1770 
the fruits are on the ground and spoiled, the fruiting 
season being in October. At that time it is impossible 
to enter on account of the terrible condition of the 
roads- mud, mud, mud, and swollen rivers which it is 
impossible to ford. The only thing to do is to get in- 
to the country during the dry season and then collect 
them when the season is on, as I will do. I can get 
both the northern species and the southern, as these 
two points are only one month's journey apart. I wish 
you could have seen me many times sitting in a temple 
with a crowd of people watching every move I made; 
often, very often, I think of you and wish you could 
be here to enjoy it all and to share In the troubles 
of the road. Often it is perplexing; at one place they 
want copper coins, at another only silver, and at an- 
other again brass cash, 4,500 to the American dollar. 
At one place the French dollar is at a premium; at the 
other they will not take them; one place wants rupees, 
the other only Yunnan dollars, and of course all metal , 
no paper money. " 
