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July 16- We reached Kiating, found a steamer leaving tomorrow a.m., bought our tickets and got onto the steamer. We saved money by not taking a room but spreading our cots on the top deck. We have to stay with our baggage in order to guard it and hold our places.

July 17- We started about 8 a.m. We delayed an hour on the way trying to pull another steamer loose. It had run upon a shallow place and could not pull loose. We reached [[underline]] Suipn [[/underline]]^[[Suifu]] at two o'clock. I am spending the night at the home of Chester Wood. This afternoon I interviewed the official and secured his passport.

July 18- Travelled to Zoh K'lo ^[[Yoh K'eo]] or Yueh K'eo, going most of the way by boat. It was a very hot day with much thunder in the afternoon.

July 19- We started at daylight and went on to Shua Lair ^[[Hua Tan]] Ch'iao where we spent the night. Last night there was a thunder storm with a heavy downpour of rain, which changed the sluggish streams into roaring torrents.

We are hearing terrible stories about the raids of the reds, and the reds are not far from the Yunnar^[[n]] border. This may affect our journey and places.

July 20- We reached Kongshien early this afternoon. It rained nearly all morning and it was muddy and slippery. After reaching Kongshien I went and visited the magistrate, asking him about going on to Lo Biao. We learnt that a force of communists is six miles from Lo Biao and that a fierce battle, as yet undecisive, has been going on several days. The situation is so dangerous that the official will not let us go to Lo Biao.

July 21- We sent a messenger to the Miao country. He should arrive there tonight and return with one or two of the Miao tomorrow night. Meanwhile there are rumors that the Reds are strongly reenforced near Lo Biao so we may have to turn back.

July 22- The Miao friends arrived saying the Reds have retreated and urging us to go on to Lo Biao. They said that when they heard I probably could not come in on account of the Communists some of them could hardly avoid weeping. I have many deep friends among the Miao. This afternoon we took a trip up on top of a neighboring mountain.

July 23- The officials have finally restated their opinion that because of the Reds it is too dangerous to go to Lo Biao, so we are going to Tsang Lin east of here.

July 24- Reached Tsang Lin about noon. We were held up at the city gate for a half an hour by some inexperienced soldiers. Later we met the magistrate who is a graduate of Peking University and very friendly. He is an unusually good official.