214 ARRIVAL AT KIA-TING-FU 
property had been recovered he clamoured to be set 
free, but the authorities would not listen to him. It 
was not enough they said for the property to be found, 
the thief must be found before he could be released. 
When I left he was still in custody, and I have no 
doubt that before he got his liberty he was squeezed for 
some thousands of cash. 
The innkeepers do not seem to have a very happy 
time of it, for they are made responsible for robberies 
committed on their premises, and when officials pass’they 
have to put them up for next to nothing. 
Crossing again to the right bank of the Ya I met a 
French missionary going to Hung-ya-hsien, but in the 
rapid stream there was no time for anything but a short 
salute. Arrived at Kia-kiang at 9 P.M. 
August 2.To-day some very fine trees allied to the 
banyan were passed. I measured one of the largest 
and found the circumference of the trunk to be 36 ft. 
T had. sent a messenger on ahead to make arrangements 
for the storage of the collection belonging to Prince 
Henri till a boat could be hired to take them down the 
river. On arriving at Kia-ting-fu I went on board my 
boat and found my collectors suffering from fever and 
ague brought on by the great heat. 
I was also in a very poor state of health, owing to 
hard work, and the insufficiency and poverty of the 
