Showing 8 results

SUMMARY:
Camped on a steep slope near Chukar, the party finds the location friendlier than Mago or Tsena though lacking level ground. On a halt day, the writer went with Danang to nearby cliffs to collect primulas and delphinium, noted Thalictrum of Mago and the Tulung La Meconopsis, and arranged for a local man to care for specimens with plans to retrieve them from Trashiyangsi in October.

CONTENT:
67

is hardly surprising however. Our yak men are a deformed looking lot, but cheerful enough. Everyone here is pleasanter than in either Mago or in Tsena. I wish we had known of this place before. I'm sure it would have proved of great interest a month or more earlier. There is barely room for tents here, we are all on a horrible slope. If it rains hard, we will undoubtedly be washed out of our tents. But there is no level ground anywhere near. Probably a better camp would be beside the river, but in fact we did not go down so low, as I would have had a hard climb tomorrow.

19th August. Halt at Chukar. In the morning I went with Danang up to the cliffs, wandered about them hoping to find more than the three primulas of yesterday, but got nothing new. Bagged 16 of the new primula & 6 of the blue one. Also this evening bagged 6 delphinium. A local man is to look after them, & I will send a man from Trashiyangsi in October to retrieve the lot. I hope the scheme works. The pretty Thalictrum of Mago is growing here too & the Tulung La Meconopsis. Quite a good day on the whole, but

SUMMARY:
Notes prolific flowering and collections including a new primula (P. jaffreyana 2257), an iris (2251), Incarvillea lutea (2252), and Thalictrum chelidonii. Reports shortage of drying paper, and mail issues: the runner found no mail at Tsona but had a chit from the Dzongpen; outgoing mail was forwarded by the Dzongpen and more is to be sent via Chayul.

CONTENT:
Rhod. sanguineum 1881, R. campylogynum 1882, forrestii var. repens 1883.
Diapensia himalaica 1884, Prim. valentiana 1885. P. Elizabethae 1886 sp. nov.
Omphalogramma bathysepala sp. nov. 1887

...see how much more prolific the flowers were on this side. The most interesting things were a new primula P. jaffreyana 2257. Common to quite low down. A beautiful iris 2251, which I think is near the K.W.'s Karta iris, a queer lily-like affair 2252 (Incarvillea lutea), I don't know what it is.

Thalictrum chelidonii was in flower about halfway here, beautiful as ever. There were also a number of shrubs in flower too. Altogether yesterday I collected 20 different species. Now I have no paper left to put the dried flowers in. No mail turned up, but the runner is there. He found no mail in Tsona. We thought he was doing us down, but he had a chit from the Dzongpen which shows he was alright. Our last outgoing mail was still lying there, but both were sent on by the Dzongpen.

30th June. Halt. Sanga Choling. Another perfect day. Packed up mail to send off tomorrow via Chayul. Packed up as many dried flowers as possible, but have no paper; with this confounded tamasha going on, I cannot get hold of anyone. I now only have about 80 sheets of drying paper to play about with, which is...

[Marginal Notes:]
P. jaffreyana 2257
Iris decora 2251
Thalictrum 2253
Meconopsis 2256
Jeffreyana 2257
Tibetica 2258
Dracocephalum 2255
Primula 2255
Rosa macrophylla var. farreri 2259
Gentiana 2249
Cryptantha 2250
Clematis 2254
Gentiana tibetica 2258
Jasminum officinale 2261

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:
Travel from above Natrampa to Karubra and then near Kashongla with generally cloudy, wet weather and some snow higher up. Seeds of several plants were collected, and the party met a Sikkim lama from near Trashi Trongmo who spoke some Nepali. Distances and times between camps are noted.

CONTENT:
7th October. Camp above Natrampa. 6 miles. 11500'. Cloudy all day, with a little fine drizzle. The clouds come rushing up the valley from Lung, and gradually fade away, but it is still generally wet. Found some seed of Gent. Waltoni ripe, the little yellow sedum, and the yellow Dracocephalum: also the Thalictrum collected at Zumsati. Coolies very happy but exceptionally slow. Left camp at 6.30, reached here at 12.0 noon.

8th October. Karubra. Another very short day, in at 11.00. We could see that beyond the Duchung La it was absolutely clear all morning. Here the sun shone most of the day, but it also rained nearly all afternoon. Monsoon clouds come up to the main range, and just fade away. Got seeds of the blue Dracocephalum and P. pulchelloides, an aquilegia and the big scrophularia, and a few of the small androsace. The big one is not yet ripe. Here we met a Sikkim lama, who had forgotten all his Lepcha but could talk a little Nepali. He comes from near Trashi Trongmo, where he has been for 14 years: a nice man.

9th October. Camp 2 m W of Kashongla. 14000'. A most disappointing day. It rained all night, and snow was down to 500' above Karubra.

SUMMARY:
Travel from Tongsa to Tashiling and Chendebi in misty, unsettled weather; brief collecting of Thalictrum and generally poor seed. Met the Dzongpon of Tongsa, received mail from Bumthang with letters from Betty and Taylor, and noted Maté’s arrival with a letter from Tongue and responsibility for the subsidy. Mentions Ludlow’s plant not ripe and that Pasang may have taken a hanging creeper.

CONTENT:
14th October. Tongsa. Rainy night & morning, very little sun today, but just no rain. Very unsettled yet. Left 6.30 arr 11.30. Met here the jovial Dzongpon of Tongsa, all arrangements excellent. We had nothing special to collect today, only took some more Thalictrum 19544. Yesterday Maté arrived in camp somewhat surprisingly, with a letter from Tongue. He was in charge of this year's subsidy, which means I suppose he was responsible for carrying a couple of lakhs of rupees. I would like now to see a few really nice clear days for a change. We used to say the 18 Oct was the first really good day, but that was further east. It looks as if it might be the same here this year.

15th Oct. Tashiling. Still thick mist, except for 2 very hot hours in the morning, when the sun was out. We got rather poor seed this morning. Ludlow's tree or shrub was not at all ripe, & we missed the hanging creeper with scarlet flowers. Perhaps Pasang has taken that. Early this morning a mail came back from Bumthang for us, with some of Betty's letters of 13-15 September & one from Taylor.

16th Oct. Chendebi. Rain at night & thick mist, once left in Tashiling this morning. Cleared up by 1.0 pm & may now remain fine I think. No excitement. We got quite good

SUMMARY:
Notes describe passing through plains with vast profusions of white Primula near Gela, with additional sightings of yellow Oxalis, red Pedicularis, a fine red Primula, and a large violet Thalictrum. Despite the abundance of flowers, the observers express some disappointment beyond these highlights.

CONTENT:
Ludlow 54. We passed through acres of yellow
oxalis Primula red pedicularis

10522
436 88

11358. 53. 191.7 11359.

Ludlow 60 Gela. White primula accompanied us the
whole way. On all the flat grassy plain they grow
in millions profusion, acres & acres of them, thicker than
buttercups in an English meadow. But apart from the
profusion of these flowers we were disappointed, others only
adding one fine red Primula & a large violet
Thalictrum delicate beauty than colour.

SUMMARY:
The diarist halts at Sanden and makes an early ascent to the Nyungsang La to take bearings and panoramas, noting clear views toward Mago, Milakatung La, and near Tsona after recent poor weather in Bhutan. Mago lamas arrive with some seeds; Danang is sent to the Bum La to collect white Meconopsis and Primulas, while previously bagged seed flowers from July are brought in. Plans and routes for retrieving seed bags and collecting around Bum La, Takpa, Tsona, and Mago are outlined.

CONTENT:
112

retrieve seed bags left in these places. The missing dak is not traced yet, but at least it seems that it has not gone as far from its P.O. as Trashigang.
Danang(?) to Bum La, Takpa and to Tsona, or there to Mago - all to collect seeds.

19th October. Halt Sanden. A perfect day. Mist was low & it rained a spot or two in the evening, then cleared up by 10 pm to a beautiful night. I left in the early morning before light (5:30) & went up quickly to the Nyungsang La to take bearings & panoramas of the country to the North. Rough sketch opposite. The Mago hills (West of Mago) were very fine, but clouded over soon after 9:00 am. I could see to the Milakatung La, & to some hills near Tsona. The air was an absolute treat after all the dampness & beastliness we have had so much of in Bhutan. And it will be fine tomorrow too. When I returned I found the Mago lamas had just arrived & brought some seed. They have no white Meconopsis seeds, but have the small Tulung La one. Also Thalictrum, & an assortment of rubbish which they thought might be of use. But Danang is off (horridus 659) to the Bum La & should get the white Meconopsis up there, besides some Primulas. The seed flowers which I bagged here in July were brought in yesterday. There are only a few, but I think I can get more.

Ludlow p. 148. S. went to the Nyung Sang La for a beautiful view of Tawang & the peaks to the East of it - the same peaks we saw looking West from Mago.

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