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SUMMARY:
The writer describes playing a local stone-throwing game with Phuntshog (Pintso), some rifle practice, and issues with Lepcha assistants, deciding that Changu will return. On 29th May at Charithang they climbed to see a bird’s nest, collected a few birds, learned Tobgye will not arrive until 3rd June, planned to go to Damthang on the 1st, dealt with many ticks, and sent a large Meconopsis (imperialis) to Yatung after finding plants near the Kyu la not yet in flower.

CONTENT:
21

with Phuntshog (Pintso) and some other locals this afternoon. It is presumably quoits, but played with round flat stones, which are thrown about 15 yards. We then had a little rifle practice with the .22 rifle, which was much enjoyed. The Lepchas are not proving so good as we hoped. Danong is working well enough, but his young brother Changu is useless. D. produced tears and a story of the death of his daughter this afternoon, and said one of them must return. So Changu will go tomorrow.

29th May. Charithang. Rather a poor day, with rain on and off all day. I went a long climb up the hills to the North to the watershed to see a bird's nest. We found it but I missed the bird, probably a sun bird, and it never came back again, so I left the eggs. Collected a few birds on the way down. Heard that Tobgye will not arrive here till 3rd June, so we have asked for transport to go to Damthang as soon as possible, and hope to leave on 1st. The forest here is full of ticks, and I must have picked off over 50 during my outing. I would rather have them than leeches, of which there are none here yet. Sent back a huge meconopsis (imperialis) to Yatung, in case it will flower and seed there later. Found them near the Kyu la in fair numbers, but not yet out.

SUMMARY:
Notes list characteristic birds of Chayal Dzong with distribution observations across the Tsangpo and nearby regions. Locality records include sightings at Trimo (April 1936) and Keupup, Sikkim (Feb. 1938), with mentions of areas such as Subansiri, Gyamda Chu, and Tsari.

CONTENT:
Ludlow Ibis 45-46
Characteristic birds of Chayal Dzong

Corvus corax tibetanus The Tibetan Raven - Ibis 65
Was seen everywhere north of the main range
but was decidedly scarce in the lower reaches of
the Tsangpo below Lilung.
Seen twice south of the main range
(a) at Trimo in the Nyam Jang Chu valley
at the foot of the Poda in April 1936
(b) at Keupup in Sikkim at the foot of the Jelep La in Feb. 1938
Often seen with the Jungle-Crow.

Pica pica bottanensis Tibetan Magpie. - Ibis 65

Trochalopteron henrici Prince Henri's Laughing Thrush. Ibis 77

Parus major tibetanus - Tit
Very common indeed all down the Tsangpo valley. Ibis 67

Prunella rubeculoides rubeculoides - everywhere on the Tibetan Plateau Ibis 192

Phylloscopus affinis Willow Warbler. Ibis 197-198.
Occurs all down the Tsangpo as far as Gyala in the Gorge, carefully
avoiding forest, keeping to low scrub growing on the sandy banks
of the river.

Propasser pulcherrimus waltoni Rose Finch. Ibis 352.
Abundant in the upper reaches of the Subansiri & all down the Tsangpo
from Tsetang to Gyala in the Gorge north of the main range common
also up the Gyamda Chu. Undoubtedly the commonest Rose Finch in SE Tibet
most plentiful at the lower elevations especially in the semi-dry areas where
the hill-sides are covered with Quercus ilex.

Carpodacus rubicilloides lucifer Ibis 353
Common bird in the arid parts of Tibet, especially where there are buckthorn thickets
Common in the Tsangpo Valley as far as Lhagyari but not noticed east of
this locality, though it doubtless occurs as far as Nang Dzong.

Perdix hodgsoniae hodgsoniae Tibetan Partridge. Ibis 384.
Seen near Tsong & down the Chayal Chu as far as Chayal Dzong.
Occurred on the Cha La & Bimbi La in Tsari & at Shira above Sanga Chöling

L Describe avifauna Ibis 46

SUMMARY:
French tourists arrived, forcing the party to clear half the bungalow while bird specimens were drying, and the author notes their early routine. At Changu Tsomgo on 11th May, coolies brought needed stores and mail, and Danong returned with news that his brother had gone to Yatung via the Jelep La. Two lamas lost two mules in deep snow, and help was requested from the Divisional Engineer as they arranged for their own mules and set off early.

CONTENT:
is another sahib at Karponang threatening to come up here today or tomorrow. I hope he won't, as there is none too much room, with birds lying about everywhere drying. Sky remained clear till 1.0 p.m., then fine hail started to fall again. 5.0 p.m. A couple, male and female, of French tourists arrived here about two, so we had to clear out of half the bungalow in a rush — rather a nuisance, as we had birds and all sorts of things lying about both rooms. They are just up on the usual tourist trip — to the Natu La and back — to see Tibet from the boundary. I'm afraid our habits are not likely to be similar: we get up at 4.30 a.m. and are in bed by 8.15 p.m. I'm glad Ludlow likes these hours: they certainly suit me best, and a great thing for us is that we save oil or candles.

11th May, Changu Tsomgo. Yesterday evening two coolies arrived with some much needed stores for us, and my mail. Danong returned this morning, having found out that his brother had gone on to Yatung over the Jelep La. The two lamas got over the pass with all except two of their mules. These fell and their loads were not found in the deep snow below. As the evening was beautifully clear, we sent word for our own mules to come up, and asked for some help from the Div. Engineer in charge of the road. At 5.0 a.m. it was still a lovely day, and we set off at 6.15 with much down

SUMMARY:
After heavy overnight rain, the party went from Chamkhar (Bumthang) over the Kyikyi La to camp behind Byakar Dz, receiving food gifts from Pintso Wangdi and Ashi Choden Mother while H.H. added atta; rhododendrons were noted and a film pack was successfully developed. The following day was a rainy halt with more presents, preparations for Lhuntse, and a short excursion with Bette to collect a Prunus and a beautiful crab apple, with supplies sent as far as the Rudo La.

CONTENT:
in July also (perhaps 1st week Aug), they must breed here.

11th April. Chamkhar (Bumthang) 8 miles. c. 9500'. It rained very hard last night for a good many hours, but stopped as we got out at 5.30. We went the quicker way, over the Kyikyi La, 11,600', & down right at Byakar Dz, just behind which we are camped. Here I had expected that we would be left alone, but no sooner were we in than large presents started to arrive from Pintso Wangdi & Ashi Choden Mother. These were of foodstuffs, but still meant something in return. We saw little on the way. Rhod. ciliatum (18683) was a new one for us, we also got a good Barbatum Series Rhododendron (18682). Beside the Dzong (Byakar) another rhodo is in flower, (R. virgatum) 18687 which we last saw in Tongkyuk, but this was a much finer plant. Here everything has been made easy for us. We have ample food: H.H. has produced two mds. of atta to add to our supply, with all the butter & rice we've been given, we need for little. I developed the first film pack, with good results. It will be nice again to have a halt tomorrow. With new people with us, there is much more to do than with old. When we had Pintso & Tendup, Ramzana & Linka, the camp bundobast ran itself. H.H. has given me a very good man in Ngudup Namgyal who has authority to do anything, which makes a very great deal of difference.

12th April. Halt. Rained part of the night, & off & on all day today. We spent most of the day in camp getting things ready for the next jump to Lhuntse. More presents came in, & Pintso Wangdi sent food for us all as far as the Rudo La. Bette & I went up a side valley & found a Prunus 18691, like the Kongbo Nga La one, & a very beautiful Crab apple (18690) which we must try to get seed of.

SUMMARY:
Notes two records from Chame at 10,300 ft on 28 Sept: a female Turnix maculatus tanki flushed from dry tufts in the pebbly bed of the Cha Chu, and a male Hirundo rustica gutturalis. The quail's altitude is considered extraordinary, and the swallow is thought to be a migrant rather than breeding in Tibet.

CONTENT:
L.

L. Ibis 388 Turnix maculatus tanki. ♀ Chame 10,300 ft. 28 Sept.
This seems an extraordinary altitude at which to obtain this Bustard Quail.
Chame is in the dry zone, north of the main range. It was flushed amidst
tufts of dry trifid in the pebbly bed of the Cha Chu. We saw no others.

Ibis 361 Hirundo rustica gutturalis. ♂ Chame 10,300. 28 Sept.
I do not think this swallow breeds anywhere in Tibet. It was no doubt
passing from the north.

SUMMARY:
The writer describes attempts to follow scarce paths in the Himalayas, requiring hard work cutting through dense vegetation and yielding little progress. Citing Captain K. Ward, they note that collecting would be easier with more paths, while locals warn of hunters' poisoned arrow traps and a missing hunter, making one route unsafe until traps decay.

CONTENT:
The forest has been to some extent cleared on this side. Elsewhere however the forest remains untouched. There are a few paths said to exist and I tried to follow two of these, one back towards the Himalayas and the other over a spur from the Himalayas towards the Southwest. In neither case did I get more than a few miles, and that after very hard work cutting trees and shrubs. Plant collecting in the Eastern Himalaya, as Captain K. Ward has often pointed out, would be more profitable and much easier, if there were more paths. The local people told us of one path which was used by hunters who set traps of poisoned arrows for musk deer and other animals, but they did not like the idea of our going along this track. The last hunter who had gone to set the springs had not returned. He was the only man who knew where the traps were set, and so no one could use the path until they were sure that the springs would have rotted.

SUMMARY:
The party proceeds via Chagal, while the Dzongpen departs to Drokpa La with the Trim jigmpu and a coolie, leaving Tenduk, Ahmad Sheikh, and the diarist with 14 coolies. At Chagal Dzong they record weather and notable plants, and exchange calls with the Dzongpen who arranges matters for the next day.

CONTENT:
134

the south side. 2422. Otherwise the only flower of interest was a Delphinium 2424, with white sepals & black petals. Crops are nearly ripe here, & already some are being cut & threshed. When we were here last, they were only about 2-3 inches up. Dzongpen has gone off to the Drokpa La today with the Trim jigmpu & a coolie, leaving Tenduk, Ahmad Sheikh & I with 14 coolies to go on via Chagal. Nothing of any interest here, no birds worth recording.

24th July. Chagal Dzong. 6 m. Fine all day, with clouds & sun. Rain last night. A dull march in, with nothing much to see. Plenty of Ceratostigma on the hillside, & a lot at camp on the N side of the river. The little Primula tibetica collected here on our way to Lung first time, is still in bloom, & has a scape about 2" long. Also a very bright yellow Pedicularis, all over the boggy meadow. Dzongpen very kind. I see him tomorrow. Tenduk visited him this afternoon.

25th July. Halt. Chagal. Fine most of the day, but no sun. Exchanged calls with the Dzongpen, who was very pleasant, & has made all arrangements for tomorrow. Nothing very

[Marginalia:]
Delphinium 2424
Ceratostigma minus
Pedicularis fletcheri 2427
Pedicularis longiflora v. tubiformis 2429
rec. Sherriff on Dricheng La. 2436
Cremanthodium plantagineum 2435

SUMMARY:
Notes plant specimens and habitats around Cha La, with route details toward Zimsathi and mention of the Takar La being snowbound. Records Lumsden treating a local woman and reports local news about the Rimpoche's daughter and proposed marriage ties with the Bhutan Maharani's family.

CONTENT:
Cha La May 14 - Saxifraga monantha sp. nov. 1584, Anemone brahmaputrae 1585, Pegophyton scapiflorum 1587, 1588, Primula advena 1589, Lloydia serotina 1591, Primula glabra 1592, Fritillaria cirrhosa 1595, Anemone trullifolia var. linearis 1594.

Cha La 15th 70
Rhododendron paludosum 1598
Off to the E, at about N 8, but to the Cha La the main valley is followed to Zimsathi. From here the road turns W to the Cha La. Another path follows straight on. This is only used from N to S occasionally. The Takar La is said to be pretty deep in snow still.

Primula atrodentata
We came across the usual Primula atrodentata in masses. Rhododendrons also especially on the W side, all the same, a form of 1555 (Rhododendron vellereum). There is a good deal of fir and juniper. Primula roylei is common here and Primula pygmaeorum also. Further up Primula glabra 1592 is common, and there are signs of a good many other things, saxifrage, allium etc.

Lumsden had a case of a woman yesterday who wanted treatment. She had had 7 children, all of them feet first. The pretty woman at Sangacholing is the Rimpoche's daughter. He told the Bhutan Maharani's mother was to marry her. He came here, but went on to Kham. But she wants to marry into Bhutan. It is a pity it cannot be arranged, to bring in new blood. The locals have the belief that Tobgye's second son is...