DISCOVERY OF LAKE 189 



the manner of the log huts of North America, the 

 smaller trees being cut clown and notched near the 

 ends, which are then fitted over one another. One side 

 was built higher than the other, so as to have a lean-to 

 roof with a good slope. This, being well covered with 

 split-pine shingles, kept the wet out perfectly. I even 

 went so far as to have glass windows made out of spoilt 

 photographic plates ; and I insisted on having a wooden 

 chimney built, though my men were very averse to it 

 and wished to have the room always full of smoke and 

 allow it to escape as it best could through the roof. 

 This hut was about twenty feet by fifteen feet, and 

 was, when finished, very comfortable. It took about a 

 fortnight to complete, and then a fire was kept burning 

 day and night drying botanical -papers and specimens. 



On the lake I noticed some yellow ducks of the same 

 species that is common on the Yang-tze, and in the 

 forest there was a woodpecker, speckled black and 

 white w4th a red crest. I saw but few butterflies, the 

 weather being so cold, and those were mostly of the 

 genus Pieris. 



On May 20 1 went out in a north-easterly direction, 

 and ascended to an elevation of 15,200 feet above the 

 sea. I found a lake at this altitude, and collected a 

 good many beetles from under the stones. I was rather 

 surprised to find them in such numbers so close to the 



