Showing 18 results

SUMMARY:
Wet, misty morning with a clearer afternoon before rain while traveling between Yüto and Takar La at about 14,000 ft; the writer rode most of the way and spent four hours on the hillside. Numerous Primula were noted (including P. cawdoriana 2224 near Yüto, P. roylei, sikkimensis, and others), plus a single dwarf rhododendron (2225) and a gentian (2230); the path was easy after Kinghor but steep between Yume and Gompo Rong, and the river was barely fordable.

CONTENT:
of any particular interest. Rained all morning - more or less fine in afternoon. Mist down on hills all day.

27th June. Camp between Yüto & Takar La. About 14000'. 7 miles.

Wet & misty all morning. Fairly clear in afternoon till 4.0pm: then rain. I expected rather more than we got, but we saw a good many old friends: Ramzana's prim. is common in little patches. P. Cawdoriana 2224 is plentiful on a cliff below Yüto on the R hand side. Above here P. Roylei & the P. that is always with it, & the little white Petiolaris. Also 2137 the very small one, glabra & atrodentata. The big sikkimensis is everywhere & fine big flowers on it, also the candelabra red one (microdonta?).

An interesting rhododendron dwarf 2225 of which only one was seen, & another gentian 2230. I rode up almost all the way, very pleasant to do so again, & then had four hours on the hillside up here. The path up here is pleasantly easy after the Kinghor, but steep between Yume & Gompo Rong. There are prim. all the way up here. The river is barely fordable even here just now.

SUMMARY:
Route notes from a camp above Churam crossing the Cha La towards Tsari Chu, with distances, elevations, and observations of vegetation and weather. Mentions seasonal grazing over the pass and a lama’s differing account about an incarnation.

CONTENT:
the incarnation, although that is not what the lama told us.

15th May Camp 1 m above Churam. Tsari Chu. 12 m. B.P. 187° Temp 50°
Time 3.30 Ht. 14104 ft. The path to the Cha La is good & not very steep. Pass the Cha La at m 4, 16600 ft. Descent on north side very gradual indeed. At m 8 pass a nala mouth on the L bank where another road joins. From about here on, there is a gradual increase in vegetation. Before Churam is reached, the south side is thickly covered with Rhododendron & a certain amount of juniper scrub. No snow on the pass in May. About this time of year mules & horses are sent over the Cha La to graze in Tsari valley. Cremnopitilon heard all the way down since the scrub was noticed. Primulas are not yet out. On the top of the pass was the new sikkimensis, & down both sides masses of P. Roylei & pygmaeorum. The Rhododendrons here won't be in flower for a couple of months I should say. Our usual luck was with us on the pass. Yesterday was a perfect day with hardly a cloud. Today we could see only a few miles, and in the evening had some rain.

SUMMARY:
Botanical and route notes describe a smaller valley near Tsona with Primulas, and a fine day. On 21st May the party camps 2 miles below Podzo Sumdo at about 10,500 ft, traveling along the Chidichar river and the Tsari through forest and gorge, passing Podzo Sumdo and the valley from the Bimbi La, with observations of Meconopsis, Berberis, and rhododendrons.

CONTENT:

• "not so big as at Tsona, but lovely for all that. The valley I was in is small but should be very good, already holds Primulas atrodentata, roylei, 1621 & 1614, the last two new to us. A perfect day, with hardly a cloud in the sky all day."
• "21st May. Camp 2 m below Podzo Sumdo. BP. Temp. Time Ht. 10500'. A fine day again, clouding in the evening. Path down R bank crossing the Chidichar river over its lateral moraine, steeply down to a bridge over to the L bank of the Tsari. Thence through forest in a steep sided valley. At about m 5 the descent is rapid where the Tsari falls in a gorge. Pass at m 6 Podzo Sumdo, one house, at the entrance from the north of the broad valley from the Bimbi La. Continue down L bank for 2 miles where valley opens out a little. Some grazing. No houses. We are a good deal lower here, & the vegetation is much more advanced. I did not find much though. Another Meconopsis 1637, in few numbers, near Podzo, Berberis all the way - a fine big flowered one, though the flowers are not too numerous, 1626, some rhododendrons, the best of"

Wait, I missed the marginal notes in the final text. I'll include them as they appear

SUMMARY:
Notes plant specimens and habitats around Cha La, with route details toward Zimsathi and mention of the Takar La being snowbound. Records Lumsden treating a local woman and reports local news about the Rimpoche's daughter and proposed marriage ties with the Bhutan Maharani's family.

CONTENT:
Cha La May 14 - Saxifraga monantha sp. nov. 1584, Anemone brahmaputrae 1585, Pegophyton scapiflorum 1587, 1588, Primula advena 1589, Lloydia serotina 1591, Primula glabra 1592, Fritillaria cirrhosa 1595, Anemone trullifolia var. linearis 1594.

Cha La 15th 70
Rhododendron paludosum 1598
Off to the E, at about N 8, but to the Cha La the main valley is followed to Zimsathi. From here the road turns W to the Cha La. Another path follows straight on. This is only used from N to S occasionally. The Takar La is said to be pretty deep in snow still.

Primula atrodentata
We came across the usual Primula atrodentata in masses. Rhododendrons also especially on the W side, all the same, a form of 1555 (Rhododendron vellereum). There is a good deal of fir and juniper. Primula roylei is common here and Primula pygmaeorum also. Further up Primula glabra 1592 is common, and there are signs of a good many other things, saxifrage, allium etc.

Lumsden had a case of a woman yesterday who wanted treatment. She had had 7 children, all of them feet first. The pretty woman at Sangacholing is the Rimpoche's daughter. He told the Bhutan Maharani's mother was to marry her. He came here, but went on to Kham. But she wants to marry into Bhutan. It is a pity it cannot be arranged, to bring in new blood. The locals have the belief that Tobgye's second son is...

SUMMARY:
The diarist descends through an Abies forest after passing a small flat, noting masses of Primula roylei in clearings and Primula whitei in damp forest, with several rhododendrons including a pale mauve form. After brief rain the weather clears, and plans are made to attempt reaching the holy lakes the next day, though climbing peaks is deemed impossible.

CONTENT:
A small open flat is passed at 1 1/2. Then the forest of Abies is entered and the path wanders down this by an easy descent to m 3, where a valley enters from the south. A little beyond this is a clearing where a small camp can be made.

Several rhododendrons were seen on the way down, but most were not in full bloom yet. Primula roylei is in masses wherever there is a clearing, while damp spots in the forest have Primula whitei growing to perfection, dotted about all over the place, on mossy slopes. Rain started at 1:00 pm. There are no built-up shelters beyond yesterday's camp. The coolies hoped I might stay there for a day. They can reach the holy lakes in one day from there, and back, with difficulty, starting about 3:00 or 4:00 am. We will go up tomorrow if the weather is good and see how far we can get, but any hope of climbing the peaks is out of the question.

The prettiest rhododendrons today were Rhododendron fulgens (?) 3090 and a pale mauve one 3087 which looks very pretty indeed when fully out, as I saw it in a side valley below us. The rain did not last for long and now it is again clear at 4:30 pm. I do hope we have a good day tomorrow to see the lakes, though I hardly expect to find many flowers.

SUMMARY:
Notes abundant Primula species on hillsides and highlights several Pedicularis specimens from a nala above camp. Observes eremophila with young and shoots two snowcock, then walks to the Le La and into another valley, noting Gentiana amoena forma pallida on shale scree near the pass, not yet in flower.

CONTENT:
144

P. consocia 2284. Mec. horridula (white bella) 2286. Sax. sessiliflora 2288.
P. hyacinthina 2294

Primulas indeed all over the hillsides, but no others bar P. tsariensis, pygmaeorum, roylei & macrophylla, with a few late flowering atrodentata & masses of sikkimensis.

The nicest flower we saw was a Pedicularis 2293 (Pedic. bella v. holophylla 2293), from the nala just 1 m above camp. Another Pedicularis 2290 (Pedic. megalocheila 2290) is also very pretty (Pedic. zephanantha 2295). Saw masses of eremophila with their young about 400' above camp. They appear to have either 2 or 3 chicks. Shot two snowcock pretty high up. There were many young birds with them, able to fly.

5th July. Halt. Le La. Fine most of the morning & part of the afternoon. Went up to the Le La direct, then turned left into another valley, so circled home. On the pass there is now no snow either side. Gentiana amoena forma pallida is fairly common just near the top in pure shale scree. I also saw it further to the left on a ridge further south. It is not yet out, but I could see the flowers that they were

SUMMARY:
The diarist records abundant Primula species near camp between two passes on the way to Wangchelabh, noting P. stirtoniana (No. 3258), P. obliqua (3257), and others, with P. umbratilis not yet flowering and a small nivalis primula of special interest. During a halt at Tsophu and Dungchewang they experienced rain and thunder with brief views of snow mountains toward Tibet.

CONTENT:
Rhododendron Primulas 57

...stream falls down to camp. I found Primula stirtoniana growing well No. 3258. Later on, very close to camp, we saw masses of P. obliqua, which really is a beauty 3257. It is pure white, with a yellow eye. I see one this evening which is quite definitely pink tinged. P. umbratilis (?) is coming on, but will not be in flower for a month at least. P. strumosa is everywhere, as are P. roylei, P. macrophylla and P. glabra. P. hopeana is just coming into flower. On the whole a very good day. This camp is between the two passes on the way to Wangchelabh.

17th June. Halt. Tsophu. Dungchewang. Rain and thunder most of the night, and cloudy all day, but fine except for a few showers. Rain and thunder again at 6:00 pm. We were just clear of clouds early this morning, and could see the white line of snow mountains to the N for an hour or two. They looked perfectly wonderful, but were not in sunshine. The sky was clear in Tibet, but clouded up to the main range. Rather a disappointing day. Primulas there are, in masses. The following are common: P. hopeana, P. roylei, P. macrophylla, P. glabra, P. strumosa, P. stirtoniana (3258), P. atrodentata, P. obliqua and P. pusilla (3270). P. umbratilis (not in flower, 3213). The only thing of real interest, was a very small nivalis primula,

SUMMARY:
From Jarep on a clear day after a hard frost, the party descended a broad valley, passing Totsen, with wet but easy paths and extensive views of sharp, snow-covered peaks to the south; locals use the name Takpa Shiri for peaks within the Kingkor. Few flowers were seen, though Primula roylei was abundant; plants noted include Rhododendron lanatum v. luciferum and Clematis cirrhosa, with comparison to Primula sikkimensis near Mago.

CONTENT:
Jarep, May 18th.
Rhododendron lanatum v. luciferum 1610.
P. puderosum 1612 of nov.
Clematis cirrhosa 1611.

As perfect a day as I can remember. It froze pretty hard at night, we awoke to a blue sky with not a cloud to be seen. We had to wait some time for the sun to thaw the frost off our tents, then came on down the valley. Most of the way the valley is broad and open, with the path keeping to the left-hand side. Totsen is passed at about m 3, consists of 2 or 3 houses and a paddock where mules and horses are bred. The hills to the south were always visible, and the whole range was seen as we came down, by looking up side-valleys coming in from the south. They form a fine range of snow-covered peaks, nearly all very sharp-pointed. The locals do not appear to call any one peak Takpa Shiri, but refer to those enclosed by the Kingkor as that. Path is rather wet and stony but otherwise easy, and descent very gradual. The view down the valley too is almost equally fine, snow-covered peaks are to be seen as far as one can see. Of flowers there were very few. But Primula roylei as a sight made up for a lot. I have never seen more of any primula except of P. sikkimensis, when going down towards Mago. In places

SUMMARY:
Describes the route from the Lilung Chu camp to a camp up the Lo La Chu via fir forest, a cliff junction at Singo Samba, and difficult plank bridges, with boggy open areas suitable for camping. Notes several Primula species and other plants in the Lo La Chu valley, with seeds collected for some, and mentions Primula Roylei at about 11,000 ft not collected.

CONTENT:
19a

calderiana
Primula Roylei just in flower, common, 11,000 ft. (Not collected).

Camp in Lilung Chu to Camp up Lo La Chu. Keep to the L bank of the Lilung Chu, an easy path through fir forest, gradually opening out a little to m 3, where there is a big cliff on the R hand side of the path, where the valley from the Lo La enters the R. bank at a bearing of 307°. This is Singo Samba, no houses or cultivation. The Lilung (Langong) Chu turns a little W, coming from a bearing of 205°. The Lilung Chu is crossed by a very bad plank cantilever bridge a little above the junction, and the Lo La Chu is crossed just above too. Path climbs a good deal to start with, gradually easing off, keeping to the R. bank. About m 6 some open spaces are met and camp may be pitched in any of these, though they are rather boggy.

Primula prenantha common in Lo La Chu valley. } not in flower. SEED taken. No. S.H. /38.
" atrodentata .. .. .. .. .. }
" glabra just coming into flower.

Pedicularis sp. (12-15") SEED taken. S.H. /38
" sp (1-2") Bella? SEED taken S.H /38

Isopyrum sp. SEED taken S.H /38.

See July 1938.

SUMMARY:
Early morning ascent to Me La; mist arrived by 9 and steady rain began at 10. A delicate primula (No. 878) was found about 150 ft SW of the pass, with notes on Gentiana divaricata (879), G. infelix (880), Aconitum spicatum (884), aff. luridum (881), widespread Rheum nobile (883), Primula roylei in seed, P. congestifolia near over, and compass bearings taken from the La to m 5 and to Shingbe.

CONTENT:
Me La Aug. 24.
Went up to the Me La in the early morning. It looked as if it might be a fine day when we left, but by 9.0 the mist was coming up and at 10 rain started. It rained the rest of the day. We found a new primula about 150 ft SW of the La.

Prim. soldanelloides (No 878). It was growing on rock ledges in wet moss. It is a pretty little thing, rather delicate looking. I call it a primula, though it is unlike others in having a rather irregular flower, the lower petals being longer than the upper. But as far as we could make out, it is a primula, and if so will almost certainly be an interesting one, if not quite new. There was nothing else of much interest.

Gentiana divaricata 879
Gentiana infelix 880

Rheum nobile 883
Aconitum spicatum 884
" aff luridum 881

Rheum nobile was growing all over the hillside, being very obvious against the dark green vegetation.

Prim roylei
Prim. roylei is in seed, and will bag some tomorrow. P. congestifolia is also near the top, the flower just about over. I took some compass bearings from the La: to m 5 (first crossing) on our last day's march - 60° : to Shingbe, approximately 255