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We made camp near a small village in the hills ^[[Great Pass - Ta- kuan - shih]], nowhere were there natural forests. No fir trees (mentioned by Davies here) were seen. The common pine, a few white pine & many large alders were [[strikethrough]] seen [[/strikethrough]] the prevalent species. On the way we met several caravans of oxen & cows carrying fire-wood on the double tree Chinese saddles. Both oxen & cows are used as pack animals but the buffalo is only employed for plowing sodden and flooded rice fields. Many of these were seen plowing in fields a foot deep with water the buffalo sinking in up to its middle. The presence of the ox trains was made known by the mellow tumbling of their great brass bells which are furnished with wooden tongues & strike at every step. A common