hurry, and it was decided to spend a day in idleness. This fact was turned to 
account by the sick and ailing, who came to Captain Douglas with their 
troubles. A good many proved to be malades imaginaires, and were treated to 
Livingston Rousers, which the experienced Army Surgeon declares of the 
highest efficacy in this class of case. Several cf the native servants were 
noticed during the day sitting in the sun with their coats off, conducting 
exhaustive investigations into the probable cause, or causes, of a personal dis- 
comfort from which they had for some time suffered. It may be mentioned in 
this connection that the Staff of the expedition had recently found it advisable 
to make their own beds. 
On November 3rd the march was continued up the valley for about two 
miles, and then up a narrower gully for three more; the latter portion running 
along an overhanging path but a few feet wide. Then, a loess divide being 
crossed, our tents were pitched near the small but well-built and prosperous 
village of Liu-chien-hua. It was estimated that at least one quarter of the 
terrain passed over that day was of loose sand. The cliffs and hills, too, were 
very sandy in their composition, and it was only on the highest and most 
wind-swept ridges that loose sand was not in evidence. Vegetation had been 
for some time very scarce, and the stunted trees were everywhere half buried 
in the sand. Nevertheless there was no sign of drought, for every ravine held 
its stream of fresh, if not always very clear, water. The salt, of which we had 
seen some fifty donkey-loads in the day, was for distribution amongst the 
villages on the Yellow River. The altitude of this camping-ground was 
estimated at 3500 feet. 
Next morning, November 5th, an early start was made with a view to 
covering the fifteen miles lying between us and Yii-lin Fu in good time. The 
road proved to be satisfactory almost the whole way, but the sand became 
markedly more abundant. The sides of the streams were no longer cliffs, but 
high banks of loose sand sloping sharply to the water’s edge. At last Yi-lin 
was reached, and we gladly took up our quarters in the warm and comfortable 
accommodation provided by the hospitable officials of the city. 
San-yeh Miao, a Buddhist temple of considerable dimensions, and 
admirably suited for the purpose, had been placed at our disposal. It com- 
prised two large courts, one some ten feet higher than the other. Into the 
former opened several smaller courts, containing the living rooms which had 
been done up for our reception. The large upper room and side rooms of this 
court were devoted to images of Buddha with his attendant spirits; whilst 
the far end of the lower court was occupied by the usual theatre-stage. One 
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