ABSTRACT
AGRAY and murky morning darkening into drizzle, which thickened into a day's pouring rain, was an inauspicious
beginning of a long land journey, but the crawling up the north Han had become monotonous and change and action were desirable. Being an experienced muleteer, I had arranged the loads for each pony so equitably as to obviate the usual quarrel among the mapu or grooms at starting! The men were not reg~lar mapu, and were going chiefly to see the Diamond Mountain. One was well educated and gentlemanly, and the bystanders jeered at them for It loading like scholars." They were a family party, and there were no disputes.
