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- 8 - Generally the Yangtse River has receded a great deal by this time, but it is now the highest it has been known to be at this time for decades. It has been unusually cold, and this may hinder the collectors a good deal. Oct. 1,1928. Today I paid the skinner Ho his monthly wage of $5.80 or about $2.75 gold. In addition, on trips he gets food allowance, and ten cents for every bird or mammal specimen, this to be doubled if the specimen is large. He said $5.80 is not enough, and wanted $6.00 per month. I did not give him the $6.00. I told him that I was afraid that the expense account I was reporting to the Smithsonian Institution looks large to the Smithsonian Institution and I was afraid to make it larger. There has been cold weather and almost continual rain during the month of September. This without doubt made collecting more difficult for Chen at Yachow and Yang on the [[overwritten]] Uu [[/overwritten]]^[[Yu]]nnan Border. I have been confined to Suifu, but during the month of October I hope to be out nearly all the month. Oct. 7. I have had carpenters making boxes in which to forward specimens. Received a letter from Chen Gih Uen at Yachow saying that the constant and unusual rains in September made collecting difficult and less fruitful. Chen will go to Moupin, probably, in the month of October. A box of insects from Chen have arrived. Oct. 8. Today a carpenter was busy making boxes in which to ship specimens and artifacts. Chen Gih Uen's box (first) of insects from Yachow arrived today. He has had a hard time, but I am disappointed in his catch. I took anthropometrical measurements of two women, making a total of 17 to date and 51 men. We secured a water-bird of a new variety, bluish. I am keeping both skin and skeleton. I leave tomorrow on a short trip to Beh Sou Chi and other towns west of Suifu. Friday, I return and take a much longer trip towards the Yunnan Border. Today I spent some time drying and packing specimens. Filled box 178, insects. Filled box 179, Lolo ^[[quivers.]] Oct. 9. Went to Beh Sou Chi. Secured four birds and a few insects, one mole, mammal 122. Oct. 10. Went inland to Shin ^[[1]]Tsang ^[[2]] or New Town. Secured one bird and a few insects. In the afternoon I went out with two soldiers and others who asserted that there was a leopard's den not far away. It was a false report. Leopards are apt to appear anywhere at times, but it is nearly impossible to find a definite den where they are sure to be found. Oct. 11. Killed four birds at one shot. Went to Ngan Bien. Oct. 12. Returned to Suifu. I expect to take an extended trip south of Suifu soon. I hope to get to the Miao Country and take measurements of Miaos. I received today a publication of Dr. Schauss with 160 new species, eight from [[overwritten]] w [[/overwritten]] ^[[W]]est China. I will mail this diary now, for it will be written full long before the end of the collecting trip. The diary of the summer collecting trip has already been forwarded to the Smithsonian Institution by registered letter postage.
Transcription Notes:
Photo of Chen Gih Uen http://siris-archives.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siarchives&uri=full=3100001~!58158~!0#focus