CHART ERs site 
NARRATIVE OF MARCH TO THE YELLOW RIVER. 
HE 28th of September broke fine and clear, and in the courtyard of the 
house which had sheltered the members of the expedition since the middle 
of July all was bustle and excitement. Outside, the street was crowded with 
mules, braying and kicking, their drivers busy roping up the last few loads. 
But by eleven o’clock the last load had been hoisted on to the last mule, and 
the long train, slowly working its way across the city, passed out through the 
Western gate to a stretch of level flats, already bared of their rich crops of 
grain. It made a striking picture as it crossed the low-lying land between the 
muddy waters of the Fén Ho and the great dyke raised to shield the city from 
the summer floods. The pack-animals, each with his jangling bells, 
swinging tassels and waving pompons, were kept in single file by their 
drivers, who swore at them, cracked their whips, and seemed anxious generally 
to outrival the bellowing of their charges. The animals were all fresh, well- 
conditioned, and full of fight, and, though their spirits calmed down 
wonderfully after a few marches, always ready to give trouble. 
It had been decided to make the first stage a very short one, so after 
fording the river without any mishap, we pitched our camp on the threshing- 
floor of a village named Nan-shih, about five miles west of T’ai-yiian Fu. 
This village was the home of our shikari, Josephus, and he and all his people 
did their best to make things comfortable for us. The loads were deposited 
in a field hard by, and the servants set to work with a will on pitching tents 
and erecting our cooking-stove, and although their good intentions were 
hampered by a lack of experience, everybody was comparatively snug and 
comfortable by nightfall. Two policemen had been sent by the Yang-wu-chii 
(Board of Foreign Affairs) ‘‘ to protect the foreigners,” and were set to guard 
the loads. These worthies, not relishing the task, hunted up the head-man 
of the village, and warning him that he would be held responsible in case of 
theft, ordered him to send someone to watch the things. This proved to be 
a very sound and sensible arrangement, and the practice was adhered to 
throughout the whole expedition. The servants, as was to be expected, found 
the greatest difficulty in preparing food; but as they gained in experience, and 
got at home inthe new conditions, our meals became soon quite appetizing. 
There were five tents in all, of which two were occupied by the Staff, one by 
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