Letter from George Forrest, Talifu [Dali], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE, dated 08 November 1904, in which Forrest confirms the despatch of 380 plant specimens collected on his recent journey to Tzekou [Cigu]. Next trip will be to the north of the Lichiang [Lijiang] valley, working the range of mountains which cause the Yangtze bend and along the base of an immense glacier on the eastern slope of the Lichiang peak. If this proves unproductive he will go on again to the Chung Tien plateau which he and Litton were the first Europeans to visit. Believes the range forming the Mekong and Salween divide to be exceptionally rich in rhododendrons, azaleas, gentians, primulas and a five foot tall lilium with immense white bloom marked in red and highly perfumed. Specimens have been collected by the missionary fathers at Tzekou who will send bulbs to Balfour and Bulley via consul Litton. Describes journey north into Tibet with Litton, leaving Talifu [Dali] on 29 August, returning 53 days later, having covered around 1000 miles. On being mobbed at the horse fair at Sung Kwei they had to draw their revolvers in defence but had some horses and mules stolen. Gives details of their route to and from Tibet, describing plants and vegetation and a river crossing by sling bridge, illustrated by a sketch. Has felt depressed since returning to Tali, probably a reaction to so much travel and constant exposure to wet conditions and extremes of heat and cold. Regrets that all his photographs were spoiled by dampness and intends to ask Bulley for a supply of photographic plates. Confirms that there is a pine belt in Yunnan and part of Tibet, generally starting at about 9,500 feet and continuing to about 15,000 feet.
Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 26 March 1905.
Forrest writes that he is pleased that the first batch of specimens has arrived and proved to be of such interest. Forrest hopes to send thousands from next season’s collecting, north and west of Tsekou [Cigu]. Forrest thanks Balfour for sending him photographic plates and books (which he has not yet received).
Letter is fire damaged with a small amount of loss.
Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], Yunnan, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 07 April 1905.
Forrest writes to apologise that he can only muster 105 specimens but promises he will have done better by his return to Talifu next January [1906]. By next mail will send two photographs of plants, one a primula and one a fumaria.
Plants referenced: Fumaria; Primula
Letter from George Forrest, The Mission, Tsekou [Cigu], Tibet, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 28 April 1905.
Forrest writes briefly to let Balfour know he has arrived safely in Tsekou after a 'terribly trying' journey during which he rowed with the people at Chien Chuan cho and then lost a mule in crossing the Wei Hsi; baggage carried by coolies (Lisaws) [Lissoos] through deep snow. Forrest reports news of a revolt by lamas who had raided Batang and Atunze, killing three French missionaries and a number of local Christian converts. Forrest found Tsekou to be practically in a state of siege with daily expectation of attack, there being around 3000 lamas at Atunze and 5000 at Batang. Forrest had secured over 100 species on the way but lost many more through damp.
There is slight burning at the base of the letter.
Transcribed copy of George Litton's, H.M. Consul, Tengyueh, letter to Isaac Bayley Balfour, dated 17 May 1905, alongside the copy of a letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, to A.K. Bulley at Ness, dated 21 June 1905, and written when Balfour sent Litton's letter to Bulley.
Copy has been made by Balfour's assistant Henry Hastings.
Letter has been scorched with some loss, although not of text.
Letter from Sir Eldon Gorst, Foreign Office, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 17 August 1905.
Gorst is directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne 'to state that he has been requested by Mr. Litton, His Majesty's Consul at Tengyueh, in the provinces of Yunnan, to inform you that there seems unfortunately little doubt that an Englishman named Forest [sic] was murdered on July 21, in the course of the disturbances which have lately occurred in the region of the Upper Mekong.’...
Letter has been charred with some loss, though not of text.
Letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to Sir E. Gorst, The Foreign Office, Downing Street, London S.W. dated 18 August 1905.
Balfour, unaware at this point that Forrest has survived, writes to acknowledge Gorst's letter of 17 August and asks that Forrest’s mother or himself be informed of result of enquiry into Forrest’s death.
Letter is fire damaged with some loss.
Telegram from Forrest family, likely Miss Grace R. Forrest, George's sister, handed in at Lasswade Post Office at 8:17pm, to Balfour, Inverleith House, Edinburgh, received at Edinburgh Office at 8:21pm[?], 19 August 1905.
'Overjoyed to have good news many many thanks'
Telegram from Sir Eldon Gorst, Foreign Office, handed in at Whitehall, To A.K. Bulley, received at Neston, Cheshire on the 21 August 1905: 'Latest information states that Forrest has arrived safe at Weishi [sic] and was to have been sent under escort on the 14th inst. to Tali [Dali] Gorst' with annotations by A.K. Bulley: 'I don't know whether you have had this, Just return it, A.K.B.'
Sin títuloLetter from Grace R. Forrest, 'Springbank', Lasswade, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 08 September 1905.
Grace writes to Balfour to return Bulley's letters.