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One reason I am purchasing birds and mammals is that I am very short of ammunition above (or larger than) number ten. I am sending for another order from Shanghai. 

Dec. 7. I got up about seven o'clock and finished packing. Travelled about eight li to Huang Sa Chi, where I am spending the night. I took some pictures of some strange water--wheels used in making incense biscuits. Killed three birds. 

Dec. 8. Again killed three birds, none of which were rare. Two are somewhat like sparrows, with yellow on their wings. I saw several flocks of these. 

We reached Gioh Chi just before dark. It was a little over five miles down the river from here that I almost stepped into the net of some robbers a few weeks ago. A Chinese friend of mine was kidnapped about a mile from here five days ago. These robbers are well concealed and suddenly appear, armed with revolvers, and do their work. 

This Chinese friend who was kidnapped is Mr. P'en a church member. He laughed at me at Suifu for turning back quickly when about to walk into a band of about twnety [[twenty]] robbers armed with automatic revolvers. On his return to this village, he was kidnapped before he reached home. 

Because of the robbers I cannot go to Gien Ban over the inland road where collecting is good, but must travel along the river, where there is little to collect. 

Dec. 9. It's unsafe because of robbers just out of this town, probably because the militia or their friends are doing the robbing. 

Purchased a duck and a mammal, Mammal no. 319. This mammal, a female, was exceedingly fat. It was a very hard task to remove the fat from the skin and the netter Lai and I both worked at it a long time. The skeleton is in fine condition. I met a lot of Chinese friends including the head militia officers.