CHAPTER IX. 
RETURN MARCH. OF GRANT AND SOWERBY FROM LAN-CHOU TO T’AI-YUAN. 
AVING disposed of as much of the ammunition, photographic materials, 
and provisions as the European community in Lan-chou could take, 
Grant and Sowerby, with a train of fifty heavily-laden mules, left the city on 
July 15th. Their instructions were to follow the road leading through Ching- 
ning Chou, Ku-yiian Chou, and Ch’ing-yang Fu to Yen-an Fu, and thence 
proceed vid Sui-té Chou and Fén-chou Fu to T’ai-yiian Fu. En route they 
were to take astronomical observations for latitude and time at the following 
places: Ching-ning, Ku-yiian, Ch’ing-yang, Yen-an, and Fén-chou. 
In addition, meteorological observations were taken twice daily, three 
aneroid barometers, checked from time to time by the mercurial barometer, 
being used. Boiling-point readings were also taken, and the humidity of the 
air tested with wet and dry bulb thermometers. 
A good deal of attention was devoted to photography. Grant made some 
very successful attempts at photographing small living animals, and the results 
are given in the chapters dealing with the biographical work of the expedition. 
A large number of quarter-plate pictures of Chinese countrywomen were taken 
with the handy Reflex camera, in the use of which Grant became an expert ; 
and a unique collection of portraits were obtained. The utmost ingenuity was 
necessary in dealing with the fair sitters. Far less trouble was experienced in 
dealing with the case of Sowerby’s nervous little animals, for these were 
usually tied by a string, and willy-nilly had to come into the picture. The 
ladies, on the other hand, at the slightest sign of an attempt to snap them, 
would seek their homes, whence nothing could dislodge them. Anything 
striking in the way of feminine head-gear was sought after most eagerly ; whilst 
scenery and peculiarities in geological formation were not neglected. 
Sowerby kept a sharp look-out for anything of biological interest : snakes, 
frogs, and lizards all finding their way into his alcohol tanks; and butterflies 
being eagerly chased and captured to be packed flat in specially made envelopes. 
In one place a large collection of Mammals was made, containing three 
new species. But all these will be dealt with in their right place, and it is best 
to return to the commencement of the journey, taking events in their proper 
sequence. 
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