Viewing page 18 of 25

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

- 18 -

I have so far walked every step of the way from Yachow to Ningyuenfu and returning, and hope to keep this up until I reach Yachow.

Aug. 15. We are now again in Fu Lin, after a day's journey of eighty li. We got a total of 14 birds. Thirteen are of a variety we have not secured before. During the day we had to ascend and descend a high hill, but the weather was excellent for travelling. It was cool, the sky was cloudy, but there was no rain.

We hear that the robbers are more active on the Da Shiang Lin pass than when we crossed it before.

It is necessary for me to see three men. One is General Yang, who, we hope, will provide an adequate escort across the Da Shiang Lin Pass. He is in the country and will not return for a day or two. Another is the local Deacon of the church. He is visiting friends in the country. A third is the postmaster who was away from home when I called. I expect to see him tonight.

During the next few days we expect to be in the neighborhood of friendly Lolos collecting. Mr. Li, the Christian teacher-preacher, is the key man. If our efforts succeed it will be largely because of his help. He should arrive tomorrow morning, for Chen Gih Uen, the netter, went to his home today to report that we have arrived.

It has rained hard in this district since we passed through. The grass on the hillsides is growing so that the hills and mountains are green instead of the color of baked red clay. The crops not already dead have revived.

We crossed the river in two boats, in which we ro[[overwritten]] ad [[/overwritten]]^[[de]] [[rode]] about ten li.

On the way here from Den Shiang Uin I had a quite varied diet. I ate tsamba sweetened with honey, jelly made of potato powder and sweetened, very delicious, corn and buckwheat biscuit, etc. I eat Chinese rice every day.

I am held up here until Mr. Li, the Lolo, comes in, but I suspect that he will come in quickly.

Aug. 16. I [[underline]] selpt [[/underline]] ^[[slept]] very late this morning, sleeping until five minutes to seven. Ordinarily we get up between five and five-thirty and get to bed at ten-thirty or later up to twelve-thirty. Last night I got to bed at twelve. There is always a good deal of work caring for insects and other specimens.

Aug. 16. I have spent most of the day repacking so as to have on hand just what is needed during the next few days. We expect to leave tomorrow for the home of Mr. Li, the friendly Lolo. We have to go over a path on the side of a cliff that is quite narrow. If one slips and falls he goes into the river.

We have so far had very poor success securing mammals. I think it is not our fault, but during the next few days we are going to make a desp[[underline]]a[[/underline]]^[[e]]rate [[desperate]] attempt to bring the catch of mammals up to normal, also adding to the other kinds of specimens secured.

P.M. the local deacon Tsen has returned from his trip, and has instructions to help me secure money for this collecting trip. The evangelist Tsang from Han Yang Kai is to arrive tomorrow or next day, and he will also assist. Mr. Tsang will go out to the Lolo district where we are to collect. These things make our prospects