Showing 28 results

SUMMARY:
Travel from Zangthang included cold, wind, and intermittent sun, with a lama accompanying for part of the route to collect seeds of meconopsis, thalictrum, and primulas. Gentians were found near Tulung La, and on the following day a fine white gentian was collected at the summit of Dza La, while Sherriff walked the whole way in improved weather.

CONTENT:
lighting a cigarette, the flap of a waterproof, or another yak appearing from behind are all enough to send him all over the place.

To Sherriff walked the whole way - L. Yakid
9th August. ZANGTHANG. 8 miles. 15,374'. Left in rain, but it gradually cleared up, and we had some sun here, as well as rain. Very cold here with a strong wind.

Took the lama with me for another five miles. Bagged four lots of the little blue meconopsis (708) and showed him some more, also wee horridula. I think he will manage to collect a good many seeds. He is supposed to try to get the thalictrum 710, meconopsis 708, white meconopsis, a blue (shao) mec. + two primulas, besides anything else he can manage to find. Found a few gentians near the Tulung La, and wanted to photo them on arrival here, but the wind was very strong and the water horribly cold. Results not too good, especially as all the gentians shut up in the cold.

10th August. GVI. 15,853'. 9 miles. Sherriff walked the whole way. A fine day at last with no rain, a great and very pleasant change. Left at 6.30 in at 1.0 pm. View quite good but not impressive. Got a very fine white gentian, growing only on the Dza La at the summit of the pass 17,000' (789). Other gentians also out, very

SUMMARY:
Travel from high pass to Tron with yak transport only; steep shale ascents/descents over Drosung La (~16,000 ft), rain turning dry after descending. Collected seeds of Pedicularis atrodentata and noted Pedicularis bella (2306) and an unidentified Meconopsis (2309); camped near irrigation canal with flat-roofed houses observed.

CONTENT:
of P. bellidifolia. We saw one piece of Pedicularis bella 2306,
otherwise nothing of any interest. But the hillside looks
promising, perhaps a little later will be better. Fine all
morning, the afternoon drizzly. Clouded all day. We collected
again a lot of seed of P. atrodentata. We have yak
transport only. It would be rather too much for ponies. Left
at 06.15, in at 12.30.

7th July. TRON, N. side of river. 7 miles. Path continues
to ascend, is very steep most of the way to the Drosung La,
about 16000' at m 3. Mostly over shale scree. Descent on
South side very steep over shale for a mile, then easier
along a ridge for 2 miles. The final mile down to Tron
is again very steep indeed. C.G. good, water from irrigation
canal. Rain all day till we got two miles down this
side of the pass, when we were again in the dry zone.
All houses here have flat roofs. On the ascent, came
across a nice Meconopsis 2309 which I do not know,
cannot make out from Taylor's book. The flowers are a
pretty pinkish wine red, one on a scape, I don't think
more than 2 to a plant. Leaves basal & cauline, all very

SUMMARY:
The diarist recounts a misty, strenuous climb over a pass and a long descent to Lamdo in the Tsangpo valley, meeting Paka Kusho on arrival and later hosting Shaka Kusho while awaiting news of Ludlow and the mail. On 31 July at Tse they reunite with Ludlow, confirm all servants are well, and plan to stay until the 7th before proceeding to Tsela Dzong on the 8th–9th, with Ludlow, Taylor, and the diarist separating on the 10th.

CONTENT:
mist, rain, and I was a bit hazy about the way we turned to. But we went on up to the top, a very steep climb of over 4,500'. Here there was a small pass, which the Hopa said was the place we should aim for, and he said he knew the path down the other side. It would take us out to the Tsangpo valley at Lamdo. Later on he said we would come out near Tse. That would have done too, but we eventually spotted the Tsangpo and to our horror, found we were 3 or 4 miles below Tsela Dzong. That meant a walk in of about 8 miles. We left camp in the morning at 5:15, and did not reach camp at Lamdo till 6:30 pm, having walked steadily for all but an hour of the time. I expected to be able to sit down and rest and have my tea and dinner in peace anyway. But on arrival I saw the Paka Kusho all dressed up waiting for me. So we sat down and talked and eventually he produced a dinner and we went on talking away till 9:30 at night, by which time I was just as tired as I could be. Our long trek was a disappointment too, as we found very little, chiefly I think because we could see so little in the thick mist. No news of Ludlow yet, and no news of the mail. But I expect both will be pretty well up to time. In the valley we came down yesterday—the first big one beyond Tsela Dzong on the South—there were a few plants of the big Meconopsis I found on Gonyi-re. All were in seed. They had probably been brought down from higher up by avalanches.

Today 30th, it has rained off and on pretty hard all day. Shaka Kusho had a tent beside mine, and stopped the night, and offered breakfast in the morning. But I refused that, so he stayed on till midday and gave me lunch. I have stayed in camp all day, done a few remaining photographs, cut my hair and generally cleaned myself up. I can't bathe, as I haven't a camp bath. I have sent a chit to meet Ludlow and hope for an answer this evening or in the morning, unless Ludlow has gone off to the North of the river, which is quite possible.

reunited - L, S & T. See Ludlow III - 112.

31st July. Tse. 4 miles. Ludlow sent up this afternoon to say he was in Tse, and would I come down there, so I went, and we all met about 5:00 pm. They called it the 30th, making the same mistake as I did when we all left Molo. We decided to stay here till the 7th, then Tsela Dzong 8th–9th, leaving, Ludlow one way, Taylor and I another, on 10th. All servants seem very fit, and very talkative too.

SUMMARY:
The writer describes abundant primulas and meconopsis around Shao, including a new white meconopsis and vast fields of yellowish white primulas, while noting Ludlow’s flea-infested lodging. The party proceeds toward Tsona, following the Shao Chu and a northern side valley to Kachen Tso and over Kachen La, with an easy descent past small lakes.

CONTENT:
Scotland, with the heather in full bloom. In Shao we put up in a stone built house - top storey. Very pleasant, though not too clean, as Ludlow discovered. He had many fleas and a louse or two in the morning. I have never seen so many primulas in one day. We found three yellow swamp ones, besides P. sikkimensis, another two small primulas, a huge big white one, P. Roylei that magnificent big purple blue one and some others. Besides this I found a new white meconopsis like horridula in growth and habitat and another. The small meconopsis found by Dawa on the Orka La was also near the Bum La. At Shao there are some disused fields where barley was once cultivated, and these are now absolutely full with a yellowish white primula - acres and acres of them.

15th July. TO TSONA. 16 miles. (B.P. 186.7° Temp. 50°. 13733' Corrected = 14282'). Path leads up the Shao Chu for half mile, strikes up a side valley to the North. Thence easy ascent over open country to the top of a rise at m 5 1/2. Beyond this the Kachen Tso is seen, and the path gradually ascends along the E and North sides of this to the KACHEN LA (15604') at m 7. The lake is about 1 1/2 m long and nearly a mile across. Just beyond the pass are two or three small lakes. Descent easy to the

SUMMARY:
Field notes list alpine plants with habitats and elevations at Karutra, Kashongha, Drogpa, and Natrampa. Entries dated in early October 1936 include species such as Dracocephalum, Rheum nobile, Fritillary, Primula spp., Meconopsis, Isopyrum, and Iris.

CONTENT:
Blue Dracocephalum Karutra. 12000' On cliff faces. Dry zone. 8/10.
Small Androsace. " 13000' Open hillside. edge of " " " .
Rheum nobile. Kashongha. 15000' 9/10.
Fritillary. probably 1611. 14-15000' Kashongha. Among dwarf rhododendron. 9/10.
Prim sikkimensis (white?) Kashongha. Open scree. 14500. 9/10.
" " v. fine, yellow " Drogpa. " "
Mec. bella. 14000' Kashongha.
Small blue Mec. Kashongha. Very stony hillside. Scapes naked from base.
Isopyrum. " " " 10 10-36.
Prim Cawdoriana not fully ripe. Kashongha. 11. 10. 36.
Prim. tenuiloba. Kashongha. Open hillside. stony ground. 14.10. 15000'
" (2162) " " " -
Iris. Natrampa.
Blue Dracocephalum. Karutra. 8/10.

SUMMARY:
A letter from Syed Mohammed Kareemulla reassures the recipient about parcel safety and mailing via Rangiya. Diary entries describe travel from PHONGMI to RUNGZYUNG and PINTSOGONG, cold and windy weather at Tahtu, seed collection of an epiphytic Rhododendron, and problems with prematurely collected flowers leading to discarded delphiniums and limited Meconopsis seed.

CONTENT:
as for me also. I am thanking myself to be fortunate that I have got the opportunity to work for such an Honourable man as you, which I never thought in my life.
P.S. You should not fear your parcel getting damp. I am arranging with Rangiya to send these parcels in the mail bag which is despatched regularly. With regards, yours obediently Syed Mohammed Kareemulla.

29th October. PHONGMI. 9 miles. 5460'. Weather still perfect, morning very cold indeed at Tahtu owing to wind. Sun still pretty hot down here, but wind makes it pleasantly cool all day. Took seeds of 905 — a rather extraordinary epiphytic Rhododendron (580) = Aeschynanthus maculata.

30th October. RUNGZYUNG. 8 miles. 4000'. Looked like rain in the morning, but cleared up. It is very much hotter down here. The man sent to Chukar (Cha La) to get the bagged flowers returned today. He brought most of them, but they had been taken off too soon instead of being left on till his arrival. The result was that the delphiniums were useless and were thrown away. Some of the other seed too was unripe, and he only brought one bag of Meconopsis 708. But still that is better than nothing.

31st Oct. PINTSOGONG. 13 miles. 5200'. We missed out the Dzong today and came straight through. Rather cloudy with rain not very far away. We were rather surprised to

CONTENT:
a fine big flower, the corolla is violet, the tube a very much
darker lilac violet. Not a great deal seen, but seen in
several places, so I don't think it is a hybrid, it seems to
come true from seed, judging by the way plants were seen
one below the other on a steep shale slope. The view
from the Shagam La was very fine indeed. I could see
away to the NE, a mass of small snow covered peaks,
but not Namcha Barwa, which was hidden by a close range.
SW of the pass there was a higher group of peaks, which
were almost certainly Sangtopelri N of the Me La. Unfortunately
I chose the one really clear day to have very few
films with me, a great pity. The last 1½ miles up here is
very steep indeed, though the path is not too rocky. This is
a pretty place - a good camp, but a bad camping ground as there is
practically no level ground.

21st June. Halt. Very little of interest. Mist and rain in the morning,
clearing up to a fine day from 8.0 am onwards. Saw very little
new, only a Meconopsis, white, which I think must be
M. lyrata. Saw another Anthus nest. Only went out
from 6.30 am to 12.0 and gave the others a rest too. We have

CONTENT:
to Pimbo 500' from camp, and then came across 2 coolies asking
to be shot. He, without cartridges, bumped into a herd of
bharal with 2 good heads. Pretty chilly here, but not so
cold as I expected.

5th October Trün, 8 miles. 12,000'? Cloudy all day even down here,
a dampish mist on the pass. Got a good collection of seed
(coll. Sherriff 2723. seed) of the pink Meconopsis under 2723. Otherwise nothing much in
the seed line. I hope we can get some Cyananthus wardii
later on about 500' above Trün. Everyone quite happy here,
but nearly all men have gone off hunting, including the
Gyimpu of the Other Trün. But coolies and everything are promised
for the day after tomorrow. Obviously the monsoon has not
finished here, as clouds are very low. Lhopas have stopped coming
here, so it seems there must be snow on the Kashong La.
BP of Pass 182.0. Temp 46° Time 9:30 am. Ht 16,930'. Bearing
of Karutra from here is 86° Mag.

6th Halt. (Trön) Stayed in camp most of the day. There is still a good
(Iris decora 2251.) deal of the little dry zone iris seed here 2251, which I collected.
Pimbo returned in the early morning, and hoped to reach Kyimpu that
night, a long march. Cloud all day, some rain.

SUMMARY:
The writer discusses notable rhododendrons collected, plans to leave on the 6th, and having sent mail via the Trim headman to Chayul, asking him to collect meconopsis seeds from the Drichung La. A passport misunderstanding with the local Lama is resolved, leading to assistance, and the writer comments on Lumsden’s poor performance while noting Ludlow’s rhododendron likely matches R. campylogynum.

CONTENT:
He must have brought back 15 other rhododendrons, some of which will I think extend the known range of Chinese varieties a long way further to the West. The pick of the bunch seems to be what I think K.W calls the Scarlet Runner, and another raisin coloured one, with bloom and all, which was most noticeable. We decided to leave here on the 6th and are busy packing up all flowers and birds, and re-arranging stores once more. We sent off a mail yesterday morning, the Trim headman taking it as far as Chayul. I have told him to try and collect seeds of the pink meconopsis from the Drichung La in a month to 6 weeks time, as he lives pretty close to its habitat. The Lama here we now find, was really under the impression, as everyone else was, that we had no passport. Hence our difficulty when here before. We have now shown it him, and he has sent men all over the place saying we must have whatever we want. Lumsden I gather was a complete washout. He collected nothing and did nothing all the way. He will not interest himself in anything at all. The rhododendron 'Scarlet Runner' which Ludlow found seems to be R. campylogynum, or something very near it. I

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).