Showing 6828 results

SUMMARY:
The party travels through dense fir and rhododendron to reach the Lamse La around 1200, then descends the west side into a broad cultivated valley with several closely set villages, good grazing, and wheat and buckwheat fields, noting bearings and distances. Soon after leaving Chandebi they discover a small Primula resembling P. tenuiloba at about 8000 ft on steep mossy slopes (No. 3052), and Purba speaks with the locals.

CONTENT:
before getting into fir forest. The last two miles is through pretty dense fir & rhododendron forest. The Lamse La is reached at m 6. B.P. 190.5° Temp. 60° Time 1200. Descent on West side steep at first, gradually easing off. First houses met at m 8. This place consists of the broad open valley, with excellent open spaces on the hills round about for grazing. There are several villages in the valley, all close together, a good deal of cultivation of wheat & buckwheat. Bearing from the Lamse La to the main village in the valley is 235° M. This really is a grand looking valley, better than either Mera or Sakden. Our first thrill this morning came very soon after leaving Chandebi, within a mile of the village. On the R hand side of the path there is a cliff, & just short of that, on the very steep hillside, we found a new primula - new to me at any rate. It is a small one, rather like P. tenuiloba at first sight, but not so blue as that, & having a good deal of farina on the leaves. It was growing only at 8000 ft, & that is the only place we saw it in. There was a lot there too, growing mostly in large clumps, from 6" to 1 1/2 ft across, in moss on very steep slopes & cliff faces. No. 3052. Purba informed the locals that I was

SUMMARY:
A slow, difficult march to Lalung over a bad road with intermittent rain; Lalung is a cultivated clearing whose name is explained, dam-dim flies are severe—badly affecting Ludlow—and dense low-elevation forest yields little, though Lilium giganteum is common but not in flower. The following day is a halt at Lalung with a fine morning before a violent evening storm brings rivers into flood, and Tsongpen shot a new...

CONTENT:
slowly indeed.

Lalung proves disappointing

22

To 27th April. Lalung. 5 miles. BP. 200.2° Temp. 65° Time 2.0pm. Ht. approx 6716'. A very slow march, a very bad road. Bright clear after a night of rain, till evening, then more rain. The pass is crossed 1/2 m from camp then the path keeps down steeply at times & gradually occasionally. Lalung is a large cleared area, with a good deal of cultivation. The name is from Lha = gods, Lungpa = valley, the story being that a lama reincarnation came here & found the place so nice that he called it The place of the gods. But the dam-dim flies are really very bad. They worry me a bit, but the effect is very bad on Ludlow, whose hands & wrists are twice their normal size. We saw little in the way here. The forest is so dense that it is almost impossible to spot flowers. In any case, we are really too low for good things, & intend to go off up some valley for a few days soon. Lilium giganteum is common round about, but not in flower, but I have seen no signs of other lilies.

28th April. Halt. Lalung. Fine until lovely morning. Clouded early, rain by 2.30 & a terrific storm of rain in the evening, which has brought all the rivers down in flood. Tsongpen shot a new

SUMMARY:
Entries describe halts at Lalung with an attempted approach to a long waterfall via a crossing of the Yargyap Chu, noting flies, a small poisonous snake, ticks, and wood snipe. The writer discusses unreliable local supplies, some butterfly collecting, and preparations with coolies before moving camp toward the Kargong La.

CONTENT:
wonderful sight in the air. At present all are in pairs, often will be having eggs very soon. The sun has one drawback, that is that it brings out the damdim fly in thousands.

6th May. Halt Lalung. Fine alright very pretty all day. There is a valley leading South over the range towards the Marrang Lopa country, in which I saw a most promising looking long waterfall from the ridge on the 4th, we tried to get there today. Started at 5.15 am and returned, extremely tired at 6.0 pm. But we did not reach our waterfall, saw nothing of much interest. To get there we had to go 2 m downstream, across the Yargyap Chu in a 25 ft dug out canoe. The river is 5 ft deep in places, and about 40 yds across. Then through jungle to a point opposite camp. From there there is a path, only a Lopa one, going up the side valley to the South. It is very difficult though, and very tiring. We saw, and killed a small poisonous snake on the way, got a number of ticks on us, and were eaten by damdims. In the Lalung plain are many snipe, probably the Wood Snipe. A lovely evening, clear but with some huge cumulus clouds over the Main Range. I think we would have to have gone another mile to our place, and there was no time for that.

7th May. Halt Lalung. Fine all day, but gradually working up for a storm. Very close and hot in the evening. Stayed in camp most of the day and did very little. I find it very difficult to understand whether supplies are obtainable here in any quantity. It seems that a good deal can be had, but that it is only in driblets from each house. Purbo has said that 2 mds of rice will be brought here often, but it has never materialized: the same with maize atta. Certainly from the locals one can get nothing in the way of information which is in the least reliable. No more flowers collected today.

8th May. Halt Lalung. Clouded all day, some rain, cleared up in the evening. We are all glad to be leaving tomorrow. I suppose we have taken little from here really, but we can't find more without moving camp up into the hills, and that is impossible. Some good butterflies caught here, but they are really just getting going now, and the two hot days brought out a lot. Coolies all well arranged, but it remains to be seen how many will turn up tomorrow. Snow certainly appears to be leaving the hill tops pretty fast now, and always has a wet look above it, which it did not have when we first came here.

9th May. Camp on Ridge to half way up the Kargong La 3 miles. Clouded, but fine till the evening, with sun in the middle of the

SUMMARY:
Notes on descents at Lalung Camp and S. kumba La with plant entries including P. normanniana (3700), Berberis leptopoda (type, 3697), and R. neriiflorum (3702). A reference to Ludlow p. 46 is recorded.

CONTENT:
Ludlow p. 46
descents Lalung
Camp

S. kumba La
Ludlow
P. normanniana 3700
Type Berberis leptopoda 3697
R. neriiflorum 3702

SUMMARY:
Diary notes describe severe midges and rain while collecting Primula cortusoides and rhododendrons off the Nyug La ridge, followed by a weather-hampered attempt along the ridge. The party returns to Lalung where Tsongpen shoots a tragopan near camp and the diarist has a good day of bird shooting as weather improves; plant notes include R. edgeworthii, Pinus wallichiana, Cypripedium hookerae, and Monotropa uniflora.

CONTENT:
P. laciniata 3649
Here, off the ridge, Primula cortusoides No. 3649, is in masses and very pretty. Otherwise the only thing we got was a very fine Rhododendron 3708 (Rh. rude 3707), which is the same as that found in bud on the Nyug La (= 3670). Otherwise there was nothing, and the only bird I wanted to shoot was an Ixulus - beside the tragopan. The midges at these two camps have been too awful for words. They simply swarm in dense clouds everywhere, and it is impossible to stand still for a minute. I have a smoke fire in my tent, which is infinitely preferable to the midges. Gulla and Tsongpen are with me - Gulla as cook, he is perfectly good. Tsongpen and I will try our luck as far as we can go tomorrow. I'm afraid a new primula on my birthday is hardly likely. (Sherriff's birthday)

3rd May. Same camp. Rained all night, and has rained hard all day today without a stop. A perfectly filthy day. Tsongpen and I, with two men, cut our way up as far as we could go along the ridge. There cliffs blocked our way, and we could not go either side. So, soaked through and freezing cold, we returned to camp. I am very glad that the coolies agree, or say they do, to go back in one day. It seemed easily possible, none of us have any desire for any more of this ridge. At the highest point reached, we found some rhododendrons in flower, but only those seen before. There was no sign of any primulas, or of anything else for that matter. Heavy rain and dense forest is too much to compete with, either for birds or flowers. So I am just sitting in camp, hoping for the day to pass quickly, which of course it won't do. This camp is just mud now, and everything we have is wet and filthy. I think Gulla will be happiest when he gets back tomorrow. When used to driving cars, this is a change in the wrong direction.

4th May. Camp Lalung. 5 miles. Rained in morning, some sun at Lalung at midday, rained in evening. It only took the coolies 5 1/2 hours to return here, instead of the 12 going. Just as we were ready to leave camp, we heard tragopan calling, and one came close to camp (Tragopan in perfect plumage). Tsongpen went after it and got it in a rhododendron. I saw two more, but could not get a shot with the rifle. All were within 50 yards of camp. I got a few other birds too on the way down. Ludlow had had a bad day of rain yesterday too, and was pretty fed up with getting few birds. We were all glad to get back to a decent dry level camp again.

5th May. Halt Lalung. Fine and sunny the whole day. Looks as if we were in for a spell of fine weather - a rash thing to prophesy here. I went out on a ridge 500 ft above camp and had some good shooting. Every morning about 7.30, spine-tailed swifts arrive, and then spend the day feeding in this valley, going home wherever that is, in the evening. They are said to fly at 200 mph, and they are a...

R. edgeworthii 3709, 3720 Pinus wallichiana 3711
Cypripedium hookerae 3708, Monotropa uniflora 3710

SUMMARY:
Notes describe the lake’s depth and local supplies, followed by entries for 14–18 Feb covering warming weather, fishing results, and moves between Sangyü, Chakzam, and Trulung. A shikari with Laku and Sandup searched for a large bird called 'tse' without success, Bob took the low river road, and a very hot spring was found among riverside boulders.

CONTENT:
53

The lake as it is at present is about 2 1/2 miles long in a straight line. Probably this is extended by another 4 to 5 miles in the summer. Supplies have been fairly easily obtainable here. Wheat flour is available in small quantities always, price about 1 sang per 'tre' (15 tres to a bo). There is no rice, but 'tse tse' (millet) is available in its place. Potatoes good but not plentiful. Turnips any amount. Barley rather scarce, considering the amount which seems to be grown round about. Peas not available. We have been very glad to be able to get as much honey as we want. We have been paying about 10 sangs for 2 lbs or so, and it is very good stuff. Every house has a bee hive or two, which are made from a section of a tree trunk. The lake, measured today, is 33 feet deep where the river goes out at the E. end. Further up, about 300x, it is 40 ft deep. About 500x W from the Eastern end, the depth is 76' in the middle.

14th-15th Feb. Halt. Weather getting warmer. Fish have begun to take - 5 were caught on 14th, but none took on 15th.

16th Feb. Sangyü. This camp is really about 4 miles beyond Sangyü, where a few houses are occupied. Here there are no inhabitants at all. It tried to rain all day, but held off, except for occasional spitting, till the evening. Saw nothing of any interest on the way, there appears to be little advance in anything as yet.

17th Feb. Chakzam. Rained a good deal last night. Fine most of today, but clouded again spitting off & on. Very warm. Nothing seen on the road, but there are signs that some things are moving, though the big Rhodo is not nearly in flower. A shikari with us said he thought he could find a bird he called 'tse' which was bigger than a monal. He, Laku & Sandup went off to look for it but found nothing. It is said to be so big that 7 form a man's load. Ludlow has heard before of this bird.

18th Feb. Trulung. Unsettled day. Took 6 1/2 hours on the march. Bob went by the river on the low road, which we had not been by before. We found, among the boulders beside the river (under water in summer) a hot spring, so hot that one could not touch the water. It was, in fact bubbling out with some force in two

SUMMARY:
Describes a clear day with a sudden late storm during an excursion to a lake below a pass, noting Meconopsis simplicifolia and the first yellow Cyananthus, with riding up and walking back. On 21 June a halt day was used to dry plants and do chores; the area is considered late and not very prolific compared with Central Bhutan in 1937, and there is an intention to try for the head of the Trongsa Chu from Haibung.

CONTENT:
two hours, we had bright sun all the day until just before setting in at 4.0 pm, when a very sudden storm came up over us pretty well. The snow range was absolutely clear & very fine too. I would like to have gone on, but knew I'd be too tired in coming back, so we only went to the lake, which I would think to be 2 1/2 miles short of the pass. Meconopsis simplicifolia up there is a much finer plant than lower down, worth getting seed of. We found the first of the Cyananthus today - a yellow one. Otherwise there really was remarkably little to be seen, but the day was thoroughly enjoyable. I rode most of the way up, except up the steep bit back to the cliffs, & walked all the way home.

21st June Halt. Another fine day, not as good as yesterday, but still a dry day. I was glad, as we have our presses all full, & needed these two days to get some plants dry & out of the presses. So we all stayed in today, & did odd jobs, & washing & so on. Tomorrow we must make an effort again, as these last two days have produced very little really. This place is late - in fact all this area seems late. I don't think it is very prolific either. Perhaps one always thinks that, but it certainly is not so good as the area visited in Central Bhutan in 1937. I want to try to get to the head of the Trongsa Chu sometime - from Haibung,

SUMMARY:
Lists bird specimens numbered 2435–2452 with sexes and identifications. A brief note from Laiton mentions excellent marching weather since leaving Darrang.

CONTENT:
2435 ♀ Lanius n. nigriceps Shrike
2436 ♂ Lanius n. nigriceps Shrike
2437 ♀ Pericrocotus s. speciosus Minivet
2438 ♀ Centropus bengalensis Crow pheasant.
2439 ♀ Gennaeus. Kalij pheasant.
2440 ♂ Uroloncha p. punctulata Munia.
2441 ♀ Parus m. lepcharum Tit.
2442 ♂ Aethopyga s. saturata Sun bird
2443 ♂ Aethopyga siparaja ? - -
2444 ♀ Zosterops palpebrosa White eye.
2445 ♂ Microscelis psaroides Bulbul.
2446 ♂ Ianthocincla rufogularis assamensis Laughing thrush.
2447 ♀ - - - - - 4964
2448 ♂ - - - - - 496

5460
2449 ♀ Dendrocitta himalayensis.
2450 ♀ Drongo. 4964
2451 ♂ Copsychus saularis. 496

5460
2452 ♂ Parus m. lepcharum.

Laiton, 26. We have had excellent
weather for marching since we
left Darrang.

SUMMARY:
Notes on bird collecting with Pintso and Dawong, including their roles and a plan to obtain Pnoepygas. Records movement down to the first camp, weather conditions, a fern list, and preparations by Ludlow for packing birds, with a report of 280 bird skins collected. Mentions dispatch to Trashingangsi and observations of oak-dominated forest.

CONTENT:
95

No damage done though. Pintso is rather peeved that he always gets less than Dawong if they are given guns. So he has taken out the .22 rifle and swears he will bring in some Pnoepygas somehow. Dawong's eyes are so sharp that he is great value when we are after birds. The sight of a tailless wren is almost too much for him and he gets terribly excited. If I ever come again, I will most certainly take Dawong with me.

a couple of miles lower down the valley - the camp of Sept 9th.

Polypodium griffithianum 979
" wardii 980
" dareaeforme 981
Dryopteris paleacea 985
Peranema cyatheoides 982

25th Sept. Lagnabi: Rocha Chu Valley. 8047' 2 miles. - Just fine, though cloudy all day. Down again to our first camp in this valley. It is considerably cooler than when we went up three weeks ago. Here the jungle

Quercus glauca?

is almost entirely oak, thick on the North face and thinner on the South.

26th Sept. Halted. Lagnabi - A good day with very little rain in the middle of the day. Sent Pintso and Dawong down to Trashingangsi. Dawong found all the potted flowers growing and sprouting new leaves. Ludlow fixed up some box sections for packing birds up. We have collected over

Birds

280 skins in the last month.

27th Sept. Halted. Lagnabi

SUMMARY:
Describes Sengai Dzong near Lachung at the junction of two glacial streams, with a small ramshackle dzong and a cliff monastery inhabited by a few lamas. Surrounding cliffs feature hanging glaciers above forests of slender firs (Abies Webbiana), with the scene marred by monsoon clouds and heavy rain.

CONTENT:
Aug 17
Lachung. Sengai Dzong is situated on a
flat - where the stream meanders
peacefully through willow & rhododendron glades -
at the junction of 2 glacial streams from
the North West. The Dzong consists of a
small ramshackle building more
worthy of the name 'hut' than Dzong.
There is also a small monastery
built into a cliff in which 2 or 3 Lamas
live. The cliffs & peaks surrounding
the Sengai Dzong plain are sheer &
imposing. Small hanging glaciers
descend from every peak & below them
are forests of rather slender firs
(Abies Webbiana). It is a pretty spot
but the beauty of the place was spoilt
by monsoon clouds & drenching rain