Showing 6828 results

SUMMARY:
Persistent cold rain kept the party in camp. The diarist noted Sorbus ursina in flower and extensive but unflowered Thalictrum chelidonifolia, hoped for a clear day to reach the Monla Karchung La to see Kula Kangri, and on the 25th a delayed pony and arrival of mail and supplies forced a return to camp.

CONTENT:
24th June. Halt. Again very wet indeed all night and day, and very cold too. We stayed in camp, or just wandered about near camp, and I have decided only to remain up here till 28th returning that day to Pangotang for a week. I think everyone is glad. This hasn't been very interesting at all. Today I found Sorbus ursina (I think) in flower at last. It is a very pretty rowan, well worth introducing at home. Seed should be easily collected I think. Also I saw an immense amount of Thalictrum chelidonifolia, more than I have ever seen before. It is not yet in flower, and I fear will not be fully out till after we leave. But the patch I saw must be a good sight when fully in flower. We are all tired of rain, and would do with a good sunny day. I hope for one clear day, to make a dash up to the Monla Karchung La. I don't think we will get many flowers, but I'd like to see Kula Kangri from the pass.

25th June. Halt. Still a filthy day. For these four days we have hardly been able to see 100 yards at any time, and it has been very cold indeed. We meant to be off early, but the pony did not turn up. Then when we got away at 7.0 a man from HH turned up with mail and rice and potatoes and butter and so on. So I had to come back,

SUMMARY:
The party halted and went up the valley to the North (E) of Migitun in heavy rain and mist, noting two waterfalls and abundant primulas. Finds included Danong's little yellow primula (1658), a plant thought to be P. violacea (1685), and a new primula (1686); leeches and midges were troublesome. An earlier note mentions an old man with a huge goitre and concerns about being carted about.

CONTENT:
huge goitre of a lifetime's standing by one old man. All seem reasonably pleased, but I don't suppose they will like carting us about very much.

24th May. Halt. Went up the valley to the North (E) of Migitun. It was too misty to see much. About 2 miles up on the R. are two waterfalls. On the way to these we found Danong's little yellow primula 1658, in masses, growing on the now free course of a perennial snow avalanche. Beside these were also a few of what I think is 1621, two other primulas of the sikkimensis section, one reddish the other yellow. I take the former 1685, to be P. violacea. Danong also found a new primula, but very little of it 1686, which is a pretty thing, though whether really it is white or should have some colour I rather doubt. On the whole a pretty good day for flowers, but otherwise foul, as it rained hard all day, and could not see where likely places were, the mist being right down the hillside. There are leeches here, but as yet not very many. The chief pest are midges, which are very trying. I went into

SUMMARY:
The diary records a halt with a flea outbreak at a disused hut, clearing weather that revealed steep surrounding hills, and exploration up the valley NE of Migitun. Several Primula species and a pretty heath were found on avalanche-swept slopes, while Buddhow discovered a scarce white Rhododendron maddenii (lindleyi) further down the valley.

CONTENT:
a disused hut where some yaks were grazing. Within half a minute or less, Tenduk's legs were covered with fleas - so were my stockings.

25th May. Halt. Stayed more or less in camp till the evening. It cleared up after the last few days of rain, - let us see the country, which is very grand looking, with precipitous sided hills almost all round. Only down here in the valley is it at all open.

26th May Halt. I went up the valley NE of Migitun, - found Prim. 1662 (Yargong-chu) in quantities about 2000 ft up. Nothing else very interesting except a heath 1713 which is very pretty & should do well at home. I hope we get seeds. Prim 1711 (tsariensis) & 1712 (micropila) were both very beautiful. They both grow on slopes swept by snow avalanches & are the first to come out, with that queer little white prim which we found at Chichchar. Buddhow went straight down the valley & at about 5 m. down, found a fine white Maddenii (lindleyi) rhododendron 1702, which unfortunately was very scarce. I hope we can find some more of it. There was another too, which was not in flower. He also got a pretty

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:
Notes on fleas and lice among the party, with Ludlow inspected daily and Ramzana attributing lice to sweat; temporary huts built and a comfortable halt at Donga Pini with fine weather, bird shooting, and photo developing. On 27th July the party proceeds to SANA, climbing from about 8000' to 9600' along the ridge via the DONGA LA, with plants such as Primula xanthopa, P. sikkimensis, and Oxalis acetosella recorded.

CONTENT:
a good many fleas & lice about. Ludlow has his clothes searched every morning for lice. Ramzana, when asked where they came from, could only offer the explanation that they came from sweat. Three temporary huts have been built for the coolies & our Cookhouse, so we are all quite comfortable here, & will stay tomorrow. A very good day for birds, but no flowers.

B. 22. 26th July. Halt at Donga Pini. Fine almost all the day, with some
Coolies at Pini mist at times. The clouds away down in the valley were
amusing them- particularly beautiful in the evening. Spent the day
selves during the shooting birds in the morning & drying & packing up, &
day's halt. also developed some flower photographs. Coolies remained
Clouds in here all day, ready for tomorrow. There are no houses or
valley below shepherds here, but they amused themselves at their various
Pini in games.
Kurn Chu.

8 27th July To SANA 12 1/2 miles. 8000' 9600'. Path climbs steeply up
B. 22 finished. grassy ridge for 1 1/2 miles, then zig zags over rocky
Looking down to ground among trees, always keeping to the ridge, till
the cloud filled Primula xanthopa 329. P. sikkimensis 331, Oxalis acetosella 332
valley of the the DONGA LA

SUMMARY:
Left Tsongpen in camp ill; the narrator and Tenduk searched nearby and found no new plants but noted a strong stand of No. 3301 for seed later. On 26 June they went to Wangchelahh via the Nabzi La, filmed blood pheasants with young, and received mail with a seed report from Chris and Elisabeth (except the pink meconopsis); on 27 June they returned to the base at Phobsinna amid mist and rain.

CONTENT:
of day, but no rain till late. Left Tsongpen in camp. He only has fever badly in the evenings. Tenduk and I went down, found nothing new, but a really fine mass of No. 3301 which will do for seed later on if I can send these people back here in September. We did not stay out long, as we are pretty convinced that there is nothing left here.

13500 26th June. To Wangchelahh. A fine morning, very windy. Came back over the Nabzi La. Blood pheasant here all now have their young hatched. We caught one, and for what I think should be some good cine photos of them. In this case there were 2 females and 1 male. A mail arrived en route. This seems to be our lucky place for mails, as it was here that one arrived before. No news of '36 flowers, but Chris and Elisabeth send a good report on seeds, with the marked exception of the pink meconopsis. The hills are particularly beautiful now, look like Scotland up here. They are covered with dwarf rhododendron, just the colour of heather (Rhod. setosum?) and also with Cassiope (Cassiope fastigiata var. densifolia 3372). There are now a lot of flowers out (Pedicularis ludlowii type 3373), but we know them all, and have them already collected.

27th June. To Phobsinna. 12 miles. Back again to the base, for the last time. Fine but misty till 1.0pm. Then rain all day. We seem to

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:
A local messenger is sent over the Sebri La to Charkakora to arrange a meeting at Pangkar. After heavy rain, the Kuomo Chu bridge is washed away; two Tibetans visit from Tsari Chikchar, Pasang departs for Julu to collect mice, and Ngudup recounts a recent landslip that killed 11 people. The following day brings more rain, little of botanical interest, and hopes for a letter from Betty.

CONTENT:
by sending a local over the Sebri La to Charkakora. I said then back in four days, so as to meet me at Pangkar. A man agreed at the great cost of Rs 7/- + the chance of a tip! So off he goes early tomorrow.

28th April. Halt. We had an absolute deluge of rain last night till a late hour, & that finished the rain for a little, as today has been perfect. But the bridge over the Kuomo Chu was washed away early this morning. It is as well we did our tour on the other side yesterday. The bridge even then was very shaky, & I knew it would soon go. Got nothing of interest today. Two Tibetans came into camp, & one recognized me. They had come from Tsari Chikchar, & one had been a coolie with me round the "Kingkor". They remembered our last visit quite well. Pasang goes off tomorrow to Julu, for the mice there, & back on 30th. We tried up a very steep side valley to the west today. I thought Ngudup was nervous all the time, & he told me this afternoon that that valley had come down in a landslip only 5 or 6 years ago, smashed all the houses & killed 11 people. After last night's rain he expected a repetition it seems.

29th April. Halt. A fine morning, suddenly clouding over, & raining by 1.0 pm. Pasang went off at 6.0 & I went up more than half way with him. There was hardly anything to be seen, certainly other than we had already collected. Rhod. Lindleyi very common everywhere, as is Magnolia Campbellii. I fear Pasang will get very little. Betty should by now have got my letter, & I hope will send one back tomorrow. It will be interesting to hear how they got on. While

SUMMARY:
Notes on collecting a different Primula near a pass and on labelling flowers and preparing bird skeletons. On 28 August they packed, received final mail including a letter from Tobgye, and could not send replies until reaching Gyantse. On 29 August they traveled from Menchu Mu over Kang La to a shelter at Mencheman, describing the route, elevations, scarce fuel, and an 8-hour march for the coolies.

CONTENT:
75

same place - 16 small & 6 big. Today bagged seven of a different primula near the pass, not in flower (No. 489). Very cold misty afternoon, spent labelling flowers & making skeletons of birds.

28th August. Fine most of the morning low down. Mist & rain later. Packed up & discarded what we could. We should have a number of loads less now. A final mail arrived yesterday evening with a home mail & letter from Tobgye. But it was sent by 'dak' so we cannot send any letters back. We need now write no more letters till reaching Gyantse.

29th August. MENCHU MU. 15300'. 4 miles. There is one hut at Narim Thang, occupied during the summer months. It is situated at the South end of the plain. Leaving this the path crosses the wet plain, then climbs steeply to a lake, which is passed on the West side at m 1. Path then ascends very steeply to the West up a rocky gorge to the pass (Kang La (16300')), which is crossed at m 2. The pass is a rocky knife edge. Immediately on the north side is a small glacier & the path descends steeply over this gradually working to the R side, when it ends at m 3. Thence pretty steep down through rhododendron scrub to a valley running from E to West, where a shelter is situated, called Mencheman, at m 4. The only fuel is growing rhododendron. Coolies took 8 hours

SUMMARY:
Notes on shelters for heavy rain and severe midges, followed by a route from Sana to Trashiyangsi. The path descends through jungle and cultivated land, crosses the Dongde Chu and Trashiyangsi Chu by bridges, passes CHOTEN KORRA, and reaches camp around 13.5 miles at about 8000 feet.

CONTENT:
made of slit plaited bamboo, with roofs of the same or of
thin, long pieces of pine, are most useful, as they keep
out most if not all of the rain. When rain is heavy, we
usually put tarpaulins over the top. Midges awful here, as
were flies to midges at Gori Pimi.

28th July. TRASHIYANGSI. 13 1/2 m. 8000'. Leaving the clearing at
Sana path drops into gorge and crosses stream, thence descent
steady over very bad path to m 3. where another side
stream is crossed by a bridge. After this the path
ascends gradually, is better and at m 5 emerges from
the dense jungle to partly cultivated more open land.
Descent then fairly steep to m 8 where the main river
Dongde Chu, is crossed. Path follows close to river, ascending
and descending along R. bank to m 11, where it recrosses
over a bridge and climbs steeply up to a spur 500' further
on, where Trashiyangsi Dzong is situated. Passing this,
path drops immediately over the spur to the Trashiyangsi Chu
which is crossed by a massive covered bridge at m 11 1/2. Thence easy
path up left bank of Trashiyangsi River, passing a large
chorten (CHOTEN KORRA) at m 13 to camp at 13 1/2. Water fuel ample