when a flock of mallard was spied on a small open patch of water in the 

 river. Clark, Grant, and Sowerby at once dismounted, and started off down 

 stream with the intention of working round, and coming upon the ducks under 

 cover of a high bank on the opposite side of the river, where they could take 

 the birds as they rose. Meanwhile Hazrat Ali, who apparently had not 

 grasped the meaning of their manoeuvre, advanced upon the ducks in the 

 open. The rest of the party, having caught sight of the intruder moving 

 rapidly upon what they justly considered their game, howled at him to desist. 

 Not hearing the remonstrances hurled at him, he continued to move towards 

 the apparently mesmerised ducks, and when within easy range opened fire 

 killing three. This was typical of all his shooting ; heedless of the rules of 

 sport, he was, nevertheless, an excellent pot-filler, which is after all a very 

 useful attribute on an expedition of this nature. 



On December 28th, Grant arrived back from Hsi-an with a huge mailbag. 

 He reported all quiet at the capital, and gave us the account of a pleasant 

 journey to Hsi-an and back again. Cobb had started off safely in a litter for 

 Honan, whence he could proceed by rail to Hankow. Grant reported 

 excellent game country almost all the way to Hsi-an, in support of which 

 intelligence he had several brace of pheasant and duck, beside a couple of 

 geese on his mules. He stated that Cobb and he had been somewhat 

 alarmed at the news of the deaths in the Imperial family, and that on the 

 day of its receipt they seemed to meet an unusual number of men travelling 

 northward with their women and children, and noticed also several bands of 

 disreputable beggars hurrying south. The former they took to be fugitives ; 

 the latter human vultures flocking to scenes of butchery. Their fears, 

 however, were dissipated, for on reaching Yen-an Fu they found everything 

 quiet. 



Amongst the letters brought back by Grant were some advising of the 

 landing of provisions, etc., at Shanghai ; these being to enable the expedition 

 to prolong its duration and extend its work. As matters now stood, our 

 equipment was inadequate for extended work on the Tibetan frontier ; our 

 ammunition especially was running very short ; the tents though good were 

 found to be insufficient for the party; and the stoves were by this time almost 

 useless. Nothing but charcoal could be used in them without their smoking 

 badly ; their chimneys were too narrow, and indeed the rough handling of 

 careless natives had practically demolished them. It was therefore decided to 

 separate for the time being as follows ; Clark and Sowerby would hurry down 

 to Hsi-an Fu, from which place Clark would go on alone to Shanghai, take 



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