226 RUMOURS OF WAR 



On November 21st we reached Wa-kang, a small 

 straggling muddy town, entered by an arched gate 

 at the end of a long ravine. It is in the centre 

 of a large coal district, and the male population 

 are either colliers or tile-makers. A Chinese 

 collier somehow strikes the observer as an in- 

 congruity. 



It was at this place during the preceding year 

 that an Indian surveyor who accompanied the 

 Clarke expedition M^as killed. 



Just as we were leaving the next morning, a dirty- 

 looking ruffian suddenly rushed up to the doctor, 

 seized him by the ankles and began kow-towing 

 and grovelling, all the while pouring out supplica- 

 tions and prayers which we were at a loss to under- 

 stand. It transpired that his assistant, succumb- 

 ing to overwhelming greed, had appropriated an 

 empty bottle which had once held curry powder. 

 The doctor had threatened to report him to the 

 officials at F^anchow, and the suppliant was implor- 

 ing mercy on his behalf. Leaving him prostrate, 

 we set out and, five hours later, reached the 

 capital, exactly one week after starting from 

 Choni. 



