Viewing page 8 of 10

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

--8--

about four days after the Moupin trip, I can secure many more than I now have. Chen Gih Uen has gone to the country to work about eight days.
On the way down the river from Kiating I took note of the burial tombs generally called Mantsi Caves. There is a large number of them, of all depths and sizes. I may try to map the river, noting the locations of the caves, in the future. However, there may be some caves away from the river which would, of course, be missed.
The tomb specimens I have will fill twenty to thirty boxes. I intend to send the most important of them at least, possibly awaiting instructions about the rest. I expect to begin mailing biological specimens at once.
The barometer at Suifu should register 1000 feet, for that is the altitude of the city, but it has been hovering between 1500 and 2000 feet alt.

Jan. 18. Sent to the Postoffice boxes 28, 29, 30, and 31. Purchased lumber with which to make a large number of boxes for shipping specimens.
As Chinese New Year approaches, all the Chinese are very busy collecting debts and winding up the year's business.
At Kiating I secured three wax images, one of the God of wealth, who is worshipped by the Chinese in their homes. That is, the wax image is worshipped. He helps people prosper financially. One is of Maitreya, the Buddhist Messiah. He is the future savior of the world. This wax image is sometimes worshipped in homes, and sometimes merely used as an ornament. The third is thought by some to be merely a pretty woman 
[[left margin]] Kuanyin [[/ left margin]]
(Chinese) and by others is considered to be [[underline]] Kuangin [[/underline]] , the Goddes of Mercy. This wax image is sometimes worshipped in the homes, and sometimes merely used as an ornament. There are three other such images in Kiating, one the God of War. If these reach the Smithsonian Institution safely, others may be sent.

Jan. 19. Mailed boxes 32, 33, 34, 35. Purchased some old coins for about 3 cents gold. Carpenters are busy making boxes for specimens.

Jan. 20. Spent most of the day packing and labelling artifacts secured in the Kiating cave-tombs.

Jan. 21. Again spent nearly all the day packing and labelling artifacts from the cave-tombs. I expect to lay aside the less important and only send them if Dr. Wetmore approves.

Jan. 22. This is the day before Chinese New Year. I packed several boxes of specimens, all of which are artifacts from Han-Dynasty ^[[*]]. I am realizing that our very success may create a financial problem--that of keeping within our allotment.
 ^[[* tombs or from tombs not long after the Han Dynasty.]]