220 The Revolutionist Occupation of La-chi-mt 
though in meagre quantities. A very quiet stretch of water 
contracted to thirty yards in width is utilised for the ferry 
at Lo-ma-ti, where we crossed to the right bank; advantage 
is also taken of the narrows to sling across a two-way rope 
bridge, the third we had seen since leaving Ying-p‘an-kai. 
Judging by the paths up the ridge on the other side of the 
river to which these bridges lead, and the several parties of 
Lissus we frequently saw ascending, there were no doubt 
many Lissu villages hidden away in the mountains at no 
great altitude. 
At Lo-ma-ti—which name seems to be attached chiefly 
to the ferry, for I saw no village to speak of—the olive 
green water flows between steep banks composed of ver- 
tically-tilted slate rocks, with a sandy shore below, the latter 
being of course completely covered at summer level ; but 
quiet as are these narrow reaches of deep water, they are 
frequently interrupted by boiling torrents smothered in white 
foam. 
The ferry-boat consisted of two dug-out canoes lashed 
together and the passage was effected with very little 
trouble, two men paddling us across in a few minutes. 
Furious gusts of wind were raging up the valley at the 
moment, blowing clouds of fine sand in our faces, but this 
ceased as suddenly as it had begun and all was peaceful 
once more. 
Towards evening we reached the Minchia village of 
T‘u-wau, and no sooner was I established in the best room 
which the Tussu’s house afforded, than there came an 
interruption. Hearing loud exclamations in the courtyard 
I went outside and saw ranged up in front of the house five 
fighting men, each armed with dad and immense cross-bow. 
They were informing the keeper of the Tussu’s yamen (the 
Tussu himself being absent) that the Lao-wau Tussu was 
about to arrive, and rooms must be immediately prepared for 
him and his followers. These men, Shans by their appear- 
ance, were the advance guard of the chief’s party. Now all 
was bustle again, and half an hour later the Tussu himself 
arrived, with a body-guard of about forty men, Shans, 
Lissus, and Minchias, all armed to the teeth. Hearing 
that I was at the yamen he sent in his card, and a little 
later called on me in person, accompanied by two or three 
