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Letter dated 1955 (or later) with Historical Note filed with “Fletcher, H.R.” papers under “Garden Society”
Garden SocietyGarden is an activity book inspired by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and was created by postgraduate Illustration students at the Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh in 2016, "showing another dimension to the processes of observation, enjoyment and perception.
The illustrators include Karin Eremia, Ailsa Johnson, Kelsey Shankle, Katy Wiedemann and Siying Wu.
SUMMARY:
After staying at the Himalayan hotel in Kalimpong and meeting several contacts, the party arranged travel to Gangtok. On 26 April in Gangtok, Tobgye assisted in planning permits and a collecting route: Chumbi Valley near Lingmatang mid-May to early June, then the Ha area north of Ha and west of the Paro watershed, with plans to join Williamson and proceed toward Bumthang for a month’s collecting.
CONTENT:
agate 'pan' boxes,
At Kalimpong stayed at the Himalayan hotel, run by Perry whose wife is a daughter of Macdonald. Met the Odlings, Tobgye, Dr. Graham. Arranged car to Gangtok for Rs 30/- each.
26th Ap. GANGTOK. 6000'. Tobgye proved a great friend. He was apparently chiefly worried about where we intended to collect: thinking it would be in the Ha Paro District which is under the Penlop of Paro who is not too well inclined towards the Maharaja. When he realised that we wanted to go as far East as possible really, say N.E. of Bumthang he was considerably relieved & thought that there should be no great difficulty in getting permission for some time over the two months. Eventually, with his help we have come to this arrangement: to work the Chumbi valley near Lingmatang from mid-May till the beginning of June: then to cross the frontier to the Ha area, keeping north of Ha & West of the Paro watershed. This is Tobgye's land - his son being penlop of Ha. Williamson intends to leave here 25th June, and would join him at Ha at the beginning of July, travel slowly with him to Bumtang. Then Tobgye thinks we will get a month's full collecting N.E. of Bumtang. Some of the trouble was caused by a lama who has been up against H.H. for burning the brushwood in forests to increase grazing, by doing which he was of course taking life by
SUMMARY:
From Gangtok, the writer notes a meeting with H.H. Sir Tashi Namgyal and plans to depart on 5th May with a return later in the month for a wedding, while severe hailstorms in Sikkim devastate gardens. On 5th May they travel to Karponang but stop short of Changu due to rain, noting vegetation changes en route, and mention delays and freight rates from Gielle Khola.
CONTENT:
4
Gielle Khola on 23rd, but has not yet arrived by this morning - 27th - although the distance is only 40 miles or so. The rate was Rs 1/2 per maund.
27th. Gangtok. Called on the Maharaja of Sikkim H.H. Sir Tashi Namgyal K.C.I.E. He and his wife both received us. He is a small but pleasant man: his wife is a nice looking woman who speaks quite good English. She is Tibetan, as is the custom of all Sikkim rulers.
3rd May. Gangtok. Arranged to leave on 5th May, and agreed on pressure to be W's best man, which means returning from Lingmathang to be here on 20th for the wedding on 22nd. All boxes packed and arranged at last. Rain and hail are awful in Sikkim. The ground was covered over 1" deep in hail yesterday evening, and all the flowers in the garden were destroyed, roses and foxgloves being cut right off by hail. The water lily leaves were cut up into pulp in a most extraordinary way.
Hailstorms frequent occurrence at Gangtok in the Spring.
5th May. KARPONANG. 10 miles. 9000'. It was pouring in the early morning, so we waited till 9:45 before leaving. Reached here 2:30 as rain again started, decided to remain and not go on to Changu as originally intended. Both very glad to leave Gangtok and get on the road again. The road is good and climbs steadily the 3000 ft from Gangtok. Vegetation changes as one gets up. We soon left all the pipal trees behind and reached a zone of bamboo: then above that to rhododendrons - great big trees.
pipal tree of the Hindus - Ficus religiosa. Throughout Sikkim - top diamond etc. and tail.
SUMMARY:
A dated log of game recorded at various locations, noting quantities of species such as pheasant, crane, geese, fish, partridge, mahseer, and others. Entries span from 18 October to 22 December 1946 and list places for each record.
CONTENT:
GAME
SUMMARY:
Tabulated records of game observed or taken with counts by date and place, including species such as Crossoptilon sp., woodcock, mallard, fish, Kalij, wood partridge (Arborophila), Sclater's monal, takin, blood pheasant, tragopan, pigeon (snow), geese, and various duck. Coverage spans multiple locations from Yigong Tso to Gacha between 8 February and 27 April 1947.
CONTENT:
GAME.
Date Place. Particulars.
•11 copies of his obituary: Extracted from “Proceedings of The Linnean Society of London, Session 157, 1944-1945, Pt.2, 23 May 1946. Photograph: Lt-Col Andrew Thomas Gage, C.I.E. & pages105-109.
•Correspondence dated 1912-1913 on Primula filed with subject material under “Primula” (Box 1) in main index.
•Letter from D. Prain (Kew) dated 11 Dec 1909 to Major Gage re: max Sterculia filed under “Prain, D” in general index.
1 ink drawing by Margaret Tebbs.
[TEXT ON BACK]
Habitat x1 G&C 236
Flower detail x4
Stamens x 6 G&C 205/CPG7118
Ovary x12 G&C 205/CPG7118