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Show EXPERIENCES OF A LONE GEOGRAPHER 341 troops and immedia t e 1 y returning to Szechwan, armed with a letter from me explaining their presence in Kansu territory, in case they were stopped by hostile soldiers. The Kansu authorities have been exceedingly kind and courteous to me. In every town I have entered I have been given a royal reception, troops lining up, and band p l a y i n g , the chief mandarins coming out with their red umbrellas, and mounted police often meeting me 20 miles out of a town and escorting me to tents which have been erected, where refreshments are served. From Pikow to Kai-chow is five days' journey and from there to Minchow (not to be confused with Mienchow of Szechwan) is seven days. In the latter city I stayed four days in a merchant guild where the officials had prepared excellent quarters for me. Minchow is full of Mohammedans and many of them are robbers. I was warned to be careful and not to go out in the evening without a bodyguard of soldiers. TWELVE MEN TO BE SHOT FOR ATTACK ON EXPLORER The house in which I lodged was guarded day and night by 30 men, and yet on the second night Mohammedan robbers came and climbed upon the roof of the building, with the evident intention of overpowering my guard and robbing me. The soldiers were on the alert, however; the ringleader and four men were Photograph by Frederick R. Wulsin CHONI TIBETANS BRINGING IN FUEL The women wear gowns of cream-colored homespun and bright-red trousers. captured. The prisoners were brought into the courtyard and bound to posts, where I interviewed them the next morning. The officials of Minchow were quite upset about this incident and strengthened the guard. The captured men were taken in charge by the military, who beat them with bamboo until they confessed and gave the names of the others of the band and the whereabouts of their headquarters. The next day their stronghold, four miles from Minchow, was raided by soldiers and seven other robbers were brought in. They were all to be shot after I had left Minchow. |