Showing 6828 results

SUMMARY:
A short 2-mile ascent from Rungzyung to Shungphu (approx. 5650 ft) is described, with barometer and temperature readings, route direction, and vegetation noted (Pinus longifolia, oak, and cultivation). The diarist is offered a house by the local owner and his wife, mentions the Dzongpen stays there, and plans to proceed toward the Chöling La (also called Mondé La). Rivers and valleys referenced include the Gamri Chu and Karti Chu.

CONTENT:
Sherriff - Ludlow - Bound for Mera
6000-6500 ft

Shungphu 8th March. Shung phu 2 miles. B.P. 201.9 Temp. 52° = approx 5650'. A very short march. Path leaves Rungzyung & ascends directly up the spur on the East side of the valley coming in to the Gamri Chu at Rungzyung. Direction approx 143° M. The valley to the W. of Rungzyung is called the Karti Chu. Path is steep & direct, and this place is reached in about 1 1/4 hours. The hillside is covered to a considerable extent with Pinus longifolia & a certain amount of oak. But there is also a good deal of cultivation on either side of the ridge. A house has been put at my disposal here, & I hate the idea of living in it. Although comparatively clean looking, I'm sure it will harbour bugs of all kinds - certainly fleas. When I arrived here the owner & his wife, quite a comely woman, came out to meet me. The Dzongpen always stays here if he comes up this way. Water good. Tomorrow's march leads up to what seems to be generally called the Chöling La, which is sometimes known as the Mondé La. These places are not marked on our map. Although each day is perfectly clear of cloud in the

[Left margin notes:]
Gamri Chu
Salix caprea 1

SUMMARY:
Ludlow made pastry himself due to lack of ice. The party made a short, gentlemanly march to Trashigong Dzong accompanied by the Dzongpen, noted a strong breeze, observed a few shrubs including specimens 1150 and 1152 along the Dangme chu, and attempted to photograph a staged lama dance in poor light.

CONTENT:
13

but he said that was impossible without ice. So Ludlow today made them himself, & did it very well. Pastry is not one of G. Sherriff's strong points at the best, but perhaps after this he will make an effort.

6th Trashigong Dzong 3m A short march, which we did in gentlemanly style accompanied by the Dzongpen. There is a terrific breeze blowing here all day long, otherwise it would be a hottish place now. Found a few flowers in shrubs on the way, but nothing very interesting. The hills are still covered with Pinus longifolia on the R. bank of the Dangme chu. 1152 is a small shrub, sometimes growing to a tree which was fairly common, with a leaf rather like a large Indigofera, presumably an Astragalus. Another small shrub seen in only one place behind a stone below the path was 1150, with red flowers & long stamens, flowers all in a bunch & no leaves out. The Dzongpen staged a lama dance for us this evening but after the sun had gone in & light was very bad indeed. I took one Dufay colour, but could not get any cine pictures.

[Marginal notes:]
Woodfordia fruticosa 1150
Lindenbergia hookeri 1151
Indigofera pulchella 1152
Indigofera pulchella
Woodfordia fruticosa 1150

SUMMARY:
The diarist recounts a shooting outing near Gyantse with Henlin and Worth, marked by mishaps and a listed bag. At SAKANG, they describe comfortable staged travel, leaving Kusho behind and continuing with two servants and Tenduk, with clear weather, views of Gyantse, and harvest scenes en route to O. Sowgon.

CONTENT:
a game again. We were much amused to see Henlin & Worth together. Worth, although kind to us, is a fool, & a very typical I.C.S. man. He has most annoying ways, which are bound to get up against people in an out of the way place like Gyantse, at 13000 ft. Yesterday we induced all of them to go out shooting with us, we having got permission from the Kengchung. It was great fun really, & the fun was added to by Worth, who knew neither the country nor anything about shooting, & by Henlin, who has done no shooting before, letting off his gun & peppering the syces, & thereby making Worth furious - all very funny. Henlin is an enormous man 6' 4" & very broad indeed. He has a voice & a laugh you can hear a mile away. - Bag. 6 snipe 5 golden plover. 2 garganey, 1 black necked crane.

25th September. SAKANG. 13400' 15 1/2 miles. To O. Sowgon. Travel here is the acme of luxury with a bungalow at each stage, where everything is kept. We therefore left Kusho behind, & now only have with us our two servants & Tenduk. Today was a bright clear morning, clouding over at midday, & Gyantse looked very pretty when we left early this morning. The crops have ripened very quickly since we arrived, & now harvest is in full swing. It is an unexpected sight to see men & women, all strapped to the waist, cutting the barley. One doesn't somehow imagine a place this

B. 32. Gyantse from the bridge: A woman carrying water

SUMMARY:
Travel from Shoka to Tse via Milung in fine but windy weather with striking views of Gyala Peri and observations of waterfowl along the Tsangpo. A halt from the 13th to 17th included courteous dealings with the Dzongpon’s acting representative, with visits exchanged by Ludlow and Elliot and mention of the real Dzongpon, Shasur Taiji.

CONTENT:
picturesque, so the people have become much more obliging. They are away from the bad influence of civilization: they are honest, truthful and cheerful, there is little demand for money. What they want more is medicine. One only has to express a desire to have something and it is brought - if available. A number of 'half-Lobas' are taking their merchandise up the valley.

11th Dec. Shoka. Left at 7.30, in at 2.30. Even bullocks, which left at 5.30, were in by 3.0 pm. Clouded over in the morning. It cleared up by 9.0 and was really a most beautiful day. Wind got up very strong by 2.0 pm till evening. As we reached Milung, Gyala Peri came into view - a very fine sight. It was here in 1938 I caught a glimpse of it - the only one I had. Villages very picturesque, with one or two or more large houses loosely grouped. People most obliging and pleasant.

12th Dec. Tse. Left at 7.20: in at 3.30 pm. Mules kept ahead of us, but bullocks could not reach Tse. Again a beautiful day. Cleared up completely by 8.0 and Gyala Peri looked lovely all day long. A strong wind got up at 2.30. It is curious that this wind blew down the Tsangpo. It obviously habitually does so here, as the trees and dunes show, whereas everywhere else so far the usual wind is strong upstream. Saw two flocks of duck: shot one goose with .410 and saw a great many black-necked crane.

13th Dec. - 17th Dec. Halt. We knew we would have to wait here, and although the wait is longer than expected, it is worth it. The Dzongpon has been exceptionally kind to us. The real Dzongpon is Shasur Taiji, but he is not here. In his place is a very pleasant, quiet monk relative. Ludlow and I called on him on 13th and Elliot on 14th, while he came to call on us on 15th. We gave presents of 1 pr binoculars, saffron, D's photo, and

SUMMARY:
Travel notes describe the route over the Mo La toward Lhuntse, observations around Shö and Bung with terraced cultivation, a possible pass to Cyandro, and contrasts between the wooded hills south of the Char Chu and the drier side. A report from Sanga Choling mentions Tibetan funerary practices involving the river. On 8 August at Shirap (14000', 11 miles), the weather improved and several alpine plants were noted, with some barley cultivation above the tree line.

CONTENT:
about m. 1, where a bridge leads over to the R. bank then over the Mo La to Lhuntse. Nothing of interest in flower, but many of the big gentian (G. waltonii?) all the way up here on the dry hillside. Shö is a big place, even bigger than Bung with a great deal of terraced cultivation and several small villages amongst the fields. By going up the valley to the E of the Mo La one can get over a pass to Cyandro. The hills to the S. of the Char Chu look very inviting, all wooded with fir and rhododendron. This side is too dry and only has small shrubs on it. The Char Chu is still pretty big. I heard at Sanga Choling that all dead Tibetans are thrown into the river. So there, besides drinking its very muddy water, we were also drinking a kind of infusion of dead bodies. However it tasted alright, and we are none the worse.

8th August. Shirap. 14000' 11 miles. A lovely day, misty in the morning, then brighter as the day wore on. Nothing much at first but masses of G. waltonii in bud. Then a fine Campanula (robusta?), Cyananthus incanus, Gentiana detonsa. This is a beautiful place, above the tree zone, but with a little barley cultivation.