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Letter in form of diary from George Forrest to Clementina Traill describing his journey from Bhamo to Teng Yueh [Tengchong], 13 July to 12 August 1904. Itinerary included Momauk, Namtubbi river, Kalichet, Khulongkha, Mamkha Kha, Namkhokha, Khulikha, Nam Sa Ho, Man Hsien, Lung Chang Kai, Chin Cheng, Lang Kwu Kwsi, Teng Yueh. 13-14 July – Difficulties with muleteers unwilling to set out in rain; encounter with whip snakes; cane huts at Momauk; insanitary conditions; rampant cholera; fireflies. 15 July – Description of scenery; sketch of mule panniers and box saddle. 16 July – Magnificent scenery but very dangerous steep road. Two ground orchids gathered at elevation of c.4,500 feet but unable to dry and press them owing to damp. 17 July – Long day in blazing sun and moist heat; jungle swarming with monkeys. 18 July – Heavy rain, river too full to cross; return to camp. 19 July – Soaking rain; wishes he had taken advice to postpone journey for a month. 20 July – Arrival at Chinese border; description of dress and weapons of frontier guards. Unable to cross river at Nam Sa Ho; building of bridge by 50 coolies; visit from local headmen and description of their dress. 25 July – Bad roads on way to Man Hsien; passed through village bazaar where ‘the filth and stench are completely beyond my powers of description’. 26 July – Description of rice terraces, villages, their houses and layout; slept overnight in temple. 27 July – Awakened around 4am by priest beating a tom-tom and ringing a bell; burning of joss sticks; people arriving to say prayers while Forrest was dressing and having breakfast. 30 July – His first meal of real Chinese food, heavily soaked in pork fat; kept awake by a theatrical performance ‘a sort of marionette show, with the shadows of the figures being cast on a screen … In fact a sort of glorified Punch and Judy business.’ 1 August – Men refuse to budge, owing to rain. Regrets missing Mr Litton, the Honorary Consul, who passed through very early en route to Man Hsien. 3 August – Arrival in Teng Yueh. 4-12 August –Resting in Teng Yueh. Hospitable reception by Mr Litton, Hon Cecil Napier, Chief Commissioner of Customs and his two assistants; description of the town and its market; although safe, it is always necessary to go armed and with an escort of Chinese soldiers ‘…the people in some quarters are very insulting still, although they are afraid to do much.’ Invited by Litton to go north with him to the borders of Tibet where the mountains range from 14,000 to 20,000 feet. No-one has worked so far north before and Forrest should get among the alpine plants.

A set of seven incomplete letters from George Forrest to his fiancee Clementina Traill that was donated to RBGE by Forrest's family, likely via their son Eric Forrest.

•1 box containing papers relating to an expedition to East Africa, Ruwenzori Mountains, (1932); papers seem to be those generated by RBGE Herbarium as opposed to Humphreys himself.

•1 box of miscellaneous Fletcher correspondence (1957-61)
•1 file of miscellaneous correspondence (1960 –72)
•1 box of photographs from the Scottish Daily Express

•Correspondence dated 1893 with J.J. Duthie & 1899 with I.B. Balfour (re: Col. F. Henderson collection) filed with “I. Bayley Balfour” papers under “Hope, C.W.”

• correspondence from Mr A.R.B. Hope, family tree, and copy of the John Kay portrait of John Hope with biography presented by the family of Ann Hope (1914-2007)

•Correspondence, dated May – July 1880, to I. Bayley Balfour, filed under “Pharmaceutical Society" with “Balfour, I. Bayley” correspondence.
•2 Letters, dated 1885, file with “Dickson, Prof. Alex” papers under “Holmes, E.M.”

Book of newspaper cuttings and notes relative to the H.M.S Challenger (1873-76)
Box of Challenger photographs
‘The Challenger Expedition, 1872-1876: A Visual Index’ by Eileen V. Brunton, 2nd Ed, The Library, The Natural History Museum, London (2004)

•(Tenerife) 3 letters, dated 1880 filed under “Henderson, Col. F”
•(Honolulu) 2 letters, dated 1866 -1867, to Dr. Thos. Anderson – items 112 & 113 in bound volume filed under “Anderson, Dr. Thos” – Box 2