Showing 24 results

SUMMARY:
At around 14,000 ft the party camps on Yuto La, noting changing weather, a nearby water-turned prayer wheel tended by an elderly woman, and botanical work including primulas and seed collections. A man delivers biscuits and mangoes, the latter sent by Tobgye to HH by express runners. The following day is a halt with rain.

CONTENT:
82

from Calcutta, not a thing remained when he got back home.
It really is a rotten system this present giving one, but it
seems very well established. Outside the window is a huge
water-turned prayer wheel. Beside it sits a woman acquiring as
much merit as possible. She sits by the door of the wheel house; in
one hand she is turning a prayer wheel, while she turns her beads over
in the other. She must feel that she is very old indeed.

Up to 14,000 ft.
20th July. Yuto La. 9 miles. BP. Temp. Time Ht. More or
less fine till the evening. Camp actually on the pass, hope to see
to N-S during the next two days. One primula is still in
flower here, No 3465 (P. smithiana 3465 - see 12th June), which we took before in the Longto Chu,
3250 (P. sikkimensis 3250). I got a fair amount of seed from some taken pretty low
down, where the lowest of often 6 whorls were ripe (Geranium 3466). The next
few days are more and more going to be a trial (Clematis 3467). On the pass a
man was waiting patiently for me, with a basket of biscuits
& another of mangoes! The latter are sent by Tobgye to HH by
express runners (Presents). It is a very kind thought, but an awful waste
of money, especially on me, as I don't particularly care for them.

Yuto La Camp.
21st July. Halt. Thunder again last evening. Fine for an hour or
two this morning, then rain most of the day. We went up the

SUMMARY:
At Yume, the diarist notes wet, misty conditions, sparse flowering, and prominent rhododendron, pays off the coolies, and arranges horses to Sangacholing. The following day, during a halt, the diarist and Tsungpen follow the Yume Chu on a difficult, muddy route through dense jungle and see little in flower.

CONTENT:
we merely go down 1½ m to Yume, where I will halt a day I think.

25th June. Yume. 1½ m. 11800'. Wet in the morning and misty all day. There is not so much out here as I had hoped. A Gentian stylophora was seen, a clematis one or two small flowers. The plain here is full of the yellow rhododendron, and where there are meadows, there are masses of P. sikkimensis and of P? a candelabra with pale wine red flowers. A good many have white flowers. I have not been out yet, but do not expect to find a great deal.

Paid off the coolies at the rate of 2 shoogon per day's march and 1 per halt. All have gone, and horses are arranged from here to Sangacholing. Fine for most of the afternoon, but hills always in mist.

26th June. Halt. Tsungpen and I went down the Yume Chu for 4 miles or so along what was called a good road. It wasn't bad for a mile or two, but was then either in the river, along the edge, or in the mud. The jungle was far too dense for there to be many flowers: mostly bamboo with some cypress and fir and evergreen trees. Saw nothing.

SUMMARY:
Entries for 13 and 14 October describe wet, misty conditions around Trashidzung and Langong, limited success collecting rhododendron seed, and a pressing of P. chamaethauma, with coolies assisting and seeds dried for packing. News from Ludlow reports delays and rerouting due to the Lilung bridge collapse, with casualties and mail issues, and mentions movements via Lhacha, Tsela Dzong, and toward Kyindong/Sangachöling.

CONTENT:
74a
Oct. 13 Tsari Sama
seeds of P. chamaethauma 6603, P. morsheadiana 6604,
P. sikkimensis 6606, P. vernicosa 6607,
Swertia kantelu 6605.

far as from Trashidzung here: & that the third stage is much the same. He gives two names as on the preceding page. He also says that the path never enters Loque, but it must go very close to it.

Tsari Sama
13th October. Trashidzung. Another beastly day. Thick mist & driving rain south of the Pass, & little on this side. But as we got near Trashidzung the sun came out. From here it appears exactly the same as in camp at the Kashong La in Oct. 1936. Driving rain or snow coming over the main range, petering out in a few miles. I suppose this will last another 3 or 4 days then stop, probably with some thunder snow. I did not expect much today, but hoped for seed of a good rhododendron got from here in June. But there was not a single good capsule. We saw about a dozen tiny wee things with no seed in them. Took a pressing of P. chamaethauma on the pass & root as well. Tsari Sama would undoubtedly have been a good place in June, had I been able to do the whole circle. The coolies have done well this trip, & are always ready to come out collecting seed or whatever I want. Got all my seeds dry enough to pack up before leaving this morning, for which I am very glad. We still have a good many Lo-La - Pachakshiri rhodo seeds which need more drying.
See Ludlow's diary - Kew Journal XII 14.

14th October. Langong. Heavy rain all night & all today, with mist right down in the valley. Left at 8.30 am, in at 1.0 pm, kit in a little after 3.0 pm. One coolie left for Molo yesterday evening without giving any reason, but the others agreed to carry on his load. I had hoped to hear from Ludlow here, & did so. Tendup came up on the 5th to Molo & was leaving for Kyindong on the 7th, so should have been there on the 9th. But a man here says he would only be reaching Kyindong today. Ludlow is positive the Lilung bridge was broken down to prevent their coming up to Molo. One cannot believe a word the Molo people say, but I was told quite definitely that one man & 3 mules were drowned when it broke, & that one pony got out again. The rest of the caravan going down then, returned to Molo. Ludlow & Co had to go round by Lhacha leaving on the 5th. There was no sign of the mail between, but Ludlow had left Kesang behind at Tsela Dzong, with instructions to go on to Kyindong, if necessary to Sangachöling. So at any rate I can not hear any more till then.

SUMMARY:
Notes transport rates for donkeys, ponies, and coolies on the route Tsetang–Rong–Lhagyari–Lhapso–Lenda–Tromda. Records seeds collected on Potrang La with several taxa and an elevation noted.

CONTENT:
9

Rates
Tsetang to Rong. 3 sangs a donkey. 7 a pony.
Rong to Lhagyari. 2 " " 4 "
Lhagyari to Lhapso. 1 1/2 " " 3 "
Lhapso to Lenda. 1 " " 2 "
Lenda to Tromda 1 " " 2 " & 1/2 sang per coolie

Seed collected on Potrang La.
12002 Rhod sp.
12001 Salix sp. No Herb. spec.
12003 P. florindae - - -
Gent. sp. - - -
Allium sp. - - -
Potentilla aff curviseta.
Androsace cushion plant.
P. sikkimensis 16000'.

SUMMARY:
The party reports delays due to missing loads and exhausted coolies while aiming for Nang Dzong. On 2nd April they march to TROMDA in rain and snow; Puitso catches up after spending the night on the road, and the route is noted for sandy paths, a spur crossing, and vegetation including pines, rhododendrons, and Primula species in side valleys.

CONTENT:
They are all of poor physique & some are lunatics: most seem to be diseased. We should have got to Nang Dzong in two days; now it will take at least three, but it was worse going on today, with 15 loads not yet arrived & the coolies very tired. The valley is rather drier here, we saw no pines on the hills after the first two miles, but they are covered with shrubs, not yet in flower, though showing green here & there.

2nd April. To TROMDA. 6 miles. 10800'
A clouded day, with rain & snow for an hour even in the valley, clearing up later. Puitso did not get off till after dark last night, & himself arrived at Rabdang just after we had left this morning. He spent the night on the road. We left at 6.45 & got in at 9.30 am. with the same coolies. There is a good deal of sand on the path, but it is not so much up & down, with the exception of one spur crossed at mile 2. No flowers on the way, but I saw a few heads of Primula pumilio here - a species just coming into flower. The hills again have pines on the north faces & also rhododendrons. On the way here one passes some small side valleys with water, & they all seem to have a primula growing in them. P. sikkimensis is there, but there is another also, which appears to be P. microdonta,

SUMMARY:
The diarist reports from Singo Samba and then Trashidzong/Tsari Sama, noting misty and rainy weather, limited finds of rhododendrons and primulas, and heavy grazing by yaks that destroyed desired Meconopsis and Primula stands. Plans are made to leave kit with one man and proceed lightly with eight coolies around Tsari Sama, while noting Ludlow and Taylor’s move from Kyimdong toward the Bimbi La to target several Meconopsis species; the pilgrim season at Sacha Peso appears over.

CONTENT:
cut for himself a pair of soles for his boots. He then went off & pulled half a yak's tail out to make thread to stitch on his soles.

9th October. Singo Samba. Fine, but some rain last night, thick mist till 8.00am this morning. Found little today: two rhododendrons & a good collection of Ludlow's primula which is down as close to P. ioessa (3789). It is not ioessa, will be interesting if the seed come up well. Crossed the ridge, recamped on the L. bank, leaving rather a long march for tomorrow up to Trashidzong.

10th October. Trashidzong, Tsari Sama. Fine, but becoming more clouded all day, till rain fell in the evening about 5.0pm. Clouds very low, looks bad for tomorrow. The seeds I wanted most today are not to be found. When last here, there was a wonderful show of P. sikkimensis of all colours growing together, some most beautiful: also a very fine red P. alpicola. But all have been eaten by yaks, or dried up - not find a single stem - very disappointing. A small rhododendron here, taken on the Chumbumbu La, is so ripe that all capsules are fully open, the seed falls out almost too easily. It is nice to find some rhodos. like that. As yaks cannot go round Tsari Sama, I am leaving one man here to look after kit to be left, & will only take on 8 coolies lightly loaded, with our beddings, rations for three days, camp table, bed & chair - no tents.

A great pity the weather has broken, as we should do well here, but a fine day would help a great deal. Ludlow & Taylor should have left Kyimdong by now, for their way to the Bimbi La. I hope they have a fine day for their halt & collecting there, as there is a good deal to be done there. Taylor very anxious to see & get seed of Meconopsis argemonantha. If he does so, & gets M. bella & M. sherriffii, we should have seen 16 different Meconopsis this trip. M. nepalensis, M. simplicifolia, M. betonicifolia, M. horridula, M. hor. var lutea, M. integrifolia, M. lyrata, M. florindae, M. impedita, M. speciosa, Ward's ivory poppy (M. harleyana), M. bella, M. sherriffii, M. argemonantha, M. paniculata & one other which I can't think of. Taylor has also been very near M. torquata, M. discigera & M. superba, but unfortunately we none of us saw them. The yak herds have left this place, I think only a short time ago, & the lamas have also left the small gompa here, so presumably the pilgrim season is over, & we will have Sacha Peso to ourselves again.

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:
Notes on Primula populations with yellow, blue-purple, and white forms; whites show some variation, and all remain short and small-leaved as in specimens 3432–3436. Specimens 3449 and 3370 (alpicola luna) are compared, with 3449 resembling P. florindae or P. microdonta, P. sikkimensis present, and distributions between about 12,000–14,000 ft, with 3449 taking over at lower elevations than 3370.

CONTENT:
79a
tinged, a good many of the blue colours, and some nondescript
colours in between. But all these primulas seem to grow true
where they are really in mass, the yellow and blue purple showing
no variations, while the white shows some. All remain short
small leaved, just as were the specimens 3432-3-4-5-6.

alpicola luna
3449 (Same as 3353). This has now grown to a considerable height,
and appears to be very like P. florindae or P. microdonta. Alt. varies
from 12,000 to 13,000'. P. sikkimensis grows here too.

alpicola luna

3370. Altitude from 12,500' - 14,000', growing more on open hillside
      than 3449. No. 3449 more or less takes over at the low elevation
      of 3370.

SUMMARY:
Checklist of Primula species collected in 1937, with notes on prior collection status and several specimen numbers. Localities mentioned include Chendebi and Tang Chu.

CONTENT:
x not collected in 1936
xx " " " before.
Primulas collected. 1937.

42. P. bracteosa.

1 P. Boothii.
P. erythrocarpa
P. flagellaris
P. sp. nov. Chendebi xx
5 P. strumosa elongata
P. Roylei.
P. macrophylla.
P. glabra.
P. geraniifolia xx
10 P. sp. nov. Tang Chu. xx
P. Hopeana
P. sapphirina x
P. tenella. xx
P. Winteri.
15 P. Boothii high alt. var.
P. pusilla. x
P. Stirtoniana x
P. obliqua. x
P. prenantha? xx
20 P. nivalis dwarf sp.
P. tenuiloba.
P. sikkimensis.
P. Menziesiana xx
P. bellidifolia xx
25 P. atrodentata
P. Griffithii sp. hancini
P. vernicosa.
P. pudibunda 3370
P. sikkimensis var. 3353. xx
30 P. sp. nov. 3366 hancini xx
P. " " 3367 xx
P. " " 3383. xx
P. umbratilis white 3384 xx
P. " blue 3394 xx
35 P. capitata.
P. soldanelloides. x
P. muscoides.
P. obtusifolia Caveana xx
P. Walshii 3413 concinna xx
40 P. Caveana 3410 xx
P. uniflora 3438. x
P. involucrata 3226. x

SUMMARY:
List of Primula specimens with collection numbers and notes on abundance, elevation, and localities across Bhutan in 1949. Mentions collectors identified by initials (B.S, J.H., G.S.) and notes presence or absence around passes and places such as Rip La, Shambling, Tomtom, Sergung La, Takhung, Rudu La, Chenbi Rongang, Dunkhar-Nashima, and Tsampa; notes that some species were not previously collected by L+S.

CONTENT:
xx Never collected by L+S. before.

• .. .. .. in Bhutan ..

Primulas taken 1949

By 18614 P. denticulata. 1 Common all over the country.
B.S 18644 P. bracteosa. 2 Also common on Rip La: Julu: above Shambling:
J.H. 18669 P. filipes? 3xx
G.S. 18673 P. gracilipes 4 v. common near Tomtom.
18675 P. bracteosa v. common at Sergung La beyond Takhung.
18676 P. whitei 5 Not on Rudu La.
18740 P. Normaniana 6
18749 P. filipes 7
18806 P. sp. non mollis 8xx Much more plentiful near Chenbi Rongang.
18809 P. Normaniana
18816 P. mollis Common at Shambling. 6500'-7500'. v. common Dunkhar-Nashima.
18846 P. atrodentata? 9 near atrodentata. No farina. Like No 3636.
18894 P. Hookeri 10 Just before the small pass 2 m E of Rudu La & more W. of the same pass.
18895 P. Calderiana 11
18896 P. elongata. 12 Down steep bit. Along a bit to open where much Calderiana, then common.
18901 P. Smithiana 13
18913 P. geraniifolia 14
18946 P. Barnardoana 15
18947 P. Calderiana All over Tsampa.
18954 P. Calderiana v. alba
18955 P. elongata.
18957 P. atrodentata Everywhere.
18976 P. sikkimensis 16
18981 P. elongata.
19000 A. P. Calderiana
B "
C "