Showing 17 results

SUMMARY:
Notes bird activity near camp, including a ruby throat nest with two young, redstarts, pipits, and ravens. Sends a letter to Ludlow and discusses a three-day route to Shao through jungle and passes, considering going to Tsona, with plans to wait about a week and then return via the Tulung and Dza las.

CONTENT:
The text from the image is transcribed below:

3rd Aug. Mago.

49

Gent. bryoides 756
" elwesii 758
Prim. involucrata 757
" macrophylla 761
Corydalis 759
Lonicera parvifolia 760
Meconopsis bella 806
Sax. sphaerulifera 807
" montanella 808 & 809
Rhod. aganniphum 811
Anemone rupicola 813

Don't know, or a youngster. I think there should be some good birds about here if one had the time to look, or it were clear enough to see. A raven has been at camp often, p. thura thura are everywhere; another dark finch keeps to the clearings, sits tight in the primulas. Today I found a ruby throat nest with two young in it. Redstarts abound, as do pipits probably hodgsoni. Sent a letter off to Ludlow today. There is no doubt one can get to Shao from here. It is a three days journey, mostly through jungle, & crossing three passes. I think it would be worth our while to try to go to Tsona that way. Our plans just now are to wait for a week or so then return as we came by the Tulung & Dza las. Until I can get a view of the country I cannot tell where to go

SUMMARY:
On 8 August the party travelled 9 miles to Lungur (below the Tongu La) in heavy rain, noting glaciers and a snow mountain to the west; despite having six 'riding' yaks they all arrived on foot. The writer engaged a lama to collect seed of Thalictrum, Meconopsis and Primula (including a small Meconopsis near the Tulung La), purchased a local hat for 5 tankhas, and found two gentians and an Allium on the way down to Mago.

CONTENT:
tomorrow morning, so as we may examine
them and take photos. I purchased a local type
of hat today, price 5 tankhas.

8th August. To LUNGUR. 13035'. 9 miles. (the camp of July 22 below the Tongu La) Left in comparatively
good weather, but by 1.0 pm the rain came on very heavily
indeed, and we all arrived about 3.30 very wet, cold and
[Mago 8th Aug] pretty miserable. I have taken the lama with me
who will come on tomorrow too for a bit. I have
shown him, and told him to collect seed of Thalictrum,
Meconopsis and Primula and tomorrow will show him the
[mec. bella 708] other small mec (708) near the Tulung La. I think he
will manage to collect all. He knows something of
Meconopsis when they should be ready, as they eat
the seeds, and also the shoots before the flowers appear.

[Gentianella paludosa 776, " azurea 777, Allium aff sikkimense 778] Found 2 gentians today, and an Allium
and one or two other things not out on our way
down to Mago.

There are signs of a big
snow mountain to the west of Lungur up the side
valley. Glaciers can be dimly seen through the
mist.

Today we had 6 "riding" yaks with
us, but it is significant that all of us arrived
in camp walking. One never knows what a
yak may do. One minute he will be as docile
as possible, and the next he will have you off.

SUMMARY:
Field notes record collections of Meconopsis bella, Yellow Sax., Podophyllum, Cassiope sp., and Iris (chrysographes) at elevations around 12,000–16,000 ft near Laha, Dichungha, Kyimpu, and Trim. Entries include dates (2/10, 4/10, 5/10, 6/10), brief habitat descriptions, and a note of few seeds for Yellow Sax.

CONTENT:
Meconopsis bella. Laha. 14000' 2/10.
Yellow Sax. few seeds. 16000' 2/10.
Mec. bella. " " 14500 4/10. Dichungha.
Mec (probably 2451.) 15500' 5/10 - Open stony hillside.
Podophyllum. Kyimpu. 12500. 4/10 On stream banks under trees.
Cassiope sp. Dichungha. 14500' 4/10 Among dwarf rhodo. Open hillside.
Iris (chrysographes). Trim 12000'. 6/10/- Among shrubs, stony hillside, irrigation canal.

SUMMARY:
The diarist records alpine plant finds along a high, windy ridge, including Diapensia, several Primula, Paraquilegia anemonoides, Rhododendron anthopogon, and a Meconopsis bella with a 56-inch taproot. On reaching Camp Changsethang, they note rain, brief sunshine, a steep drop past Thampe Tso into forest, and encountering an unfordable river.

CONTENT:
73

There were huts down there too, occupied I think, by shepherds.

We followed close to the ridge, along to the north, and came across a few things. Diapensia (Diapensia himalaica 3392, 3398) is very common, as are Primula hopeana, P. pusilla and P. sapphirina. The best find was a primula (Paraquilegia anemonoides 3399), which again makes me doubt some of our others. This one seems more like P. umbratilis (3394) than the one we got on the Dungshinggang. It (Rhododendron anthopogon 3400) may be possible that that one, P. chasmophila (3301), may be new. It was most horribly cold right up on the ridge between 15,500 and 16,000; there was a fairly strong wind. I took one Meconopsis bella (3395) to photograph, but was unable to do so. I pulled it out of a crack in a rock face. The crack was less than an inch across. After easing the plant, it came away quite nicely, and showed a taproot which measured exactly 56"!

(14,200 ft.) 8th July. Camp Changsethang. 8 miles. B.P. 186.8° Temp. 60° Time 3:30 p.m.

Rained all night and only a little during the day: we had sunshine for about an hour, a very pleasant change. After passing the Thampe Tso, the path drops very steeply among rocks and boulders to a big cliff at mile 1 1/2. From here on it is more or less level through Abies and Rhododendron forest to mile 3, where the river is met. It is a big stream and quite unfordable.

SUMMARY:
Observations of abundant gentians and several primulas, noting many flowers not yet open and describing a striking large-flowered yellow primula and a minute blue primula seen in masses. Includes numerous specimen numbers and remarks on flower size and coloration.

CONTENT:
124

Gentiana leucantha sp. nov. 2356. G. phyllocalyx 2357. Meconopsis bella 2358. Aconitum fletcherianum 2360.
Gentiana taylori 2361. G. subfimbriata 2362. Gentiana stevensii 2366. Gentiana pseudophyllocalyx 2367.

This side a thick mist, the other. On the way up saw some gentians coming on, but not open. Also the little white primula we got first between Tama La and Tahtsang (mucronata? 2194). On the other, there is a really fine yellow primula, with enormous flowers 2370. I measured some flowers at 1 5/8" across. They have a darker, orange-yellow centre. We also got more of the minute blue primula 2350, which is very pretty indeed seen in masses.
[Margin notes: P. helaris sp. nov. 2370; P. limicola 2359; P. rhodochroa 2371; P. chamaedoron sp. nov. 2373; P. barbatula sp. nov. 2350]

Gentians abounded, but hardly one fully open, which is no wonder. The finest is 2357 with a very big flower.
[Margin note:

SUMMARY:
Entries describe halt days with valley explorations near a waterfall, noting Meconopsis bella not yet open, an iris with a very long tube, and abundant primulas. A hypsometer reading was taken at Bimbi La amid snow and rain, followed by a fine day in camp.

CONTENT:
6th June. Halt. Went up the valley, then turned right leaving the big waterfall on the left. There were three little nalas up there, with rocky sides, over there are a good many flowers. Meconopsis bella is there but not quite open yet. It should be open in a week or so. Danuong went down the valley, then up the left bank to the cliffs, which are about 1 mile or so below here. He found a very pretty little iris with an exceedingly long tube - tube about 4" or even more long. (1781). Iris kemaonensis. 1783, a bright pink purple primula (P. yargongensis) was also seen in numbers. Rain all day.

7th June. Halt. Took hypsometer reading of Bimbi La. BP. 184.2° Temp. 42°. Time 9.0 am. Ht approx 15492 ft. It looked as if it would be fine & was so till I reached the Pass, when it began to snow. From then on it was snow or rain with some sun till the evening when it really cleared up. Nothing new seen, but a form of Sikkimensis primula (1791) perhaps waltonii, or just a form. (P. vicosa). I stayed up wandering about for some time, getting back at 3.0 pm.

8th Halt. A perfect day, not a cloud all morning, & fine & sunny with clouds in the afternoon. Stayed in camp,

SUMMARY:
Notes a plan for Tsongpen Tenduk to visit the Pelada camp to collect items including primula seed, mentions a north-trending valley with seasonal yak herders’ huts, and describes rainy halts at Marulhang on the Rinchen Chu with exploratory walks over passes. Observations include Primula alpicola (luna), Meconopsis bella, and other alpine species, though little new was found.

CONTENT:
Geranium
large flowered geranium 3356, of which we only saw two specimens.
Tsongpen Tenduk will go over to our camp on Pelada of 6th-10th June tomorrow & pick up a few things there, including, I hope, seed of the new primula.
The valley goes away north for a good long way apparently, & I intend to follow it up for a day or two. No houses here, but a few huts, occupied for a short time later, by the yak herdsmen. No others are allowed here except for a very few days while passing to other grazing ground.

3rd July. Halt. Marulhang, Rinchen Chu. Rained all day. Purbo & I went up a side valley to the East, over a pass & into another N-S valley beyond. Then north & over another pass, back by a side valley coming down 1/2 m above camp. We saw a good deal of the primula 3353 (P. alpicola luna), & a good deal of Meconopsis bella 3361 (entire leaf form), but little else of interest which was new. Anemone rupicola 3358, P. sapphirina, pusilla & Hopeana are everywhere at the right height. A pretty beastly day.

4th July. Halt. Marulhang, Rinchen Chu. Rained very hard all day & all last night. Purbo & I went upstream & worked in some side valleys, but not high, and found nothing but a primula of the Sikkimensis section No 3370 (P. alpicola luna). It appears to be somewhat like P. 3353, in leaf shape, but it has nothing of farina; the corolla is rather smaller and not such a green-

SUMMARY:
The diarist describes severe wind and snow near a pass, continued mixed weather, and seed collecting of Primula, Gentiana stictantha, Meconopsis bella, and Diplarche multiflora. Coolies were to return to Karutra, about 50 Crossoptilon were seen, and Tsongpen suffered from snow blindness.

CONTENT:
on the South side, while on the N. it was bright sun, though the
snow was blown a good distance beyond the pass, by a very strong
wind. The primula rotundifolia seeds are not yet ripe, we could
find no P. tenuiloba. But I got some good seed of P. nivalis sp., and
several other things of less importance. The marks we left for
Gent. stictantha were covered with snow, but I found a few
ripe seeds. Many have been eaten by insects. Coolies returned
to Karutra, are to come on the sixth day. On the way
up above Karutra, I came across about 50 Crossoptilon,
but did not shoot any.

Near Kashong La
10th October. Halt. Yesterday afternoon and evening were beastly.
A howling gale was blowing, and it snowed steadily all evening
and a good deal of the night. The wind dropped about 8:00 pm.
Tsongpen had bad snow blindness, and has had it all today
too. Today was lovely after about 8:00 am till 1:00 pm.
Then the rain came on and later on snow, but the wind
has not been nearly so strong, and only in gusts. I found
a few more seeds of G. stictantha, some Mec. bella and
a little yellow primula, besides a heath (Diplarche multiflora) which we
collected above Mignitum. This heath, 1713, turns a lovely

SUMMARY:
The diary describes travel over the Namda La from Kyikyi Tsum, descending past a lake to yakherds' huts in mist and rain, with notable size and color differences in Meconopsis horridula across the pass. A messenger from Ludlow (at Chachhunang) prompts letters to Ludlow and to the Sonpon’s household, as the Sonpon has gone to Tibet. On 17 July, in thick mist and rain en route to Jiutang, abundant Meconopsis bella and Primula umbratilis are observed on steep cliff faces.

CONTENT:
The place is called Kyikyi Tsum
reached that day. Then again up a longish climb to the Namda La, which will be about 16000'. Then down again past a lake to this place, which is just a couple of yakherds' huts on the open hillside. Altitude about 14500 I should think, but I can't see anything anywhere for mist. On the Namda La met a man who said something about a sahib, but I thought he had been ahead to arrange for us. It turns out he is from Ludlow, who is at Chachhunang, a full day's journey from here. He was sending to the Sonpon for eggs, a hen, and two taphukas. The letter was in Hindi which the Sonpon can't read, and he has in any case gone to Tibet, we are told now. So we're sending on a Tibetan letter to his servants. And I will send a letter to Ludlow tomorrow to tell him we are going to Jiutang, and ask him to meet me there. The divide between the Bumthang Chu and Mangde Chu is the Namda La. Whether we will find any more flowers here or not I don't know, but one thing was immediately noticeable — Meconopsis horridula this side of the pass is twice the size of those on the other side, and the colour is a fine blue, instead of the miserable dirty colour on the other side. It is curious and most marked. Real heavy rain did not start until we were in camp, I'm glad to say. A poor day for flowers — saw nothing new again.

17th July. JIUTANG. 12000'. Probably not more than 5 miles. Thick mist and rain most of the day. We were unable to see anything at all of the country this morning, and had no idea even which direction we were going in. After a short bit over grassy open hillside, we suddenly dropped steeply between cliffs, where at once we found lots of Meconopsis bella. It was particularly pretty, as the cliffs were covered with Primula umbratilis, and the two were all mixed up together. It would be interesting to know why Meconopsis bella is

CONTENT:
now a good many yaks at the Thiba Tso, as also on the way up to Changsethang. Below the cliffs on the N side, there were just masses of flowers: Primulas hopeana, pusilla, roylei, atrodentata, sapphirina, 3383 & glabra: Meconopsis bella, horridula & paniculata; geraniums, saxifrages, salvias, & many more. It was all very pretty, & the big cushions of Androsaces make it look nicer than ever.

13th July. Chore. 6 miles. BP. 18.67 Temp. 57° Time 2.0pm. Ht. 15000 odd.
One of the nicest days I have ever had. Except for one shower, it was fine till 3.0pm when we came in. I have come on with only 8 loads, Tenduk & Son open: the remainder of the kit has gone down direct to Ram thang. The path leads up West of Thiba Tso, then keeps SE of the ridge which separates the Tang Chu & Rinchen Chu, at about 15500 - 16000 ft. We first saw a lot of 3383, it certainly is a beauty. When I stopped to admire that, I was standing on a primula very like P. menziesiana, but which seems different (No 3438.) There also was Gent. phyllocalyx in plenty. I have never seen so many alpines out together as on this march. In places the hillsides & cliffs were just covered with them, & the variety was great. At about 2 miles we came to a little grassy hollow & here we found the most extraordinary collection of coloured primulas. There must have