25- 



From Chengtu to Songpan is a rich district for 

 collecting. One wishes he had years in which to do it. "White 

 bear and all kinds of animals are reported. 



This road is very safe this year so it is well that 

 this trip was taken. The trip might be impossible next year, 

 and for some time afterwards. However, two foreigners were 

 murdered last year by robbers, and the officials were punished 

 so that the officials were unwilling for a foreigner to go 

 where there is any danger. The Songpan magistrate forbade 

 travelling westward or northward but permitted travelling one 

 day eastward where collecting should be very good. 



The city of Songpan has very little vegetation except- 

 ing wheat fields/ so it would not be profitable to stay here 

 long and collect, especially since the officials do not want 

 us to go far away from the city. Next year it might be im- 

 possible to come at all. 



The local official is anxious for me to clear out 

 of this district. If anything happens he will be held re- 

 sponsible. This is bound to shorten my stay at Songpan. 



Some of the Chinese at Songpan use prayer flags on 

 their houses like the Lamaists of Tibet as*\A.. T^e r^>>< - • 



I saw a Chinese baby boy whom the parents wished to 

 protect from evil influences, especially demons that cause 

 disease and death, on whose back the parents had a brass 

 mirror, a brass corn charm, and a small bag in which some 

 parts of the Buddhist classics were placed. 



July 17. The local magistrate tried to get me to 

 make my stay in this district quite short. It was with some 

 difficulty that I secured a longer time in which to collect *LA 

 Huang Long Si 7 - ikope to find ways of delaying long enough to 

 get a reasonable amount of collecting done. The official 

 will not let me leave the main road along the river for the 

 higher elevations where mammals and different kinds of birds 

 may be found. 



July 18. At Huang Long Si I saw a number of strange 

 birds. There are planty of trees and there should be plenty 

 of game. The official would not let me come here without an 

 escort of six soldiers . 



July 18. Bad luck - I received two pounds of gun- 

 powder from the arsenal at Chengtu for this trip, but it is 

 false powder and will not explode. This will leave us short 



