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Show 1900.] THE BIRDS OF HAINAN. 459 18tb. After passing a horrible night, w e started off at daylight for a 30-mile walk over the sandy arid country, a truly miserable spot. Camped at night by the side of a river at Nam-lu-as (I am fully determined, if possible, never to enter a Chinese house again), and passed a fairly good night. 19th. Walked twenty miles to-day and at 3 o'clock reached Lea-mui, another wretched place; in fact the whole country is horrible and almost entirely cleared of trees-the Chinese burning down the forest to keep back the Lois or aborigines. I a m afraid there are no birds, but fleas and other insects are everywhere. 20th. W e n t a long walk over the mountains to see if we could find collecting ground, but the place is very bare. I saw a Peregrine and several other birds. 21st. Getting baggage into small packs. I find m y Chinese carriers a very great nuisance. Visited the Mandarin, and hope to start to-morrow. 22nd. Again visited Mandarin. His rifles are clean outside, but the rifling is eaten away with rust! Saw two Loi with their hair done up in front in a knob, like the horn of a unicorn. 23rd. Went for a walk over the bare mountain-sides, but caught a few nice butterflies on some flowering-plants. Saw a small red-coloured deer, two Peregrines, and, iu the evening, some Nightjars, which settled on the tops of rocks on the summit of the hill. Their note is a curious shrill chirp, which, like that of a ventriloquist, seems to come from the ground near one's feet. Francolins are very common here. The porters say they will start to-morrow. 24th. The porters did not turn up till nearly 10 A.M. ; then, as usual, went after their sticks; subsequently w e had to visit the Mandarin, so did not leave until 12.30. After walking over some twelve or fifteen miles of the usual barren country, we reached a Chinese village, where we put up in the Joss-house, which was clean and well away from the stinks of the crowd. 25th. Started for the mountains again to-day, arriving at 5 P.M. at a small village, where we camped for the night. Saw a few birds, a Henicurus in the river, and a number of Pericrocoti, also a few Palceornis javanicus. I see neither the white Crow nor the Magpie so far inland. Francolins are still abundant. W e meet every day Chinese carrying bundles of skins of deer, monkeys, and pangolins, so I a m sure w e are not far from some large forests. 26th. Our Chinese porters refuse to go any further to-day; they say they have no rice, but, the truth is, they are done up and want to rest. The Mandarin sent two soldiers with us, so that we should be looked after; they have proved most useful. Some Chinese wanted to prevent our going through their village yesterday : one of them was, I think, drunk and nearly had a row with us. The country is slightly less barren, but still a miserable place for collecting in. Bain all night. The hills have been so enveloped in clouds, that I have not yet been able to see the mountain-tops. I hope to reach our destination some time to-morrow. 27th. Instead of reaching our destination to-day, the Chinese |
