A -tun-tsi 65 
of them joined the queue again and went round a second 
time, thus receiving two blessings for one piece of silk, 
and like Esau needlessly squandering the poor old man’s 
patrimony. A number of children who went round with 
the procession had nothing at all to offer, though they too 
received a perfunctory blessing and moved on, highly 
pleased with themselves. 
On June 2 I called on the official and asked for permis- 
sion to return to Tsu-kou for three weeks, as there were no 
flowers yet on the high mountains round A-tun-tsi. I had 
worked the lower slopes pretty thoroughly during my 
fortnight’s stay, and had not only found several nice things, 
but had observed that in another month I ought to make 
some rich finds. In the meantime I was anxious to cross 
the Mekong-Salween watershed and prosecute my search 
westwards. 
Chao, the chief official, offered no objection to my 
returning to Tsu-kou and promised to send round the 
necessary animals on the following morning. Sung was 
therefore deputed to remain behind and look after my 
baggage, while Kin and I, with food for a week, tents, 
medicine chest, camera, and a few other necessities set out 
on the morning of June 3. 
