Part 125 - Kyabden halts and planning with Ludlow amid Taylor’s illness

1 page

SUMMARY:
The party remains halted near Kyabden from 25–31 August due to Taylor’s continuing illness, collecting some Primula seed but otherwise limited in fieldwork. A letter from Ludlow at Shoga Dzong reports his rapid move to Tongyuk and dispatches toward Lhasa; the diarist replies via Temu La and proposes meeting at Sang or Nyima around Sept 10. Weather shifts from fine to heavy rain, and Tenduk returns after falling ill en route to Lhasa.

CONTENT:
Kyabden

25th August. Halt. Went up hills due East of Kyabden river to other side. A fine and beautiful day, but very disappointing from the flower point of view. Got a good haul of seed of the little nivalid primula (P. amabilis 6192), taken first under the number 5883 at Ponyre - 21 Aug. Taylor better again, but very slow improvement.

26th August. Halt. The weather is perfect now, and it is a great pity not to be able to make use of it. But it seems we will be a long time yet before being able to move. Taylor has no energy, and is very weak. He can walk a few hundred yards slowly and that is all. He still complains of a pain in the side now, below the ribs and above the hip bone. I think he must have strained something inside. Stayed in camp.

27th August. Stayed in camp or close to it. Taylor rather worse again, feeling sick on 27th, but

28th August. considerably better on 28th, and a good deal happier about himself.

29th August. Halt. A letter at last from Ludlow who had come down fast to Shoga Dzong, where he got our second letter. On reading it, he decided to go on to Tongyuk, and started off there on the 26th. At the same time, he sent Kusho off to Lhasa and also a letter by post from Gyamda to Lhasa. Taylor much the same: there seems to be very little improvement. I wrote a letter to Ludlow today and sent it off to Tongyuk via the Temu La by a local who promises to reach there in four days. I have asked Ludlow to come and meet us at Sang or Nyima, where we hope to arrive about Sept 10th. There we must change all future plans according to Taylor's condition. I fear the year's work is really over, and that we will have to go home pretty quickly, or rather start soon and go slowly. The lovely weather we have been having has broken, and we have heavy showers again, but still with bright intervals. I do hope we have a good spell when we go down to Temu and Sang, so that I can at least get a glimpse of Gyala Peri and Namcha Barwa.

30th August. Halt. Very heavy rain last night, and clouds low down this morning. Taylor not too good yesterday evening, but had a better night.

31st August. Halt. Fine but cloudy. Rain last night. Taylor a different man today, full of beans. Tenduk arrived back at noon. He went via Shoga Dzong, Drugba Gompa and a pass beyond, but got fever and couldn't go on to Lhasa. So he returned to Gyamda and got a Dzongpen's man to go instead. He did...