Part 11 - Leech-plagued bird collecting and meetings with Price, Waters, and Tobgye in Kalimpong

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SUMMARY:
Ludlow and S.D. struggled to collect birds due to swarms of leeches. The party arrived on the 25th, met Price and Waters, heard of Williamson’s engagement and plans to bring his wife to Bhutan, and lunched with Tobgye (Raja S.T. Dorje) in Kalimpong, whose wife is sister to the Maharaja of Sikkim.

CONTENT:
Ludlow and S.D. tried to collect a few birds but badly handicapped by swarms of leeches which infest the jungle near here. He seeing L.D. dare not move off the stony path - if they did they were immediately attacked by myriads of leeches. Someone says that a bird which dropped about a yard behind the path way, they had to make a dash for the bird, retrieve it and flee back to the path to pick off the leeches. After they lost the specimen if they don't find them on trees.

or bird, so long as we do so carefully and near villages or monasteries.

We came here on 25th, to find the Prices here also Waters just arriving. Price is from the China Consular Service and seeing a few places on his way home on leave. Williamson surprised us by saying he was engaged and would soon be married. Moreover his plan is for his wife to come with him to Bhutan. We don't like that, but it can't be helped. I'm not sure that Tobgye will either, as it will mean an increased amount of transport required and all sorts of extra trouble. We lunched one day with Tobgye in Kalimpong. His wife is a most charming woman, the sister of the Maharaja of Sikkim, on whom we are calling today. Tobgye - Raja S.T. Dorje - is the nicest Oriental I have ever met and one can talk to him just like any British official. He and his wife both speak English very well. The drive here was over a very bad