[[1]]
Tungu
Lachen valley
October 14/ [18]49
My dear Father
I arrived here with Campbell four days ago en route to Lachen Pass (Kongra
Lama) & have been collecting seeds as busily as I can. The weather most
wretched & continuing so where we now are with clouds & drizzle & snow, which
makes seed collecting very nasty work. Still the seeds manage to ripen & I send
you some first fruits. Please keep a list of all I send or ask J. Smith to do so. I have
quantities of 2 kinds of Rhod[odendron]. pods ripe but all wet. & will not yet open to
discharge any seeds to enclose by a letter.
Jatamansi (Paom peu Bhot) has ripened here & I spent all later afternoon trying to
get the seed -- it is extremely difficult to find, the leaves being withered & little
yellow stalks almost
[[2]] imperceptible amongst the withered grass -- I send down to Falconer
duplicates of all these seeds & many others in quantity. Jatamansi I only got
yesterday & it is too wet to go by this the opportunity. I think where there is enough
Smith should sow the alpine seeds in several situations. Most grow on dry hard
banks of earth or gravel. I wish you would tell me the general treatment you pursue
with them. None of those now sent were sent before. Campbell accompanied me
yesterday to 16000 ft. & is laid up with dreadful headaches & was vomiting all
night, ten times worse than I ever was,-- & now I am quite inured to these, & far
greater, elevations.
[[3]] I am too busy to write much & am all well.
Best love to all | Yr. most aff[ectionate] Son | Jos D Hooker [signature]
Campbell, who never believed my reports on the hostile disposition of the people,
has thrown all the advice he sent to me, to the winds!,-- storms & hectors to
perfection, & keeps me busy with bantering him, about professions & practice:-- it
is the only way, he now finds, to get on; & he wonders now at my patience &
forbearance; though all were instigated dictated by himself -- & enforced in me. He is
the most amiable & agreeable companion I ever met with, & full of spirits[.]
ENDNOTES
1. A note written in another hand records that the letter was: "recd. Dec. 29. 1849".
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