Military, Civil Greet War N
A large number of high military leaders and civilian officials gathered at Wangkiatun aerodrome on Monday io greet Gen. Ho Yin-ching when he arrived here by special plane from Kiukiang at 1025 am., says the "Central China Post" The War Minister was accompanied by Gen. Ku Tsu-tung, Pacification Commissioner for Sian and Gen. Shung Yiu-ice-commander of the 24th Diis well as several others.
The were welcomed by 200 persons, Including a hi which provided entertainment during refreshments which had been arranged in the military hangar. After thanking them for their welcome. General Ho said that this was his first visit to Hankow for about five years and he was greatly impressed with the developments which *had taken place during that period.
He added that he was going to Chungking to head the conference which had been arranged for the reorganization of the Szechuen and Sikang sinics, the terms for which were already well known as they had beea announced by the Central Government The General proposed to remain at Chungking for about a week and then return to Nanking.
Gen. Ku Tsu-tung will probably remain in Szechuen for one month and return to Nanking previous to going up to take over his duties in Sian.
At 11.20 am. General Ho with his party took off in the C.N.A.C. plane followed almost immediately by Gen. Shung Ying-jen, Gen. Liu Hsiangs special representative Who had come down to meet the War Minister, in General Ho's special machine by which he had travelled from Kiukiang. The parties arrived in Chungking that afternoon, western Yunnan, have not as yet had very many contacts with the advancing civilization of the outside world The few, who have, come back with glowing tales of the wonders encountered in the provincial capital where railway trains, aeroplanes and motor cars no longer inspire awe in the minds of city dwellers. But out this way progress is slow, and the minds of tribesfolk and border peoples are still cluttered with century old superstitious beliefs.
Some believe that certain birds such as the crow can bring misfortune. If a crow should alight on one's house and caw repeatedly, it is believed that the occupants of that house are assuredly headed for m fortune in spite of anything that might be done to avoid the oncoming calamity. Perhaps that is why the crow has a day all his own in certain parts of the province. If a man buys a hive of bees, he prospers if the bees prosper; if not, bad luck and even bitter poverty may lie ahead.
To outwit demons, front gates are not placed directly in front of house doors, as it is believed that evil spirits have difficulty in travelling on angular lines. And for the same reason a road is likely to wind into a village instead of entering by a straight approach. Doors still are made high to impede the progress of evil spirits attempting to enter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.