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[[underline]] DIARY NUMBER FOUR [[/underline]] The Summer Collecting Trip, July & August, 1928. By David C. Graham. Preparation for this trip really began two or three months ago, at least. I sent Chen Gih Uen, the netter, into the Yachow district to work over the territory as much as possible. He has been to Moupin. Bottles and other things, including absorbant cotton, have had to be sent for. Oilcloths have been remended and re-oiled. A good many letters have had to be written and enquiries made. Rumors about Civil War have been numerous and disturbing. In fact, civil war actually began. If civil war should come to Suifu I would have to remain there this summer to protect, or try to protect, mission property and the Chinese church. It is reported that the Nationalist movement or government in East China ordered the factions in Szechuan to refrain from fighting. A little over a month ago a friend, Mr. Openshaw, went to Moupin. The netter, Chen Gih Uen, has been there. But very recently a state of war has developed between Chinese and aborigines and the bridges have been cut, and the hills fortified. Meanwhile Ningyeunfu is open and the Mission has offered to pay $120.00 Mexican towards the expenses of the trip if I will go there. Ningyuenfu is a place that I certainly ought to cover. I therefore expect to go there. The days before July 4th I was kept very busy finishing up my work in Suifu and getting packed for the trip. Several nights I was up till twelve or one o'clock and July third I stayed up till three-fifteen on the morning of July fourth before I went to bed. On July fourth we started out. There are eleven loads, including the load carried on the back of a coolie having things I may need any time during the day. It was terribly hot. One coolie got sunstruck and had to quit and return to Suifu. Another coolie was engaged in his place. At Lin Shih Pien we visited the militia captain who controls the river above Suifu and he added a trusty man to the escort we [[underline]] have [[/underline]] ^[[had]] secured at Suifu. We reached Gao^[[1]] Tsang^[[2]], or High Town, where we remained for the night. The town is on the top of a hill, so is called high. I secured a few insects. July 5. Travelled 100 li to Lo Chi. On the way we passed through a robber resort, which was quite peaceful today because the militia had made a raid and executed one of the robbers. We saw the dead robber being carried home, escorted by his wife and others, to be buried after the priest has performed the long ceremony of opening the way to Hades. His blood had sprinkled the roadway for at least a half mile. We saw where he was executed and there was a pool of blood and a heap of ashes of money paper that had been burnt. Killed two birds and secured a few insects. We were caught in a downpour of rain in the afternoon. July 6. Today was a very hot day. Several of the coolies were practically fagged out. One coolie fainted away and was revived with cold water, after which he carried his load to the end of the day's journey. We crossed the river five
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Photo of Chen Gih Uen - http://siris-archives.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siarchives&uri=full=3100001~!58158~!0#focus