32 RETURN TO ICHANG 
that I was reluctantly obliged to vive up the pursuit ; 
and perhaps it would have been wiser never to have 
attempted it, as they would have been very awkward 
customers in such a close thicket. 
IT remained until October 14, by which time I had 
satisfied myself that the locality was admirably adapted 
for making collections, provided it was visited at the 
proper season of the year. I therefore made arrange- 
ments to take the house for four months in the following 
spring and summer, and shall describe the place more 
fully when dealing with my longer visit. Before leaving 
T ascended to the ridge of the range, the altitude of which 
I found to be 6,500 feet, the southern slope being more 
grassy than the northern. Pheasants were fairly plenti- 
ful, both Reeves’ and the common, and I shot several 
before I left. 
As it was useless to think of collecting in Chang- 
yang in the early part of the year, its altitude being 
too great, I wished to make a short expedition up the 
river to see what could be done close to its banks. For 
this purpose the Consul very kindly lent me his house- 
boat, and in her I left on March 30. I had often 
heard from the Europeans of an enormous creeping 
plant not far from the town, but on the opposite side of 
the river, and I now determined to make a visit to it. 
When at some little distance off, it presents the appear- 
