Hazrat Ali and his compatriot, and the remaining two by the personal 
servants. The muleteers and grooms found quarters for themselves and their 
animals in the village, and, during the time that tents were used, camping- 
grounds were always chosen to be within easy reach of some suitable village. 
On September 2gth an early start was made. Just before camp was 
struck we received a farewell visit from Mr. and Mrs. McCoy, who, with Miss 
Sowerby, had ridden over from T’ai-yiian Fu to see the last of the expedition. 
For the first five miles our road gradually ascended the dry boulder-strewn 
bed of a mountain stream. It then entered a deep, narrow gorge, and up this 
we travelled for several miles, and after a sharp ascent reached the village of 
Hsieh-tao-ts’un. From this point we obtained a last view of T’ai-yiian as it 
lay in the plain, a thousand feet below us, with its gate-towers and sweeping 
city walls. 
From Hsieh-tao to Shéng-yi, where camp was pitched, the road lay along 
the tops of shale ridges; in places it was very rough, but no great difficulty 
was experienced by the sure-footed mules. The country along this part of the 
road was wild and covered with scrub, whilst the slopes surrounding Shéng-yi 
were clothed in conifers. This district is full of small game and wild pig, and 
in consequence is frequently visited by residents of T’ai-yiian Fu during the 
shooting season. The natives we found to be very poor, sufficient crops to 
last them through the winter being raised only with the greatest difficulty. 
Several coal mines were noticed near Hsieh-tao; but the low price of coal in 
T’ai-yiian affords the miner but a poor return for his labour. The coal, after 
being carried for fifteen miles on mules, is delivered to the consumer at the 
rate of two and a half cash per catty, which works out at about eight 
shillings a ton. 
From the figures recorded on the road-wheel, Shéng-yi was estimated to 
be sixteen miles from T’ai-yiian Fu, and almost due west of it. On 
September 30th the caravan left Shéng-yi, and continued its route over the 
mountains, still in a westerly direction, patches of scrub, pine spinneys and 
small spaces of cultivated ground being met with. By climbing a peak to the 
left of the bridle-path, which served as a road, an extended view of the 
surrounding country could be obtained. Ahead of us some eighty miles 
towered the Chiao-ch’éng Shan, and so clear was the air that in every 
direction the peaks stood out sharply defined, as though viewed through some 
powerful telescope. 
Throughout the march a sharp look-out for game was kept by the more 
enthusiastic sportsmen of the party. Clark and Grant found abundance of 
7 
