made upon him in the Chienchang of oilicial stupidity and popaler ignorance valley appears. 10 be another instance combining to make trouble for a traveller whose intentions were misunderstood. The expedition had traversed the southern mae! of the Lolo country travelling fom the Yangtze towards Ningyuanfu, They had already reached a village on the border of Lolo-land, though the Chinese appear to be scattered' all along the route, but here at a point about one hundred from Ningyuaufa the Chinese border was definitely reached and a halt made to enable the Chinese officials to change the escort. Those who had escorted the expedition to this point where their jurisdiction ceased, promptly left for home, while the local authorities asked for a day's grace in order to get their men together, which was granted. Everything was arranged to start early the following morning but upon the assembling of the expedition none of the Chinese could be found and it was soon discovered, that the officials in charge of the affair had bolted. Upon hearing this M. Bonin decided to remain himself at the village, and send on his interpreter to Ningyuanfi, asking for an explanation and a proper escort. This entailed a delay of some days as those who are acquainted with Chinese official etiquette will easily understand.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.