Showing 6828 results

SUMMARY:
The diarist describes difficult stream crossings with washed-out bridges, a woman helping her brother, and a day in camp changing flowers and bathing. On 12 July they travel about 8 miles to Karutra via Drotang, encounter rain after 10 a.m., note relatively scarce rainfall in the valley, and await possible mail from Tsona via the dak runner.

CONTENT:
Chimaphila japonica (like Pyrola) 2340 Moneses uniflora 2340A Frit. cirrhosa 2341 121

streams considerably, and some of them were not too easy to cross.
All bridges had been partly washed away, and in each case there was
only one thin tree trunk left to walk on. I was amused to see
one woman cross with her load, take it off and come back to
take a man's load. The man was obviously her brother, and
was a bit 'pagal' so they say. Stayed in camp today,
changing flowers etc., and had a 'bath'. Ludlow and Lumsden
have the only tub, so I wait for a warm place, have a
basin in my tent and make a thorough mess of the whole
place sponging myself down. The dak runner was supposed
to be back in 12 days, and tomorrow will be the 12th. Of
course that depended on whether there was a mail in Tsona
or not. I do hope he managed to get one there.

12th July. Karutra. (about 13,000') 8 miles. Fine till 10, rain the
Incarvillea lutea 2342
rest of the day. But even here the valley is not very
Pyrola rotundifolia 2343
wet yet. I think rain has been scarce this year on the
whole so far. The path climbs steeply up the valley
side to Drotang, a small village with a good deal of
cultivation. A little beyond this and it goes level for
1/2 mile. Then most of the way a steep ascent through

SUMMARY:
The party forded rivers along the Gale Chu, noting shelters used by men tending H.H.'s cattle en route to Bumthang, and encountered their first rhododendrons (R. rhabdotum), with Tsungpen climbing a tall tree to reach blooms. They met Bhutanese with H.H.'s cattle and made camp on the Jirgang Chu between Korphu and Nabzi, with little else of interest noted in the dense forest and no knowledge of the Black Mountain from locals.

CONTENT:
fordable, but probably impossible in summer. The river is
forded several times, and where two valleys join, both
of equal size. Here a convenient camp can be made.
Water good. All down the Gale Chu are temporary
shelters, which are used by the men looking after H.H.'s
cattle, which come down here for the winter. They are
now on their way back to Bumthang. — Today we
came across the first rhododendrons, which I am pretty
certain are all R. rhabdotum, though the red marking is
not so marked as in those I have seen before. The first
was fully 70 feet up a very tall tree, & Tsungpen did very
well indeed to get there. The flowers were almost over.
Here they are in full bloom, also high up trees, & the
shrubs are very leggy, two to four flowers, very little
scent. Nothing else of much interest, & the forest is too
thick to wander about in. Met some Bhutanese with H.H.'s
cattle, going to Bumthang, but they know nothing of the
Black Mountain.

28th April. Camp on the Jirgang Chu, between Korphu & Nabzi. 10 miles.
B.P. 205.3° Temp. 76° Time - 4.30 p.m. From last camp keep to

SUMMARY:
The diarist notes a primula identified as P. bracteosa, previously found by Cooper in May 1915, and mentions it is their birthday. Heavy rain, hail, and deep fresh snow halt progress on the S. Ridge of Jirgang Chu, prompting plans to return to Naszi and possibly go via Chandesi; coolies reach camp by 2 pm and Dungshigon is again clouded.

CONTENT:
18

very local. Masses of trees, living and dead, have been blown over, making an awful mess in the small more or less level bit we have chosen. Today's primula must, I think, be P. bracteosa, found by Cooper in May 1915. Today is my birthday.

4th May. Camp on S. Ridge of Jirgang Chu. 10,500'. 2 miles. It started to thunder and rain hard last night, and continued nearly all night, but was clear in the morning. We left at 6:00 but were soon in deep wet fresh snow. I went on for 3 miles, but had to return. The coolies in bare feet could never have got on any further than I had got, that was no use. So here we are, and I fear I must return to Naszi tomorrow. Here I found Bryocarpum himalaicum only 1" up from the ground, so I fear everything will be very late and perhaps it is as well if I try going round by Chandesi to the North.

5th May. Camp same as that of 1st May. 12 miles. A good deal of rain, hail and snow again yesterday evening, but the night was perfectly clear and frosty and the morning lovely for an hour or two before the mist and clouds came down on Dungshigon again. Coolies got in by 2:00 pm, quite good going, as the path was wet and

SUMMARY:
The diarist reports scarce, undrinkable water and a poor route. On 3rd May they camped on a ridge south of Jirgang Chu, with rain overnight, clear morning, and mist returning at noon; coolies traveled from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. They glimpsed Dungshigou and noted abundant rhododendrons and magnolias (Nos. 2980, 2982, 2983) with color variation by elevation.

CONTENT:
down, but I could not get a clear space through the forest to get a photograph. There is some drift snow still on it. The water here is quite undrinkable and very scarce. Tomorrow there is none at all, either on the way or at camp. In fact this is not too good a route altogether.

3rd May. Camp on ridge S. of Jirgang Chu 5 miles. Coolies 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. Rained pretty hard a good deal of the night, but was clear and bright in the morning, mist came up again at 12:00. Got a glimpse of Dungshigou through the trees at 6:30. The path was more non-existent than ever today, and a lot of cutting had to be done. But it follows the extreme ridge almost all the way. We came across first a white epiphytic Rhododendron (No 2980, Rh. Dalhousiae? Lindleyi?) then a lot of Magnolia Campbellii (No 2982). Then Rh. grande (falconeri) (No 2983) which covers an area on the hillside everywhere. It is in full bloom and really a grand sight. Low down it was definitely yellow with a biggish magenta blotch, but higher up was much paler with a small blotch. Here there were some pink

SUMMARY:
Field note recording B.P. 203.7°, temperature 72°, and time 4.30 pm at a camp on a ridge before reaching Surelakha. The climb continues for about 600–800 ft before dropping to Surelakha.

CONTENT:
B.P. 203.7° Temp. 72° Time 4.30 pm.
(Camp 24th April. On ridge before reaching Surelakha. Climb
continues for about 600-800 ft before dropping to
Surelakha.)

SUMMARY:
Notes on unsuccessful searches for bird eggs near Black mountain, observations of Primula involucrata, and receipt of fresh vegetables from HM at Bumthang with a return letter mentioning Bumthang forests and George. On 23rd June at camp on Dungshinggang south of Nabzi La, fine weather accompanied a long collecting day with Tenduk, yielding few flowers but adding a primula (No. 3301), likely P. umbratilis, which was difficult to photograph.

CONTENT:
Black mountain - if we are not too early. All the coolies went out for blood pheasant's eggs today, but no result, except one woodcock's nest with four eggs. In this boggy meadow P. involucrata is common. It has a slight pink tinge. This evening a man arrived from HM at Bumthang, bearing a load of fresh vegetables - lettuce etc - a most welcome gift. I am sending him back tomorrow with a letter in which I have just mentioned the question of Bumthang forests, but have not said anything of George coming.

23rd June. Camp on Dungshinggang S of Nabzi La. 8 miles. Ht. 14000 app.
A most lovely day with not a drop of rain yet (5.0 pm). Clouded over of course after 7.30, but bright sunny patches all day. Still we have a very small collection of flowers - only two - although Tenduk and I were out from 6.0 am till 3.30 pm. But I never mind how few when the list of primulas is added to. Today we got No 3301, which we had seen last time just coming up, now in full flower, but rather scarce. It is a pretty primula, colour of P. macrophylla exactly, and growing in many ways very like P. Cawdoriana. It is a brute to get a photo of, as it won't keep still in the slightest breeze. I presume it is P. umbratilis, but

SUMMARY:
Brief camp entry noting B.P. 193°.5 and temperature 50° at 3:00 pm.

CONTENT:
Camp. 3.5.37. B.P. 193°.5. Temp. 50° Time 3.0pm. Ht.

SUMMARY:
Notes a pleasant camp with fewer insects, Trachycarpus palms in flower, and a clear river after heavy rain. Records temperatures, barometric readings, and elevation in scrub jungle. Mentions hot, damp conditions and a wish to move to higher altitude.

CONTENT:
Ludlow p. 113 - A pleasant camp. Not so many flies and Tabanids, no leeches. The Trachycarpus palms flowering in long yellow & pea-green racemes. What a wonderful trout stream the Trachycarpus palms would make hereabouts. The river remains clear after the heaviest rain.

B.P. 20.8 Temp 67 Mean 71 = 1.08
5394
431.52
5825.52

5500 ft.
Scrub jungle

B.P. 19.8-0 Temp 75° Mean 71°
7451
596.08
8047.08

1.08

Ludlow p. 115. Very hot & damp. I don't like this steaming heat & shall be glad to get up to a higher altitude.

SUMMARY:
The diarist describes heat, severe flies, scarce water, and an unsuccessful color photograph attempt due to hot water, but notes finding a beautiful orchid. On 27 June they marched 8 miles to PINTSOGONG en route to Ludlow Pountso Jong or Ronglung amid rain and bothersome biting flies, and list several plant specimens collected. Ludlow’s hands are badly swollen from bites.

CONTENT:
8

now they are not in bloom, but should be in a fortnight,
when the hillside must be a wonderful sight. We had looked
forward to this camp, as being one which should be
more or less free from leeches & flies. But it is hot, &
the flies are perfectly dreadful. We can't get a moment's
peace, & they are chiefly of the kind which raises a
blood blister, frightfully itchy. At least there are no
leeches. There should be many kinds in the jungle
here, but standing for them is agony. Yesterday I
tried to take a colour photo of the Primula 552, but
water was so hot that the film all came off. The
film colors seem to be alright, though I can't say
definitely till I have cold water to try them in. There
is little or no water here. A fine day, but cloudy
generally. Maximum in open tent up here 95°. Min.
last night 65°. Found one beautiful orchid on a
tree today - the first of its kind seen. Mostly are
over flower. (G 567).

To Ludlow Pountso Jong or Ronglung
27th June. PINTSOGONG. 8 miles. (B.P. 202.9° = 4802'. Temp. 75°.)
Last night was awful again with flies. We both are
covered with bites, especially the blood blister kind,
which are so annoying. Ludlow's hands are swollen
up very badly. It rained heavily in the early
morning, but was only 'misting' when we left.

Hoya lanceolata 565
Anemone rivularis 566
Agapetes incurvata var. incurvata 568
Rhod. maddenii 569, 570
Pieris ovalifolia 571
Prim. Sherriffae 552
Dendrobium falconeri 567

SUMMARY:
After a short march, the diarist set up an aerial and tested the wireless, receiving London clearly and noting it is much improved, intending to give it to H.H. The day was hot with leeches, ticks, and biting flies; the route went down through Surelakha cultivation to cross the Rong Nala, then up the Ratrikhola past Pakhegaon to a ridge.

CONTENT:
Chirony. After such a short march, I put up an aerial and tried the wireless; it functioned very well indeed, London coming through particularly well. This wireless is very much better than last year's, and should be very popular with H.H. if I give it to him as I intend to.

26th April. Camp in jungle N.W. of Surelakha 7 1/2 miles.
B.P. 202.8° Temp. 71° Time 4.0pm.

Fine all day, with only slight rain last night. The march was awfully hot and rather tiring. Leeches in masses, ticks common and dimdam flies a perfect curse here in camp. Path follows down Surelakha cultivation till the valley bed is reached at m 1. Here the Rong Nala is crossed. It would be difficult or impossible in the rains, but locals say they make a bridge. Thence up a small side valley called the Ratrikhola, whose water is clear, but the stones are very red, and the water smells badly of sulphur. This is crossed several times and then the ascent is steep to a clearing where there are a few houses, called Pakhegaon, this at m 3. Thence steep to a ridge beyond the clearing which is reached at m 4. There is