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times. Reached Chien Way (Kien Way in most of the geographies but pronounced Chien Way) after dark, 100 li. Killed a large crane, but did not see other birds worth shooting--excepting a white bird like a large white swallow. Secured a few insects. Changed escorts at Chien Way. Blistered one of my toes.

     July 7. Today was another very hot day. Two coolies ran away rather than face the hard trip. We travelled 120 li or about 35 miles, arriving after dark. I was told that there was a band of robbers but that they disappeared instead of attacking. I do not know whether or not this is true. I climbed into a Han Dynasty burial cave near Chien Way (or Kien Way). I also went into a coal mine to see the crude way used to remove the water from the mine. Crossed rivers four times. I am very tired, it is eleven o'clock, and there is much to do yet, but I expect to move along tomorrow.

     July 8. We stayed over all day. If we travelled today we would reach Yachow in four days. If we rested today we could reach Yachow in three days. I delivered an address at a union meeting of the three local churches. Fixed up the baggage so that things will be more convenient for travelling. It began to rain with thunder and lightning about dark. The crops are very badly in need of rain.

     July 9. The weather man broke up or rather helped break up our program today. It rained very hard for an hour and a half after daylight. Then the head coolie failed to secure the full number of carriers, which fact was discovered just as we were about to start, and that further delayed us. Then the escort further delayed us. The road was muddy, and the result of all this is that we are here instead of in the town where we planned to spend the night. This town is Kia Kiang (pronounced Jia Jiang), 70 li from Kiating. On account of rain and wind the catch of insects is small. Secured one bird.

     It seems to me that my richest catch in specimens during the past few months has been in bees, wasps, etc.

 In [[overwritten]] w [[/overwritten]]^[[W]]est China brigands are apt to appear in almost any place at almost any time. For that reason it is necessary, when using the Smithsonian collecting outfit, to have escorts appointed by the government officials almost all the time. This increases expenses, but lessens the danger of losing the Smithsonian collecting outfit or the specimens collected. Today we had an escort of two soldiers all the time and six soldiers part of the time.

     We passed a good number of old Chinese burial tombs today.

     Tonight there is thunder, lightning, and rain.

     July 10. It rained hard last night but cleared up today. This afternoon it was hot.

     The crops are in a bad condition and will be poor if there are not more heavy rains

     Today we secured three birds and some insects. We are making hard stages which makes it difficult to collect.