Showing 6828 results

SUMMARY:
At Shingcha Woma hot springs the party noted strong sulphur fumes and found a single tree of the so-called 'Carmine Cherry' just coming into bloom. On 19 Feb a halt day, Ludlow asked locals about the Tongkyuk Chu flood that dammed the Po Tsangpo for three days, with no local damage. On 20 Feb the diarist and Betty set out with Tsompen, Kancha, and Akong toward a Gompa at the confluence of the Po Tsangpo and Kongbo Tsangpo, after overnight rain and snow down to Trulung, starting about 8 and needing to cross the Dring.

CONTENT:
small holes, boiling hard. This place the locals call 'Shingcha Woma' - the lower Shingcha. There is another small stream nearby of tepid water. The smell is very sulphurous. The only find of interest in the flower line was Ward's 'Carmine Cherry' (Prunus cerasoides var. rubra), No. 12222, of which we found only one tree, just coming into bloom, a very pretty thing & a lovely colour.

19th Feb. Halt. Cloudy day. Rained all night off & on. Ludlow asked about the effect of the Tongkyuk Chu flood on the Po Tsangpo. The locals said they heard a noise like thunder, then the flood came down & blocked the Po Tsangpo for three days. The river rose about 40'-45', dammed up to the hot springs. No damage was done locally. There is a local shikari here, who knows all about the bird they call 'tse'. It is, in the south, Sclater's Monal.

20th Feb. Tangdong. Betty & I started off today with Tsompen, Kancha & Akong to go to a Gompa where the Po Tsangpo & Kongbo Tsangpo meet. It rained pretty hard all last night & snow was down to about 8000' at Trulung. Cleared in the morning, & we were off about 8.0. But the Dring had to be crossed by our 15

SUMMARY:
Halt days near Shing-itun with Danang and Tenduk exploring a valley to the southwest, where a yellow primula was found above a bridge. The next day the author revisited via the right-hand valley to Champa Phé and a higher thang, noting a wren’s nest, abundant Paraquilegia, other primulas including possible P. sapphirina on west-facing cliffs, and that Lumsden’s white primula was already in seed. Weather included rain on the first day and fine conditions on the second.

CONTENT:
83

Rhod. thomsenii var. pallidum 1728, 1730.

29th May. Halt. Danang & Tenduk went up the valley SW of Shing-itun, keeping to the W of the village. At the top of the hill seen from camp, the valley divides in two. They crossed the stream & went into the Southern valley. Here they found a yellow primula 1732 [P. jucunda sp. nov. 1732], a good mile above the bridge. It is a fine valley. Rained part of the day.

30th May. Halt. A fine day. I went up the same way as Danang & Tenduk yesterday, as far as the bridge on the ridge. But this time we took the R hand valley, just above the bridge it opens out into a fine thang, called Champa Phé, probably about 12000'. Above this there is another small thang, with a hut, where we found a wren's nest. On the rocks Paraquilegia [Calderia macrophylla] grows in profusion, & both Roylei & the purple primula. Above this again, to the left a bit, is a valley full of avalanche snow. We went up this for some way, & on the cliffs to the R hand side going up — West — we found P. sapphirina? [P. flabellifera 1737]. It was growing on almost perpendicular cliffs, which were damp & open to the sun. Lumsden's little white primula 1644 [Vernicosa 1644], was already in seed. It is a poor thing. No flower to speak of, very short lived. Another...

SUMMARY:
Notes describe a settlement at Shingp Coyidi with cattle, crops (barley and peas), and juniper scrub used as fuel, along with observations of juvenile Crag Martins, Rosefinches, and plentiful Tibetan partridges with broods. The author collected numerous butterflies, including a Colias miranda specimen, Colias dubia, and various Parnassius (notably epaphus and delphius), and observed a large herd of Bharal near the Thakan La plateau.

CONTENT:
L. 167, Shingp Coyidi, a few
cattle, dilapidated houses.
Scattered about a wide open
valley. There are crops, chiefly
barley & peas.
Fuel is mainly juniper scrub.
Got some nice butterflies
including a specimen of a Colias
which seems to be the rare
miranda.
Got a couple of juvenile Crag
Martins & some Rosefinches.

L. 167. Aug. 9 Tibetan
partridge was plentiful
with broods, young about as
large as the parent birds.
Got a large number of Parnassius & I
fear are all epaphus. Got one
specimen of Colias dubia.

L. p. 168. The Thakan La at
plateau country.
Saw a large herd of Bharal & caught
lots of butterflies including a fair number
of Parnassius delphius sp.

SUMMARY:
The writer follows a graded path up the Char Chu past villages to Shirap, noting butterflies, hares, and fine weather. They camp above Shirap en route to Trakan La with rain clearing to a fine evening and many Tibetan partridge, then halt at the pass for Ludlow's birthday, making botanical finds.

CONTENT:
142

Delph. brunonianum 1977, Pedicularis globifera 1979, Meconopsis horridula 1980, Aconitum gymnandrum 1981

The path is well graded the whole way, but gets narrower as one gets up. Two villages are passed in the main Char Chu, then at mile 9 or so the path leads up steeper away from the Char Chu left bank to Shirap, where there are several groups of houses. Got some good butterflies here. Hares abound all over the hillside. It is lovely to be in the warm sun all day again, and the rolling hills look very pretty indeed.

9th August. Camp 5 (4 miles above Shirap) of Trakan La. 15000'. 5 miles.
(Gent. krasica 1983, Ajuga lupulina 1984, P. alrodentata 1990)
An easy ascent over grassy hillside up a broad valley. Rain in the morning, then cleared up to a magnificent evening. There are a great number of Tibetan partridge on the hills round about and also hares.

Trakan La
10th August. Halt. Ludlow's birthday. Yesterday we all suffered from headaches, and the servants were none too bright. This must be one of the passes where one gets head, even if not high. Went up to the Trakan La this morning, then split up and came down separately. The best finds were a dwarf Delphinium on the pass, with huge flowers 1997, a fine Cremanthodium 1996 and a pretty little gentian 2008. Another blue gentian hardly in flower 1983 is also a fine one. There is also a primula in seed 1998, probably a nivalis: the seed are
(Delph. labrangeense 1997, Delph. brunonianum 1995, Cremanthodium 1996, Gent. krasica 1983, Gent. aglaia 1999, Gent. marquandii approx 2006, Prim. sinoplantaginea 1998, Wardaster lanuginosus 2001)

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.

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:
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:
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