Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 79 (Color Image)

0079	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

TO MOUNT OMET 49

The head muleteer showed signs of insub-

ordination when Pereira's boy pressed him to

feed the mules properly. So Pereira took him

by the collar and threatened him, which reduced

him to a chastened frame of mind.

The Min River was crossed by a ferry on June 26.

Beyond it for five awful miles Pereira's party

passed along a small, muddy, slippery path beside

the paddy fields. He himself fell once. His chair-

bearers fell two or three times. And one mule

with the boys' things fell into a paddy field, and

all their clothes were soaked with mud and water.

Soldiers were often passed. Now in the hot

weather they took off their jackets, tucked up

their trousers to the knees and wore their forage

caps with a green oilskin covering. They had, in

addition, their bandoliers, worn over their naked

bodies, a rifle and umbrella. Excepting coolies no

one travels lighter.

Leaving the paddy fields for low hills the going

improved, and a stiff climb of 700 feet brought

the party to the summit of a hill. Here, weary

and hot after trudging 18 miles, Pereira rested

and cooled himself under a tree, and admired the

view over the low country he had been crossing,

which looked like a big plain covered with trees

and paddy fields.

The route continued over low hills, and on

June 28 he was warned of the presence of two

hundred brigands on ahead. They would be

afraid, he was told, to attack a foreigner, but they

would probably seize the rifles of the escort on the

escort's return. The escort, therefore, decided to

leave their rifles behind.

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