Showing 6828 results

SUMMARY:
Camped near the Trashiyangsi river by the CHOTEN KORRA chorten, with locals preparing the site; routes planned to reach Shingbe in four days, near Me La, with a possible crossing to Singhi Dzong. On 29–30 July they halted at Trashiyangsi to arrange rations and dry bird skins (sent to Bumthang), while bridge repairs were ordered; on 31 July they moved toward Shapang.

CONTENT:
Down, the valley became prettier, near Trashiyangsi we found pines again. The Trashiyangsi river is a fine one, probably as big as the Kuru Chu, only much clearer. After crossing it we followed it up to where a huge white chorten is built, & then on half a mile beyond. The chorten is called CHOTEN KORRA. Camp is pitched in a beautiful place near the river, & has been well prepared for us by the local nyerpa or dzongpen. They certainly have an eye for camp sites these people. We immediately enquired about routes on arrival, & find we should reach Shingbe easily in four days: that Shingbe is very close to the Me La, & that from a day's march below Shingbe we can get across country to Singhi Dzong. Whether mules will get across or not remains to be seen. All that is most satisfactory, & just what we wanted, & better than we expected.

Lil wallichiana 341
Schema khassiana 343
29th July. Halted Trashiyangsi. Not much rain. Made arrangements for rations for the men for 14 days to go with us. Bridge over the river here in a pretty poor state, but being repaired by H.H.'s orders for us to cross.

B. 23.
Korra Chorten at Trashiyangsi & up the river.

Types of women at Trashiyangsi. F.L. chatting with them
30th July Halted Trashiyangsi: Got nearly all our bird skins dried, packed up & sent off to Bumthang. A fair day, with only a few heavy showers now & then.

Clouds. (1)
31st July. TO SHAPANG 7 1/2 miles. 6700'. (Heights are

SUMMARY:
Entries for 11–13 September describe a halt at Dib La near Trashiyangsi, views toward the Nyamjang Chu valley and Tawang, and persistent heavy rain that made the ridge swampy and collecting difficult; a mail from Kumarikhata sent on 2 September arrived.

CONTENT:
87

are busy all night.

Trashiyangsi 11th Sept. Halt at Dib La. A fine view in the morning to
Dib La the Nyamjang Chu valley & across it to Tawang & the
Hypericum hookerianum 955. Muktur hills - the Tse La Range. We could not see
Aconitum janorthizum 956 down into the valley, which was filled with clouds.
The clouds soon began to rise & by 10 we were in
mist. This changed to very heavy rain by 12.0 &
continued till 3.0 pm. The rain here seems to
be exceptionally heavy. The whole ridge is a
swamp, which surprised us on arrival, but we
can see the reason easily now. This is a
difficult place to collect in, being too sharp a
ridge. The bamboo is very dense, & we did not get
such a good collection of birds today, though there
must be a number about.

Trashiyangsi 12th Sept. Halt. A perfectly awful day, pouring rain from
Dib La: morning till night. However the gloom was cleared by
Crawfordia speciosa 957 the arrival of a mail from Kumarikhata sent on 2nd
Sept. pretty good going. Up till then no outward
mail had been received by the P.M.

13th Sept Halt. Another foul day, rained hard from morning
to night. However things were brightened up by the
arrival of

SUMMARY:
Notes describe reaching Trashiyangsi and traveling north up the Kulong Chu River to the Me La on the Tibetan frontier, with dates in late July and early August. The page lists numerous bird species observed around Trashiyangsi with remarks on abundance and elevation, and includes specimen entries for Seicercus xanthoschistos (dated) and Molpastes cafer bengalensis.

CONTENT:
2118 ♂ 29.7.33 Seicercus x. xanthoschistos.
2119 ♂ - Molpastes c. bengalensis.

Lud. Ibis 20.

Trashiyangsi was reached on July 26. From here we turned north up the Kulong Chu River, into unknown country, & reached the Me La, on the Tibetan frontier, on Aug 4. Four stages intervene between Trashiyangsi & the Me La. Of the birds we encountered in the valley I may mention the following:
At Trashiyangsi

Ibis 283 Lanius nigriceps nigriceps - Open country to 6000ft.
Ibis 284 Lalage melaschista melaschista. Open forests in E. Bhutan where it did not appear to be plentiful.
Ibis 287. Seicercus xanthoschistos xanthoschistos - no records from W. & C. Bhutan. Common from 6000ft downwards. In scrub as well as in dense forest - the most frequent in Bhutan.
Ibis 483 Aethopyga ignicauda. Common in Bhutan & S.E. Tibet south of the main axis. In deciduous & coniferous forests. In this zone above 10,000, etc etc.
Ibis 484 Aethopyga nipalensis nipalensis - inhabitant of deciduous & lower coniferous zone in Bhutan. Quite common.
Ibis 285. Caprimulgus indicus jotaka. up to 9000ft. Not often seen.
Ibis 31. Garrulax albogularis albogularis. - Laughing Thrush - the commonest Laughing Thrush in Bhutan within its zone of distribution. It occurs in colonies - see Ibis 31.
Ibis 29. Dryonastes caerulatus caerulatus - a silent bird local in its distribution.
Ibis 46. Molpastes cafer bengalensis very common below 5000-6000ft.
Ibis 485. Picus chlorolophus chlorolophus a tame bird scarce above 4000ft.
Ibis 493 Sphenocercus sphenurus sphenurus Fairly common in East Bhutan.

SUMMARY:
Notes from Shali in the Trashiyangsi Valley describe a route through oak jungle, crossing the Bumthang Chu at mile 4 and the Blarkang Chu at mile 7, with the path 1500–2000 ft above the Trashiyangsi Chu and passing small patches of cultivation. Weather was breezy with no rain and many flowers and orchids were observed. Ahmad Sheikh was scalded by an upset kettle, while the Tibetan companion is improving and managed to ride and walk today.

CONTENT:
Trashiyangsi Valley
Shali Aug 11
Coelogyne ovalis 1048
Cyperorchis longifolia 1051

climbs and descends a lot. Mostly it lies through open oak jungle. Where reentrants are crossed the jungle is dense. At m 4 the BUMTHANG CHU is crossed. This is a big valley coming in from the East. Another smaller valley, the BLARKANG CHU, is crossed at m 7. Most of the way from m 4 or so on the path is from 1500 to 2000 ft above the Trashiyangsi Chu. Small patches of cultivation are passed here and there, and the last 3 miles is mostly through cultivation, where there are a few houses.

A day with no rain at all, almost our first. There is a good breeze always up the valley, so although hot, it was never unpleasant. We found a remarkable number of flowers, orchids and some queer things I do not know at all. It is beautifully cool here in the evening, with a good breeze. Our medicines are having a hard time this year, whereas last year we used none. Ahmad Sheikh yesterday upset a kettle full of water and burnt both arms, one badly, and his face a little. It looks as if he would have a bad time with the wound on his right arm. The Tibetan is very much better now. He rode half way and walked the rest today, and there is little pus coming from the cut this evening. A number of

SUMMARY:
Field notes from the Trashiyangsi Valley describe crossing the main river, a poor camp at Lao, abundant but fruiting Bryocarpum himalaicum, a possible new aconite or delphinium, and measures against leeches, with bearings noted toward Me La and Trashiyang. The following day at Tobrang lists further plant collections including Campanula, Adenophora, Leptocodon, Begonia, and Impatiens.

CONTENT:
79

Trashiyangsi Valley, Aug. 28

Aconitum laciniatum 893
Delph. ludlowii 894
Geranium lambertii 895
Habenaria (Platanthera) stenantha 896
Clintonia alpina 898
Bryocarpum himalaicum 900

Crossed the main river here, we were greeted by masses of them. Not a very good day on the whole. Lao is such a foul camp. Found a new aconite or delphinium near here. Bryocarpum himalaicum growing in profusion about half way down, but all in fruit. It seems to be one of those which throw its fruit when green. What was left was all green, so I took it & bottled it with CO2. To cope with the leeches, we have wiped all the legs of our beds & chairs with salt water, as well as our shoes. Bearing from here towards the Me La seems to be about 20°. The main valley from Lao comes from a bearing of 315° - 330° & the river towards Trashiyang 190°.

Trashiyangsi Valley
Tobrang
Aug. 29.

336
Campanula colorata 903
Adenophora khasiana 904
Leptocodon gracilis 905
Begonia josephii 906
Impatiens 909
" 9

SUMMARY:
Notes on the Kyag Chu spring’s seasonal flow, a halt at Trashiying with poor weather, and a wet march to the Tsokang at Shacho Pebo in Tsari Sama. The diarist describes logistical issues with coolies and rations, and records abundant Primula and Rhododendron, including vast masses of P. valentiniana; blood pheasant chicks are noted.

CONTENT:
'Kyag Chu' or Indian spring. During the winter it does not flow - but is said to flow to India. On the 10th of the 4th Tibetan month it begins to flow here again. All the coolies washed in it as soon as they arrived.

14th June. Halt. Trashiying. Cloudy & rainy nearly all day. I went up the hillside E of camp for about 2000 ft or more, but the mist was very thick & decided not to traverse on to the head of the valley, which abounds in cliffs & has a good deal of snow still lying. We went over the ridge to the next valley & returned by the Trashi La. Very little seen of any interest. P. tsariensis everywhere, but no P. valentiniana. Mec. simplicifolia very common & good colour. Blood pheasant now have their chicks hatched out - one or two days old.

15th June. The Tsokang at Shacho Pebo, Tsari Sama. 7 1/2 miles. BP. 187.7°. Temp. 46°. Time 3.30 pm. Ht. app. 13576'.
A wet night last night, & a terrific downpour all day today, without a pause, with a strong wind. Yesterday evening one of my four coolies returned - with no rations - but with a chit to say the coolies were to return to Langong. This was not from the gyunpa but from his underling. He added that the Trashiying people would take me round Tsari, but ignored the fact that there are only five people there. Tsoupon-Kusho did some good work & for some rations - to be repaid in kind - from the locals, & my coolies - now 14 - agreed to come with me. It was raining hard at 4 am & has not yet stopped. I have seldom had such a bad day for weather, as there is a high wind with it all. We had hoped to cross to the South of the Himalayas, but this pilgrimage apparently keeps to the North. At first there was nothing at all to be found. Then we got into good country, & here it is very good, must be like the Lo La N. side, only a little higher. Of flowers, there is masses of P. Roylei (calcareum) - a very fine form - P. tsariensis, P. valentiniana, P. kongboensis, P. prenantha, P. pudibunda, P. elizabethae & others, besides one new to me - P. subularia 5561. Rhododendrons too are good, very interesting ones seen today, there are R. ludlowii 5555, & R. campylogynum (mekongense) 5560. Another nice one is one of the Glaucum Ser. (charitopes) No. 5565. The finest sight of all, is certainly P. valentiniana, which is in masses. We can see, when the mist rises a little, vast areas, coloured a deep wine red. I went this afternoon to have a look at it, & was amazed at how much there is. Beside it & among it are Rhodo. ludlowii (mekongense) & P. elizabethae. We reached here about 12 noon, all soaked to the skin. The

SUMMARY:
Departing at 9 with men and a pony used as a load carrier, the party crossed a misty plain that cleared by 7 am, faced wind from 10, admired Kyu Tso and the distant Dongkar Range, and reached camp by 2 pm. They note they could have made Shao, are out of Tsona with only the Tawang - Duktur march left, and mention Ludlow sending whisky and beer from T'gong with another bottle at the Dzong, expecting supplies to last to Dewangiri.

CONTENT:
8.0. However we were off at 9.0, one man to the loads, 3
Sanden men with flowers & one local wash out with the table
etc. A broken down old pony was provided as riding pony,
but as I don't want to ride, it was made into a very
necessary load carrier. The whole plain was covered over
with mist all night, in the rising sun the mist was very
pretty, gradually dispersing by 7.0 am. It was cold, but no
wind. Today the wind got up at 10.0, blew all day, dying
down about now - 4.30 pm. The Kyu Tso was a lovely sight
with the Dongkar Range away beyond, a beautiful blue green,
showing up well with the snow of the mountains & the
brilliant blue Tibetan winter sky. We reached camp at 2.0.
I believe with yaks in camp over night we could easily have
made Shao. But we are out of Tsona, there only remains the
march Tawang - Duktur, after which I don't much care
what happens. Ludlow has a most exaggerated idea of
my whisky consumption, having sent me a bottle from T'gong.
My present one should last me to Dewangiri, but he has
left even another at the Dzong. He also promises half a
dozen beer to be waiting for me there - a most kind thought.

SUMMARY:
Itemized transport and travel expenses, tickets, luggage fees, stores, and hires across multiple stages, with payments to staff and tips. Routes include movements between Sialkot, Lahore, Paro, Kalimpong, Gangtok, and Yatung, and through Bhutanese localities such as Wangdupotrang, Ridang, Chendebi, Gyetsa, and Bumthang. Mentions payments to Pintso and Danong and a present from Tobgye.

CONTENT:
Lorry to Sialkot. Rs. 30. To Ha. 12

• Lahore. Rs. 33. To Paro 46 coolies & 2 ponies 2 days 48.
  Tickets to Calcutta. 245. Pintso's pay 1 mth + 1/2 mth adv. 60. Pd 22/6.
  Excess luggage .. .. 185. Paro to Tsalimape. 49.
  Tickets to Gielle Khola. 83. Tsalimape to Wangdupotrang. 49.
  Excess luggage 100. Wangdi to Ridang (2 stages) 47.
  Stores from Mazda. 500. Ridang - Chendebi. 23.
  2 Cars G. Khola to Kalimpong. 16. Chendebi to Gyetsa. 67
  Hotel Kalimpong 24 Gyetsa to Bumthang. 22.
  1 Car to Gangtok 30 Danong pay June. All & July 40.
  Bullock carts Gielle Khola to Gangtok 34. Extra hire Gangtok - Yatung. 35.
  Transport. 18 ponies to Yatung @ 6/- 126. Presents from Tobgye (boots.) 10.
  Tips Gangtok Residency. 40. Odd expenses on road. 10.
  Karponang Bungalow.

SUMMARY:
Itemized expenses and payments for travel, wages, tips, and supplies, including lorry to Srinagar, bungalow charges, road expenses, parcels, and tickets. Mentions payments to Damang, Pintso, A. Sheikh, and a watch for R.S. Lama, with routes involving Yatung, Kalimpong, and Calcutta.

CONTENT:
2907
Damang 110. Pay incl Sept. ✓ Lorry to Srinagar. 120.
Pintso. 120 Pay incl. Aug. ✓ Tolls etc. 30
Pintso (road exp). 40. for Damang. ✓ 150
Lhuentse syces. 4. ✓ 1856
Kurtip. 40. ✓ 2907
A. Sheikh. 10. 4913

Jongpens men 10. 3241 Damang pay & b'shish. 40
Postmaster Yatung 150 (S.) Pintso 65

• • 150 (L.) Tenduk. 60
    Nangarbe. 5078
    Tips Lhakang to 15.
    Pay 130. Ration 20
    Kusho. Adv. 30 180
    Tenduk 5 + 10 15.
    Gyantse bungalow. 32.
    Bungalow to Yatung 32.
    Rs/
    Expenses on road. 15.
    Yatung to Kalimpong. 228.
    Coolies. 10
    Bungalows & etc. 12
    Watch for R.S. Lama 22.
    Kalimpong. 32
    Parcels. 10
    To Calcutta 175
    To Sealkote Tickets. 273
    Luggage 171.

SUMMARY:
The diarist reports fleas from bamboo mats, notes Lilium nepalense and collects fine Podocarpum seed while traveling from Kotakha across Suele La and Tsele La into the Phobsikha valley, then planning and taking the Chele La toward Rukusi and Chendesi amid disputes with coolies and route advice from locals. News arrives that Ludlow has sent Dawong back to Bumthang with a bad leg.

CONTENT:
Too many fleas in it, from the bamboo mats supplied by locals. Nothing of interest seen on the way, except we noticed that there are some Lilium nepalense, though not many. Kotakha is about 2½ miles beyond the Muele La, on the left bank of the wide valley. This valley here is called the Pausa Chu, and the headman says that lower down it is called the Biameshu Chu, which is marked on the map.

27th August. Issa in Phobsikha valley. Very heavy rain last night, but it was to a clear sky at last that we woke up, and set off at 5.0 am. It remained fine except for some showers till the evening. This is the first sun we have seen since I left Betty at 10.30 on the Hala-Kyu La. The ascent to the Suele La was easy in climbs, but the wind was really awful and very difficult to deal with. The pass is about 10500-11000' and about 5 miles from Kotakha. Descent easy into another broad open valley. Path skirts the top of this, keeping up pretty well. It then climbs easily again to the Tsele La at about mile 10. It is again about 11000'. Descent into the Phobsikha valley not very steep, and path comes down half way between Phobsikha and Gonte Gompa. I could not find where we were supposed to go. We had been told Gonte, but coolies insisted in coming here. The locals want us to go over the pass north of Gonte, which would mean we could not reach Chendesi tomorrow. I have refused to go that way, and we will go over another pass, the Chele La to Rukusi. Got very fine seed of Podocarpum today. No flowers at all.

28th August Chendesi - I got in at 1.0, but Tupden had to stay for one miserable coolie who did not turn up and is very late. He had to change twice, once only 3 miles away, and again at Rukusi. The pass, the Chele La, about 12000', was not bad at all, but the path this side is very poor. No news from Ludlow, but it seems he has had to send Dawong back to Bumthang with a very bad leg. He is