1900.] THE BIRDS OF HAINAN. 459 



18th. After passing a horrible night, we started off at daylight 

 for a 30-mile walk over the sandy arid country, a truly miserable 

 spot. Camped at night by the side of a river at Nam-lu-as (I am 

 fully determined, if possible, never to enter a Chinese house again), 

 and passed a fairly good night. 



19th. Walked twenty miles to-day and at 3 o'clock reached Lea- 

 mui, another wretched place ; in fact the whole country is horrible 

 and almost entirely cleared of trees — the Chinese burning down 

 the forest to keep back the Lois or aborigines. I am afraid there 

 are no birds, but fleas and other insects are everywhere. 



20th. Went a long walk over the mountains to see if we could 

 find collecting ground, but the place is very bare. I saw a 

 Peregrine and several other birds. 



21st. Getting baggage into small packs. I find my Chinese 

 carriers a very great nuisance. Visited the Mandarin, and hope to 

 start to-morrow. 



22nd. Again visited Mandarin. His rifles are clean outside, 

 but the rifling is eaten away with rust ! Saw two Loi with their 

 hair done up in front in a knob, like the horn of a unicorn. 



23rd. Went for a walk over the bare mountain-sides, but caught 

 a few nice butterflies on some flowering-plants. Saw a small red- 

 coloured deer, two Peregrines, and, in the evening, some Night- 

 jars, which settled on the tops of rocks on the summit of the hill. 

 Their note is a curious shrill chirp, which, like that of a ventriloquist, 

 seems to come from the ground near one's feet. Prancolins are 

 very common here. The porters say they will start to-morrow. 



24th. The porters did not turn up till nearly 10 a.m. ; then, as 

 usual, went after their sticks ; subsequently we had to visit the 

 Mandarin, so did not leave until 12.30. After walking over some 

 twelve or fifteen miles of the usual barren country, we reached a 

 Chinese village, where we put up in the Joss-house, which was 

 clean and well away from the stinks of the crowd. 



25th. Started for the mountains again to-day, arriving at 5 p.m. 

 at a small village, where we camped for the night. Saw a few 

 birds, a Henicurus in the river, and a number of Pericrocoti, also a 

 few Palceornis javanicus. I see neither the white Crow nor the 

 Magpie so far inland. Francolins are still abundant. We meet 

 every day Chinese carrying bundles of skins of deer, monkeys, and 

 pangolins, so I am sure we are not far from some large forests. 



26th. Our Chinese porters refuse to go any further to-day ; they 

 say they have no rice, but, the truth is, they are done up and want 

 to rest. The Mandarin sent two soldiers with us, so that we 

 should be looked after ; they have proved most useful. Some 

 Chinese wanted to prevent our going through their village yester- 

 day : one of them was, I think, drunk and nearly had a row with 

 us. The country is slightly less barren, but still a miserable place 

 for collecting in. Eain all night. The hills have been so enveloped 

 in clouds, that I have not yet been able to see the mountain-tops. 

 I hope to reach our destination some time to-morrow. 



27th. Instead of reaching our destination to-day, the Chinese 



