- 6 ~ 



to a Chinese feast. 



Today is my birthday, but nobody here knows it, so the day has passed 

 away very quietly. 



March 22. I have made arrangements to leave for Siiifu by boat tomorrow. 

 Packed for the trip down the river, and labelled specimens. 



• 



Today I saw a Chinese beggar who was born at Lui Bo, west of here • His 

 hair is like that of a towhead, flaxen. He squints his eyes nearly shut all 

 the time. I took his picture and had someone open his eyes enough so I could 

 see their color. They are blue. H e is apparently much ashamed of it. His skin 

 is white. 



I walked a long way but got only one bird, a rather common one. I do not 

 waste ammunition on the most common birds . Ammunition is too hard to get. 



March 25. % ammunition is getting so low that 1 am going to use it very 

 sparingly until the summer collecting trip, for it is not at all certain that 

 more can get to me from Shanghai. 1 will bend my energies to preparing for the 

 slimmer collecting trip, and will emphasize the securing of fish, trapping through, 

 collectors, etc. (Of course netting) . I must replace many of the oilcloths, 

 for they are in a very bad cohdition. 



Because of the continued draught, the official here has ordered praying for 

 rain. Already priests are reading the sacred books of the Dragon Kim?, dressed 

 in ceremonial robes, accompanied by the beating pj; drums , s, toupJ^and timbrels, 

 and with much bowing to the gods. Boys are getting ready to have the dragon 

 parade. They are naked above the waist, and wear on their heads wreaths made 

 of green willow twigs and leaves, and have a straw dragon in the parade. People 

 throw water on the half --naked boys. 



This afternoon I received a telegram with birthday greetings from my wife 

 and family. 



On March 18 I met a kolo at Pin Shan. He stated that the clan system of 

 families of the same name and descended from the same ancestors living together 

 and marrying only members of other clans exists throughout Lololand. He said 

 that the Lolos used the mouth harp, and that in marriages a cow, sheep, and wine 

 are given for the bride as a sort of a purchase price. 



ijhave travelled from Suifu to Shu Giang many times. 



The process of deforestation is going on ajpace west of Pin Shan, ^arge 

 trees are being cut down, and new trees are not growing in proportion to those 

 cut down. Grass-fires (the grass grows very tall) are helping along the process 

 by killing the young trees, This section may become semi-arid like that west of 

 the Ta-Shiang-Lin Pass, especially if this process goes on. 



March 25. I did not get off yesterda;f, because there were important matters 



