As we went on our way we began to get word that Kiating was closed and that we could not enter the city, but we pushed.on. At Such'i, 30 1i from Kiating, the head priest at} a large temple there, on the hill side and outside the town, urged us to put up in his temple as he was aura we could not get into the city. However, a messenger, whom we] had sent on to inquire, brought word that there were three small boats} available and believing that we] would not have to wait more than Being due to leave on the 3rd of the month we received word on. the Ist that our men would be along at the appointed time, and it required some quick packing' on our part to get everything into loads of not over 76 catties and to have the house ready to close when the men arrived to take us off. However, we got under way, in the rain, on the day appointed, having planned to spend the night at a temple 50 from the hill, As we approached Omei Hsien, which is 30 li from the hill, we received a letter from a party which had preceded us by wame hours, saying that soldiers had just left the village at the 60 5 going towards Kiating.
there would be fighting further on down the road and they had refused to allow the part ahead had not got far on our way. We decided to go on to the Hsien city developments.
the inns of Omei Hsien being nefarious for their filth and, having previous experience with hem {Imposed -ouFselves upon, the} 1 chape}, and the breagher" and hid, family made us welcome: Cook!
table Woy and the food load hurried on, so. that it was sary to send a messenger a to bring them back. The table and food load got back at 10)
after we had all gone to bed Stomachs only partially apby a meagre meal of "mien".
Vrepope More—Aiso Carriers During the night a portion of the troops in the city "gat the wind landing we met an_old man on the read who again informed us that the city was surrounded and who offered us the use of his home. It was most gratifying to meet so] many evidences of friendliness from these simple country folk, after 80} much agitation and anti-foreign propaganda. A few days later a friend came down from the hills with some of his belongings and was recom. mended to put up with this same old gentleman, and that night thieves entered' the place and set, fire to the house, burning the! greater part of it. It was presumed that the thieves were some of the neighbouring folk, but they got little for their trouble as my friend's loads consisted mostly. of potatoes. We had the three small boats brought to the landing and managed to stow ourselves and belongings on them before dark set in, and here we stayed for another eight lays.
Listening to the Guns forge beiorte Ring ne pers We could; hear the gins
allowed te go prea "We had a nied quiet aAthotage at 1 large grassy bank, with two mar kets within a fejv miles of us, where were able to purchase supplies, and, moreover, found a raft tied ap at the same anchorage loaded with potatoes and "mao litsi""belonging fo Mr. Quentin and we helped ourselves to some of them when our awn cupply: was:" exhausted. ¥Phe boats were small and were rather crowded and we had to imagine that we were camping for the time be-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.