90 DEPAETUEE FEOM CHUNG-KING 



sary to have such a document prepared and sii>ned by 

 them, as they will be nearly sure to fail in their duty 

 if merely verbally engaged. 



A very disagreeable incident occurred here. I had 

 offered one of my men a small sum each for the eggs 

 of the white heron, and upon his bringing me a dozen 

 I paid him what I had agreed. This did not suit him, 

 and because I refused to be imposed upon, he threw the 

 cash I had given him in my face. I was utterly power- 

 less to retaliate in the slightest manner, as it would have 

 caused a disturbance among the many boats close by, 

 and probably my boat would have been looted and de- 

 stroyed. 



On April 24 I left Chung-king at 2 p.m., accom- 

 panied by Mr, Cockburn and Mr. George. This was an 

 intensely hot day, the thermometer being at 100° in 

 the boat. A short journey only of twenty-five li was 

 made, when the boat was secured for the night. 



April 25. — Started at 4.30 a.m. After having gone 

 about four miles, Messrs. Cockburn and George left me 

 to return to Chung-king in a sampan. They were the 

 last Europeans seen by me, with the exception of my 

 assistant and Mrs. Eiley, until I arrived at Sui-fu, the 

 town at the junction of the Min Eiver with the Yang- 

 tze-kiang. A little cooler to-day, the thermometer at 

 90° ; and fair progress made, ninety li. 



