Showing 5 results

SUMMARY:
Notes botanical observations including rhododendrons and Agapetes; arranged seed collection of Primula filipes near Kheri Gompa and received mail from Darrang amid concerns over dwindling stores. Marched to Demri and then camped below Balfai in the Jiri Chu valley, tested Lumière films (spoiled by hot water), and found little of botanical interest in hot weather.

CONTENT:
7

Rhododendron grande 1134 at 7000 ft
Agapetes serpens 1136 at 6000 ft
...interest but a rhododendron new to us, with lemon yellow flowers & red stigma. It clouded over before I got there, and had some hail.

25th Feb. Hab. - Looked round about camp for more flowers with no success, but appointed a man to see to collecting seeds of Primula filipes from beside Kheri Gompa. In the evening we packed up a mail, - a mail from Darrang arrived. There were just about three or four days' mail. I had more letters from home about Mother, written at the end of the month or beginning of Feb. We are rather worried at the way our stores are going. Flour will last no time at this rate, & no more is available here of any kind.

26th Feb. DEMRI. 6 miles. BP. 208.2 Temp. 78°. Approx 2190'.
A short march down hill, very hot. I tried the new Lumière films here, but water is too hot, & ruined three exposures. Luckily there was nothing of any great value.
(astonished to find Rhododendron arboreum in flower as low down as 2500 ft)

27th. Camp. about 5 miles below Balfai in the Jiri Chu valley. 7 miles. A grand day, but no flowers or birds of interest seen. It was hot starting.

SUMMARY:
The diarist slowly ascends to Choking La around midday, noting magnolias and rhododendrons, but fewer flowers than expected. Tenduh finds Primula specimens (1166 and 1167), likely including P. boothii, with both forms later seen growing together near snow patches; compass bearings include one toward Mera.

CONTENT:
18

La reached at about m. 6. I did not get there till 12.0 noon, but went very slowly looking for flowers. There was not very much out. Many magnolia trees were in bloom though, and a number of the big pinkish white rhododendron [Rho. grande 1148?] 1148. Rhododendron arboreum gave out soon after it started. Rather to my surprise and disgust there were no more rhododendrons in flower. About 1000 ft below the pass Tenduh came across [Primula gracilipes 1167] the primula 1167, which is likely P. boothii again, though higher I think than it has been recorded so far. Then we reached the snow, going up a north face, and at the first big patch which was half melted in rhododendron [Primula white 1166] and Abies forest, came across 1166, which I at first mistook for the same primula, only blue. But it is obviously different, with what looks like the opened sheath on the outside low down. Both are farinose, but 1167 has much more on the flower underneath. I make the Choking La 11116 ft. Back bearing to approximately where we started seemed to be 302° Mag, and to Mera 100° Mag. On the south side of [Primula white of gracilipes] the pass, we found masses of 1167 with a good deal of 1166 with it. Both were growing together. Lower down we only

SUMMARY:
The diarist reports scarce, undrinkable water and a poor route. On 3rd May they camped on a ridge south of Jirgang Chu, with rain overnight, clear morning, and mist returning at noon; coolies traveled from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. They glimpsed Dungshigou and noted abundant rhododendrons and magnolias (Nos. 2980, 2982, 2983) with color variation by elevation.

CONTENT:
down, but I could not get a clear space through the forest to get a photograph. There is some drift snow still on it. The water here is quite undrinkable and very scarce. Tomorrow there is none at all, either on the way or at camp. In fact this is not too good a route altogether.

3rd May. Camp on ridge S. of Jirgang Chu 5 miles. Coolies 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. Rained pretty hard a good deal of the night, but was clear and bright in the morning, mist came up again at 12:00. Got a glimpse of Dungshigou through the trees at 6:30. The path was more non-existent than ever today, and a lot of cutting had to be done. But it follows the extreme ridge almost all the way. We came across first a white epiphytic Rhododendron (No 2980, Rh. Dalhousiae? Lindleyi?) then a lot of Magnolia Campbellii (No 2982). Then Rh. grande (falconeri) (No 2983) which covers an area on the hillside everywhere. It is in full bloom and really a grand sight. Low down it was definitely yellow with a biggish magenta blotch, but higher up was much paler with a small blotch. Here there were some pink

SUMMARY:
An easy downhill march from Takhtoo to a standard camp with rhododendrons and Magnolia campbellii in bloom; Primula denticulata is common, and a young Tibetan mastiff was bought in Sanden. From Phungni on the 16th March, heavy smoke over Bhutan from widespread grass burning is noted, with half-burnt rhododendrons and contrasting vegetation on the valley’s north and south faces; Ludlow remarks on rapid changes over a few days.

CONTENT:
very pleasant - a good wind and hot sun.

15th Takhtoo. A very easy march downhill to a pleasant
(Rhod. kingianum 1184, arboreum 1185, grande 1186) camp of the standard pattern, which is beginning to spoil
us badly. Nothing very much on the way, but rhododendrons
are beginning to come out and a marked difference was
seen by Ludlow from the time he came up this way only
(Mag Campbellii) four or five days ago. Magnolia Campbellii is in full
bloom still. It only has an altitude range of about
(Prim denticulata) 1000 - 1500 ft. Prim. denticulata (erythrocarpa?) is
everywhere, as is a red rhododendron rather like arboreum.
Bought a dog in Sanden, which is rapidly becoming
happy with us. He is a young Tibetan mastiff, for
which Rs 2/- would seem a small price at home.

16th March. Phungni. The smoke over Bhutan is very
(Between Takhtoo and Phungni) marked, one can only see a mile or so each day.
(NB) The reason is that the rank old grass is now dry and
being burnt everywhere to allow young grass to come up.
It is horrible to see half burnt rhododendrons everywhere.
The North face of the valley is covered with a mixture of
trees, mostly evergreen, while the South face was today

SUMMARY:
Notes abundant Primula filipes along the path east from the chorten at the south end of the pass, and records a single primula (1147) likely P. Boothii found by the Tsongpen east of Yongpu La among waterfalls, though no more were located. Mentions a badly burned lady in poor condition and hopes Lumsden can help. Also reports shooting a barking deer for meat and enjoying views of the snows.

CONTENT:
10

Prim. filipes The specimens taken here were along the path which leads East from the Chorten at the S. end of the pass. Anywhere along that path where a small nala crosses the path, there is P. filipes. I went along a mile, and found it every few hundred yards. The lady had a very bad night with her burnt legs. I hope Lumsden will manage to do something for her. They were 17 days unattended, so are in an awful state, and the smell is really bad. I went out twice in the afternoon saw a barking deer, which I shot at 40 yards with a .410 lethal bullet. Its flesh will provide a very good change from the everlasting moonghi.

1st March Halt. Saw nothing in the morning, but Tsongpen
Yongpu La went up the hill E of the Yongpu La and came down a side
Prim. gracilipes 1147 nala where he found a beautiful primula (1147) which
Rho. grande 1148 I think must be P. Boothii. I immediately went there, but could find no more. It was only seen in a very small area among waterfalls, on mossy rocks in the shade on a south face. It is heliotrope with a greenish yellow centre and the best flowers were 1 inch across, or more. We have lovely views of the snows each morning awaits