Part 59 - Mail to Chayul, passport shown to local Lama, and rhododendron notes

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SUMMARY:
The writer discusses notable rhododendrons collected, plans to leave on the 6th, and having sent mail via the Trim headman to Chayul, asking him to collect meconopsis seeds from the Drichung La. A passport misunderstanding with the local Lama is resolved, leading to assistance, and the writer comments on Lumsden’s poor performance while noting Ludlow’s rhododendron likely matches R. campylogynum.

CONTENT:
He must have brought back 15 other rhododendrons, some of which will I think extend the known range of Chinese varieties a long way further to the West. The pick of the bunch seems to be what I think K.W calls the Scarlet Runner, and another raisin coloured one, with bloom and all, which was most noticeable. We decided to leave here on the 6th and are busy packing up all flowers and birds, and re-arranging stores once more. We sent off a mail yesterday morning, the Trim headman taking it as far as Chayul. I have told him to try and collect seeds of the pink meconopsis from the Drichung La in a month to 6 weeks time, as he lives pretty close to its habitat. The Lama here we now find, was really under the impression, as everyone else was, that we had no passport. Hence our difficulty when here before. We have now shown it him, and he has sent men all over the place saying we must have whatever we want. Lumsden I gather was a complete washout. He collected nothing and did nothing all the way. He will not interest himself in anything at all. The rhododendron 'Scarlet Runner' which Ludlow found seems to be R. campylogynum, or something very near it. I