Showing 6828 results

SUMMARY:
Notes concern over missing bird boxes and parcels. Describes travel to Gautsa with rain, a view of Chomolhari, pine forest, few birds, and collecting primula seeds and observing gentians. Reaches Yatung, completes a circular tour, and learns at the Post Office that most parcels were sent, with only a few missing.

CONTENT:
104

our minds at rest about the missing bird boxes. We are
almost certain that at least four boxes are missing -
perhaps 150 - 200 bird skins - an awful loss. Many of our
letters too, and other parcels have also gone astray. It is
very annoying, and there seems little hope of getting any
of them again.

2nd October. TO GAUTSA. 12300' 16½ miles. A good day until
11.0 am when rain came on. Caught a glimpse of
Chomolhari as we left. We are again down among
the pine forest, and it is pleasant to see trees again and
to have a wood fire. Very few birds down here, but
saw some migrants on the plain. Collected seeds of a
primula (probably yellow) from about 13500' or so. The
gentians on the plain were lovely; they appear to be the
same as that we collected on the Munda La at
16500'.

3rd October. TO YATUNG. 9950' 12 miles. We completed our
circular tour today, and had a decent day to do it in too.
Altogether we feel rather braced up today, as in the Post
Office, we find that nearly all our parcels were sent
off from here. There seem to be only perhaps two
missing, and they are not the ones which are of the
greater importance. It is a great relief.

SUMMARY:
Notes snow leopard tracks and sparse flowers, including masses of P. concinna and an Allardia found by Pasang, after a strenuous day. On 10 July the party stayed in camp, sent mail to several correspondents, discussed travel plans with H.H., and chose to take the pass opposite Drolmo Sishi La on the 16th; on 11 July bad weather arrived in the afternoon, Yundun could not go out, and the diarist and Pasang went up a nearby valley.

CONTENT:
93
Saxifraga contraria op no. 19390

pugs of a big snow leopard at 15000', but otherwise no wild life. Flowers were very few. P. concinna 19392 was in masses at the first lake, and nearly all white which I've never seen before. Then a little higher, certainly 15500', Pasang found a pretty Allardia, with mauve flowers and covered densely in white felt like hairs, all over. Got back dead beat - even Ngudup - to find the mail had arrived and a basket of vegetables for H.H. Nothing very much in it, but it was nice to have. No mail from Betty. She's been very lucky in weather I must say. Again a fine day.

10th July. Haah. Again a good day, with a few fine showers amid sunshine, and Kanghar visible quite a lot of the day. Stayed in camp and got a mail off to Kyong, H.H., Betty and Wangmoo. Tobsgye is asking for our dates of sailing, so that he can get M.K.'s passage booked too. So I have written H.H. today to ask what his plans are, telling him we proposed to fly, and would prefer to do this, but that we will go by sea if possible should he particularly wish it. No flowers today. We have now planned not to go by the Drolmo Sishi La, but by the one opposite here, on 16th. That decision made, is very nice. Now we have 5 days here, and we know how our time will be fitted in till we go to Bumthang.

11th July. Haah. Another beautiful morning, followed by heavy hail and rain about 2.0pm and clearing up after. Yundun's feet are too bad for him to go out, so Pasang and I went ourselves. We went up stream to the first yak herds on the R bank (1 1/2 m?) then turned up that valley. The climb was very steep at first, past a small

SUMMARY:
The diarist describes settlements and mani stones near Dzama in the Pemako region, attempts to trace the Kongbo Tsangpo from Adju la, and notes forests of pines along the Tsangpo with a sighting of a quail and Carmine Cherry in bloom near Chanzam. The following day is a halt due to cloud, snow on the Gyala Peri–Namcha side, and evening rain.

CONTENT:
Feb 23. Vaccinium leucobotryum 12251
Prunus cerasoides var. rubra 12252
Rhod. scopulorum 12248
61

in appearance, indeed some of them are sons or grandsons of real Bhutanese who settled in Pemako. This area is more popular than the Yigrong Chu area. There are signs of several new villages being started on both banks of the Po Tsangpo. This route must be old though. There is a mani rock, a pile of mani stones in the middle of the dense forest near Dzama which looks very old indeed. On nearly all manis there are old stone pots, carved with manis, which are attractive. They are said to be brought up from Pemako & made there. I would like to take one back if it is possible. From the Adju la I studied the mass face opposite to see if I could follow the route of the Kongbo Tsangpo, but it appeared quite impossible that any river could cut through what appeared an endless wall of ice & rock. But this evening, with the sun behind the range, there appears a route, though it seems almost impossible that any river should cut so low. I think this is the finest sight I have ever seen. We reached here too late for photography, but hope for one more good morning tomorrow. Certainly this village, in fine weather, is the finest situated I have ever seen. Close to camp here I see quite a number of the Carmine Cherry tree, in fuller bloom than we found it at Chanzam. While walking along the ridge between the Po Tsangpo & the Guh Tsangpo, I put up a quail, only the second, I think, that we have seen in Tibet. The forest today was mostly wet, broadleaf, but on the Tsangpo, there and this side, there were pines. I see from here down the main Tsangpo valley about four miles away that the l. bank is clothed almost entirely in pines, which seems very extraordinary to me. I would have expected both banks to be wet forest. Clouds are coming up fast this evening, & I doubt if we will get the view we hoped for tomorrow morning.

24th Feb. Halt. It was clouded when we got up this morning, snow was falling low down on the Gyala Peri - Namcha side. This continued all day, & in the evening rain started falling here too. It is a great disappointment to us.
Prunus cerasoides var. rubra 12252

SUMMARY:
Notes on bird observations near camp, including pigeons and reports of blood pheasant, with mention of sending a gun back to Pana. Halted at Gonyi re on 22 July due to weather; on 23 July marched to Kulu Lungma with fine conditions later, recording distance, temperature, and altitude, though the diarist felt unwell.

CONTENT:
Birds: here, I sent my gun back to Pana. The very same afternoon I saw pigeons close to camp. These are the first I remember seeing this way. Kulang are common on Gonyi re. Blood pheasant said to be here, but must be far from quiet. Crossoptilon do not go up far in these valleys. There are none even here only 3-4 miles up, though in the Mayu Chu we found some broken eggs about 12 miles up.

22nd July. Halt. Gonyi re. Very heavy shower at night, with much fresh snow where we were collecting yesterday. A lovely morning, clouding over. Some heavy showers & thunder in the afternoon. Stayed in camp all day. What a pity it is to be shut up in a valley like this on our one really fine day. I wish we could have a day like this on the Kucha La - our last pass of the main range. So far I have seen absolutely nothing from any pass we have been on.

Kulu Phu Chu
23rd July. Kulu Lungma. 6 1/2 miles. B.P. 192.0° Temp. 65° Time 4.30 pm. Ht app. 11593'. Pretty heavy rain at night, clouded over this morning till 8.0 am. Rest of day magnificent, with one or two light showers. My inside is still very much wrong, otherwise I think I should have been on the hillside all day long. This really

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:
The diarist reports improved weather, collects many Lilium nepalense bulbs and seeds, and notes earlier seed loss of Morina on the Pelela. Pasang and Yundru return with valuable Primula and Lychnis collections, are paid, and depart for Bumthang; the party travels from Ritang to Samtegang and then to Wangdipotrang, noting road conditions and fine weather.

CONTENT:
17th Oct. Ritang. A perfect morning at last, but even so the clouds soon came up, and we are on the edge of very heavy rain this evening, but not in it. No sign up till 4.0 pm of Pasang and Yundru, which is a little worrying. We got good bulbs of Lilium nepalense this morning, taking about 75 big size and 50 small, besides lots of seed. Nearly all the seed of the fine Morina on the Pelela had been eaten. Have everything very well arranged this time — unlike when Betty and I were here last.

18th Oct. Samtegang. Three things happened all at once last night, and only a short time before dark. First a mail came in, with letters up to 27 Sept from home. Then Pasang and Yundru came in with their seeds and plants to be written up and packed. At the same time heavy rain came on and the roof was hopelessly full of holes. So we had a lively hour straightening things out. Pasang got all that was wanted — plants of Primula umbratilis var. alba, P. uniflora, P. baronesii alba and P. baronesii. Besides these he got seed of Lychnis wardii, P. umbratilis var. alba and a few other good things. Their trip was certainly worth while. I paid Yundru Rs 175/- and they were off to Bumthang this morning. We left at 6.0 and got in at 1.30, but the mule was not in till after 3.0. I don't think the new road is bad at all, and it seems rather shorter than the old road. We had no seed to collect today, and saw no flowers. This was the first day when there was no rain and there didn't look as if there would be rain, at any rate anywhere down here. Away to the north there were some big clouds, but I think even there it would be fine, and we have now got to the fine weather — as usual, on October 18th.

19th October Wangdipotrang. Fine again of course and very hot on the 3000 ft drop down here. There is a lot of Luculia gratissima out among

SUMMARY:
The writer records local repercussions for aiding the Political Officer and objections to an interpreter at Tawang, then details marches from Haat to Jiri Chu, Demri Chu, Chungkar, and Satsalor. They assist the Dzongpen with photography, collect Lil. wallichianum bulbs, and note Ludlow’s kindness and medical aid to injured locals, with supplies sent and plans to leave Dewangiri on the 27th.

CONTENT:
Also that those Tibetans who hired the P.O. ponies were punished for having done so when he had gone. The same happened to anyone who helped the P.O., so that locals are in rather a fix.
About the interpreter at Tawang, whom some of his own people had objected to. They did not like him, and thought his interpretation bad.

20th November. Haat. Fine. I wish I had gone on today, as I could easily have done so. A second bearer is more polite. Dzongpen wants to take photographs. He took 12 and developed them, but none were even recognisable. So I had to go with him and take another 12 today. But no more developing - these will go to Kalimpong.

21st November. To Jiri Chu. Fine. I was glad to get away from Purtogong. The Dzongpen was very kind indeed to us all there, but there was nothing to do but talk to him all day, which became very tiring. Coolies came direct, with no change. We have almost seen the last of the Main Range now: it was very clear today. From beyond Chunyhar one gets a last glimpse. Dundum flies not nearly so bad this year as in 1836. Collected again a few Lil. Wallichianum bulbs.

22nd November. To Demri Chu. Fine. If I had remembered how short a march this was, I would have arranged coolies to go on to Chunyhar. These two days are absurdly short, there is little of interest to be found on these lost dry hillsides. Got a few more bulbs of Lil. Wallichianum, now have about 40-50.

23rd November. To Chungkar. Fine, very clear sky. Another absurdly short march. Ludlow sent a note back here to say we leave Dewangiri on 27th. He also sent three bottles of beer and a small tin of chocolates, which was very thoughtful of him. Jill put up a lot of 'leku' today and also a dozen or more partridge. She uses her nose now very well indeed, has a lot of fun hunting on the hillside. There is a man here with his leg half cut off by a fall onto a rock. Ludlow was looking after him and tried to get him to consent to come to Kalimpong. But we showed no enthusiasm, although his leg will probably be useless in future unless he goes.

24th November. Satsalor. Fine. Taylor and Tenduk must have searched the P. Sherrifae cliffs pretty well, as I could hardly find a capsule. There is a man at Chungkar with a terrible gash in his knee, which is septic. Ludlow treated him for all the time he was there, and I dressed him twice. We both tried our best to get him to come to Kalimpong, but with no success. He merely said he could not go. He had the lamas in, they told him...

SUMMARY:
Travel from Gacha to Trume and near Kamchang with hot weather and limited flowers at first, then more flowering plants along a stream at SHAGE. Notes local assistance from Gacha's son, mention of the Orang Chauzo whose son's fractured skull was treated by Elliott, and a later setback with mules and wild dogs near Shu.

CONTENT:
26 April. Gacha. Fine bright very hot. Little seen on the way in flower, and little at Gacha, but there is great movement there - everything green coming on. Gacha, as before, were most kind and helpful. Orang, as before, did nothing much to help. And that in spite of the Orang Chauzo having had his son's head put right by Elliott. It was a fractured skull, with the brain visible, and as usual, in a mess. Now there is barely a scar, though the eye remains down and in not too good condition though healthy. Gacha's son came and called and gave us presents and did all he could to help. He also came and saw us off from Gacha. They are a nice friendly lot.

27 April. Trume. Fine and very hot, but becoming heavily clouded by evening. Little seen, but very pretty going through the pine forest. The difference of this march compared with the same before with bullocks has to be experienced to be believed. We got along at a fine speed with no trouble at all.

28 April. near Kamchang. Fine again and very warm. A good day, as we saw more than usual. Although it is drier here, where there is water, there is more in flower because the heat of the sun is very much greater. We halted short of Kamchang, at SHAGE, a mile or 2 short of Kamchang. Here there is only one house, and a stream comes down beside the house. Up the stream are several good things, a lot of the pear called 'nyete' and a good many of the cherry, probably the same as No 12394. This is No. . Locally it is called . Better for its in flower and immature fruit. Berberis is also in flower.

29th April. Camp 1 1/2 m W of Shu. A poor day from the start. First the mules had strayed rather far and came in late. The man who went to get them on the hillside found one dead, eaten by wild dogs, said to be very numerous there. Then it clouded over very quickly, and we had

SUMMARY:
Travel continues through forested valleys with slow bullocks and difficult terrain en route to Orang Gacha, Lilung, and Yusum. Local authorities arranged supplies and transport, including 17 mules to Tse, and a Gacha Nyingba showed a fragment from a crashed plane marked with a directional gyro indicator from Jack and Heintz Inc., Bedford, Ohio. The party notes ample fuel, improving scenery, and the first low-elevation spruce after Simbiteng.

CONTENT:
...one from Luongrong to the pine forest. A good camp.

7th Dec. Camp. We should have reached Gacha today but could not make it. Bullocks took 3 hours for the first mile. We left at 8.0 and got in at 5.0pm. Bullocks very tired. Good camp and now ample fuel everywhere. There is forest right down to the river, pine, birch and dense shrub, through which a good deal of today's march was made.

8th Dec. Orang Gacha. Left at 8.0. In at 11.30. Bullocks again very slow; one cliff face to pass. All arrangements here are very good. Orang belongs to Shatra, who had warned his changzo to look after us. Gacha is Lhalu's, who also had warned her people. So we got nearly all we wanted, including 17 mules to Tse at 17 sangs the trip — which saves us. Very cold at night. The Gacha Nyingba had a small piece of the Langong crashed plane. It is a cover of aluminium on which is written Directional Gyro Indicator. AN 5735-1 P/N Part No JH 6500 Contract No W 535 AC. Jack and Heintz Inc. Bedford, Ohio. Inside is JH 5510 JAHCO. The size is about 4" x 4".

9th Dec. Lilung. Fine, but clouding over, with a wind up valley in the afternoon. Left at 8.45, in at 3.0pm. Our bullocks left at 5.0 and got in about 2.0. Mules and ponies left 10.0; in 4.0. Road over sand in many places, but not difficult. There is also a lot of shrub which tore our loads badly. Met at Kyarden by villagers with chang and milk.

10th Dec. Yusum. Again bullocks left at 5.0 and got in about 2.0pm. We left at 8 and got in at 3.0. A good march through forest for most of the way. Just after Simbiteng (mq) we passed the first spruce to be seen down so low. Pine forest in many parts. The valley is forested thickly on both sides, and altogether a pleasant change has taken place. As the scenery becomes more beautiful, the villages more...

SUMMARY:
The diarist travels from Lenda toward Lhapso Dzong amid transport difficulties and an uncooperative headman, but later receives help from a lama deputy at Lhapso Dzong. Mules arrive tired, Tamchen returns to Ludlow with Yusum mules, and an unusual halo phenomenon is observed and noted. Weather shifts from rain to fine conditions with some storms and hail.

CONTENT:
4th May Lenda. There was a good deal of rain last night, but it cleared up in the morning, though storms are all round now in the evening. I had sent Mond out here to arrange transport & found him waiting ½ m out of Lenda with a tale of woe. The headman said he would do nothing without the lama Dzongpen's permission, & the latter demanded 15 sang a pony, otherwise he would produce nothing at all. He refused everything. However I'm glad to say that the muleteers agreed to come on to Lhapso Dz, but said 2 days would be necessary. There is an unpleasant feeling of noncooperation here, & obviously some chalaki going on somewhere. There is no dzing here at all, & someone has been getting at Mond. But the headman is not helpful at all. He won't provide grain. Eggs are produced at 5 sho each soon. I'll be glad to get on tomorrow & to get to Lhapso.

5th May. Lhapso Dzong. A fine day & very beautiful, with cumulus clouds above. In the evening we had some rain storms round about. There was a little hail. Mond went to see the Dzongpen, who is not here however. He has left a lama 'tsap', who has given us all we wanted — given or promised to give. He seems a good man & very helpful. The mules were obviously tired & had rather a struggle to get in here at all. Some were not in till 6.5pm.

6th May. Halt. Tamchen went off back to Ludlow today with our Yusum mules. At 10.0 am I noticed the extraordinary system of halos as drawn on the opposite page. The biggest halo is, I imagine, another of those which I noticed in 1925 or 1926 & reported to the R. Met. Society, who told me what it was & what caused it. It is apparently very unusual & as far as I remember, they said it had only been reported 38 times. At that time the curious ovate shaped halo was absent. It was a clear bright morning, but soon very thin & very high cloud appeared almost as a veil in the blue sky and then the halos were seen. It remained fine, but clouded over after 12.0 midday. Everyone here very helpful, & we hope to be off tomorrow without trouble.