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CHAPTER IV 
CHANG-YANG 
Preparations for trip to Chang-yang—Hiring coolies—Passport—Start 
with Dr. Henry—Deseription of house—Robbery of cash—Collecting 
Coleoptera—Pony killed by tiger—Tigers common, but no man- 
eaters—Poisoning tigers—Wild pigs—Boars’ tusks offered for sale as 
tigers’ teeth—Deer—Porcupines—Pheasants—Plants and flowers— 
Hostility of natives—I complain at Ichang—Punishment of agita- 
tors—Excursion to the South—Deep ravines—Etu River—Varnish 
tree—Method of collecting varnish—Trade of district—Edible fungus 
—Heavy damages—Preparation for return to Ichang. 
As the time now approached for my projected stay in 
Chang-yang, | commenced making such preparations 
as were necessary for a prolonged visit to such a wild 
region. The first thing to be considered was money. 
Silver would, of course, be much easier to carry than 
thousands of cash, but I had learnt from my previous 
visit that it was far too valuable for use among such a 
poor people. If change of a tael was wanted, one 
might have to send to a village halfa day’s journey off to 
get it. The natives also were particular as to the sort 
of cash they would accept, being partial to the large, 
not that they would not take the small, but they re- 
garded them as of comparatively less value. I therefore 
