata which we first found at Zimsati near Sangacholing in Takpo. I don't think it is G. depressa, & certainly isn't G. amoena. The more I see of this area, the better it looks. It holds much more than the Bumthang Chu valley, although this is a tributary of the Bumthang Chu. It must be more than just not so many yaks here, although there is no doubt that many yaks, & sheep too, in a valley, make a very great difference to the flora. A letter came in from HH to say Tasho Drunyer will arrive on 6th. So with Hicks on 5th, MK on 6th & us on 7th, there will be some activity in Bumthang this week. The main seed collection is now over, & I have about 130 gatherings of seed now, besides the 40-50 taken before & some 25 rooted plants & a number of bulbs & tubers & corms & so on. Ludlow tells me he has 5 lbs. of seed of Mec. Sherriffii! That shows how common it is when it does occur. Taylor has confirmed that it is Mec. Sherriffii, but a very fine form of it.

SUMMARY:
Diary entries describe uncertainty about coolies, plans to reach Bumthang before Betty departs Denchung, and subsequent marches from Amhlungnang over Jü La and Goktang La to Gorzam Camp above Dhur. Noted were heavy rains, a halt day, and rich alpine flora including Meconopsis species, Primula hopeana, a high-altitude iris, and the discovery of a new lily during a fine day interrupted by a storm.

CONTENT:
stuff. We are not now sure if our coolies will come tonight or not. It will be bad if we can't get off tomorrow, but we still can reach Bumthang before Betty, who leaves Denchung on tomorrow. Quite a fine day for such a soaking place as the Bhomali is.

20th July. Amhlungnang. 4 m S of Jü La. A fine day. A long march from 5.45 to 2.30, over two high passes, 14,500 + 15,500 about, and rain very heavy all day. Danong had been over the whole place ten days before, so we were not likely to find much again. Mec. bella very common and growing on open grassy slopes as well as cliffs. Mec. horridula also very common, and a fine colour, often favouring marshy very wet places, in a queer way. M. sinuata also common. P. Hopeana with a red tube, either white or yellow, in great numbers. Down here, there is an Iris, the first high altitude iris I've seen yet. I should think the area is good for a pretty thorough examination, but we will have no time for that. The passes are called the GOKTANG LA and the JÜ LA, the latter being the higher.

21st July. Halt. Stayed in camp. Very wet day.

22nd July. GORZAM Camp 4 m above Dhur. This was a very fine day altogether. It was misty and damp when we left at 6.0 am, but cleared up and we saw blue sky and sun for some hours. It was fine till 3.30 when a terrific storm of rain came on, half an hour before we reached camp. I don't know how long the march was: it was a good long way, but there were plenty of flowers, and good ones, and we did not notice how far it was. I started with a yellow iris, but the pick of the bunch came about halfway, with the finding of a new lily. How lucky this was can be guessed when one thinks that only one flower was seen, and that that happened to be almost exactly where I stopped to put flowers in the press. We would almost...

SUMMARY:
Brief description of the Bembi La valley’s wooded sides and steep left-bank cliffs, with plant collections recorded at Bembi La and Migyitun on 2 and 3 June. Numerous taxa and specimen numbers are listed, including Rhododendron, Primula, Cassiope, Androsace, Polygonatum, Berberis, and Meconopsis.

CONTENT:
188.9
190.0 11872 Bembi La
54 1.0438 Migyitun 2 June
L.p. 107. The Bembi La valley is a pretty one. 11872 Rho. micromeres 1751
Both sides are wooded. The cliffs on the 47488 (4100)
left bank tower almost vertically upwards. 93966 Bembi La 2 June
On the right bank not so steep. 12440.85 P. calderiana 1754
Bembi La 3 June
Rho. calostrotum 1757
aganniphum 1760
agglutinatum 1761
Sp no. lanatum v. luciferum 1762
Prim. sikkimensis 1758
caveana 1768
macrocarpa 1769
Cassiope fastigiata 1759
Androsace adenocephala var. 1765
Polygonatum hookeri 1764
Berberis tsariensis
Mec. horridula

SUMMARY:
Notes from Bimbi La in Tsari District, Tibet, list plant specimens and record a specimen of a new willow-warbler (Phylloscopus tibetanus). The page also notes gamebirds such as Sclater's Monal, Temminck's Tragopan, and Kuser's Blood-Pheasant near Migyitun, with a reference to Tetraophasis szechenyii seen on 31 May.

CONTENT:
Bimbi La June 6.
Iris kumaonensis 1781.
Gaultheria pyrifolia 1782.
Pr. yargongensis 1783.
Pedicularis diffusa 1784.

Bimbi La - in Tsari Dist. 7 85 Tibet
L. Ibis 47
specimen of a new Willow-Warbler - Phylloscopus tibetanus.
Ibis 198
Bimbi La June 7
Berberis telomaica var. atripala 1885.
L. Ibis 47. Lonicera hispida 1786
Sclater's Monal, Temminck's Tragopan Potentilla microphylla 1787
Kuser's Blood-Pheasant are all to be found Rhod. paludosum 1788
on the hills near Migyitun either Mec. horridula 1789
here that we obtained our first specimen " simplicifolia 1790
Prim. calosa 1791
Tetraophasis szechenyii on 31 May where see
Ibis 382.

SUMMARY:
The party descends from the Cha La on the south side to the village of Chukar, observing weather shifts and cloud over the pass. Notes include Dongkar as part of the Tibetan dry zone, a transition near the Trak Chu with dwarf and small rhododendrons, and many pink Meconopsis horridula; Kuntip is ill while Ramzana is recovering.

CONTENT:
On the south side path does not follow the valley bed but keeps up to the right, descending gradually to a shoulder at m. 5. Over this the large Rong Chu can be seen below. Descent steep over rocky path and under high precipices to the small village of CHUKAR at m. 7.11.

A good day again. Fine till the Cha La then misty, but little rain. Very dull later on. Kuntip is pretty ill again and don't know what the matter is. He has awful pains in the neck and body and his tummy isn't right. I doubt if we will all be well till we get home again. Ramzana is recovering and looks happier today. Dongkar is quite definitely the Tib. dry zone. But two miles downstream one meets the Trak Chu, and that valley shows the beginning of the "Transition Zone". There are dwarf rhododendrons and also some ordinary, if small, rhododendrons too. Then at the Cha La we were still in sun on the N side, while from the south a sea of cloud mist was being blown up. It topped the pass and then seemed to fade away. Immediately we crossed the pass we knew we were in a good place for flowers. It is curious how many pink mec. horridula there are about here - from Tsona to Mago to a certain extent, but more so.

SUMMARY:
Field notes record Primula and other alpine plants from Palung to above Talitsa and around Lang La, including observations above Tautsa’s north face. Specimens 3610–3619 were noted on the east and west sides of Lang La, with details on abundance, coloration differences by aspect, and elevation up to 12,000 feet.

CONTENT:
MB
Primula atrodentata common from Palung to above Talitsa, in flower but only 1" high. A great percentage of flowers are white.

Primula Jaffreyana common above larch forest above Tautsa North face.

Lang La

3610 Small gentian sp. (stelliveris group) Lang La W. side. (four striations to each petal)
3611 Primula Roylei (Calderiana). Lang La. In bud. Common both sides of pass.
3612 Primula atrodentata. Lang La E. side. Common from Pan Pass to 12000'. Blue on E, white on west.
3613 Rhod. Thomsonii sp. Lang La. Common E. side.
3614 Mec. horridula. Lang La W. side. Small form.
3615 Iris sp.
3616 Primula macrophylla sp. Lang La E side.
3617 Rhododendron sp. (wallichii). Lang La E side. Dried specimen with seed.
3618 Rhododendron sp. (clementinae). Lang La E side. Dried specimen with seed.
3619 Rhododendron sp. (calianthum). Lang La E side. Dried specimen with seed.

SUMMARY:
Dawong and the diarist found a new Meconopsis, primulas, a Corydalis, and an Androsace on the Orka La, took photographs, and hurried back before rain, while many people came for medicine including 37.5 over proof rum for tummy aches. The page ends with an entry heading for Muktur, 12 miles, dated 11th July.

CONTENT:
Orka La. P. bellidifolia 636, P. tenuiloba 637, P. sikkimensis 640, P. gambeliana 641, P. macrophylla 642. Rhod. anthopogon 638, Mec. horridula 639, Mec. latifolia 'aurora' 643, Androsace adenophora 643. Corydalis cashmeriana 644.

remained so till I left the pass at 10 am. Dawong & I found some good flowers on the Orka La, & one could easily spend a month or so in that area. A new Meconopsis & some primulas & a beautiful little Corydalis & Androsace were found. The best spot seems to be on the big round cliff like to the South of the pass; on the north side of this there were many flowers. Beyond the pass - 1/4 mile - was a lake 100 yds across. & to the South were 3 more according to Dawong. Took some good photos on return, but had to race home to get them taken before rain came on as usual about 1.0 pm. Many people came for medicine - some for worms, some for tummy ache. Our medicine for the latter is 37.5 over proof rum, & the sight of them taking such strong liquor is good.

11th July. MUKTUR. 12 miles. (B.

SUMMARY:
At Pangtang, the diarist reports improved weather after night rain, limited seed readiness, and observations of several plants in flower or seed, while Ngudup arranged a new zareba to shield the tent from strong winds. The following day was a halt with morning sun and afternoon rain; seed collecting yielded mixed results due to grazing and insect damage, and the diarist photographed an ibis bill at a nearby spring.

CONTENT:
7th September. Pangtang. Heavy rain in the night, but fine all day today, with much more of a feeling of dryness. We got a few seed on the way up, but again found most things were not ready. In fact we got Primula umbratilis in perfect flower on a cliff where no sun reaches. Here I have not yet looked round, except to see Mec. simplicifolia, seed of which has mostly been thrown. My zareba here had been disposed of, but Ngudup ordered another, and it really is rather nice because it keeps the very strong wind off the tent. It blows very strongly all day long here.

8th Sept. Halt. Fine all morning. Rain all afternoon. We only went up the hillside opposite camp to look for seed. Some were over - like the nice little Daphne; but we got about 60 seed in the end. The nice Aster that was everywhere is not to be found - all eaten by yaks. On the other hand we got two Arabis in very ripe seed, and the cushion saxifrage, whose seed were nearly all thrown. I could not find a single Anemone rupicola. Mec. horridula seed is ripe, but the plant here is so poor that it is not worth taking. P. umbratilis is not yet ready, but should not take more than 10 days or so in places. As usual the worst enemy to seed collecting is caterpillars or little bugs of some kind. There was not a ripe seed of Salvia to be found, though lots of unripe ones. As soon as they showed any colour at all, a bug got into them. The prettiest flower we got was a fine annual Gentian, with a minute root, but sometimes as many as 25 flowers on the plant, each about 5/8" across. It is worth trying to get seed of, and a white Sax still in full flower is also worth while. We have a nice ibis bill at the spring beside us. He seems quite happy, and I took a cute picture of him last evening. I hope permanent residents at his spring won't frighten him away.

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.