FROM TONKIN TO INDIA 



I imagine this phenomenon of flood overnight followed by- 

 abatement in the morning, which we more than once experienced, 

 is to be attributed to diurnal melting of the snows at the 

 source. 



Our first care was to repair the connection with the far side ; 

 and a Kioutse having contrived to cross, our men were not long 

 in following. The ratan was old and frayed, but by putting- 

 a clod of turf upon the traveller the friction was lessened, and 

 all passed in safety, if not in comfort, over the minished stream. 

 The heavier of the party, myself included, had to present our 

 backs to the current, and did not escape a ducking. After the 

 troubles of the preceding night, fortune seemed determined to 

 make amends, and, when we called halt at the close of the day 

 at " Safety Camp," further disclosed to us a little cache of four 

 good-sized baskets of maize and rice. It was curious to note 

 the respect of the Kioutses for personal property : this harvest 

 of provision for winter was left in perfect trust out in the country, 

 far from dwellings, and merely covered with leaves. From it 

 we were enabled to purchase a small replenishment of our 

 stock. 



The 29th (October) was therefore a day of restored hilarity. 

 Not that much improvement of the route was observable ; the 

 customary acrobatic performance had to be got through, with for 

 one of the Thibetans an incidental fall from a 20-feet rock ; but 

 we managed to dry everything by the margin of the Kiou-kiang, 

 which here was a broad sheet of water, swift but noiseless, and 

 wonderfully clear. 



The men enjoyed themselves " after hours" by stone-throwing, 

 in which the Thibetans excel, and by a swimming exhibition by 

 P^talon the buffoon and Fa the younger. The Kioutses, as 



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