— 3— 



trained on a nearby mountain and some insects. 



I looked into the box where two bottles of formalin were broken en 

 route. The packing was so well done that I do not see how they got broken. 

 I hardly see how a better job of packing could have been done. 



Dec. 4. Mailed box Ko. 4, snakes. 



Dec. 5. Mailed box Ho. 5, snakes. 



Thieves have been trying hard to break into two mission safes which 

 are in another compound. They injured the safes but did not get in. It 

 confirms my conviction that my good watchdog is much responsible for the 

 safety of the Smithsonian collecting outfit. 



Dec. 6. Today I spent the whole day collecting on the Min Iliver about six miles 

 above the city. We walked all the way. It rained a good deal, and the 

 rocks became slippery and the road muddy. I used the fishnets and the 

 shotgun. I had very poor luck. There are practically no fish in the small 

 streams. I saw some fish-ducks filling up on tadpoles J! While I was on 

 furlough one of the rubber boots sprung a leak. I«ly right foot was soaking 

 wet the last half of the day. Boxes six and seven have been mailed. 



Dec. 8. Today carpenters began making boxes in which to ship specimens. I expect 

 to get quite a few made for future use. Yesterday Chen Gdh Uen went off for 

 a three days* collecting trip. 



Dec. 10. Carpenters still making boxes. Chen Gin Uen returned with specimens and 

 went off collecting again. 



Dec. 11. (Jot boxes 9-18 ready for mailing. They contain birds, mammal bones , in- 

 sects, snakes, etc. 



Dec. 12. Mailed boxes 9-16. 



Mammal Ko. 10. 



Dec. 13. Spent the day on the mountains showing Chen (rib Uen how to trap small 

 mammals. Beared up a leopard, the first wild one I have seen. I had only 

 a shotgun and it was loaded with Ho. 10 bird shot, but I sent that after 

 him. 



Dec. 14. Very busy all day. With no other foreigners here, my duties are some- 

 what more numerous and exacting than in past years. Schools, hospitals, 

 churches, and the station sub-treasury all take time. 



Dec. 15. The collector Chen Gih Uen came in with two wild rats. He said the 



small mousetraps did not seem to hold them — many of them were set off, but 

 the rats, escaped. I gave him ten rat-traps. Mammals Ho. 11-12. 



Dec. 16. The collector trapped mammals Ho. 13 and 14. 



