obstruction—Sick followers—On the banks of the Ta-tu—Man-tzŭ raids—Down with fever—Guerilla warfare—Hard-up for food—An exhausting march—The welcome Yang-tsze—Its highest navigable point—Down the upper rapids—Death of my horse-boy—Back to Ch’ung-k’ing

161 Chapter XI. CHINESE INSECT WHITE WAX. References to Insect White Wax in Europe and China—Area of production—Chief wax insect producing country—The insect tree—The insect “buffalo” beetle, or parasite—The insect scales—The transport of insects to the wax producing districts—Method of transport—The wax tree—How insects are placed on the wax trees—Wax production—Collection of the wax—An ignominious ending—Insect metamorphosis—Uses of the wax—Quantity and value 189 Chapter XII. THE TRADE OF WESTERN AND SOUTH-WESTERN CHINA. The waterways, trade-routes, condition, and commercial prospects of Yün-nan—Trade-routes to Kuei-chow and the mineral wealth of the province—The waterways of Ssŭ-ch’uan—General trade of Ssŭ-ch’uan—Foreign trade of Ssŭ-ch’uan and how it is conducted—The defects in the present system and the remedy—The rapids and the difficulties they present—Advantages to be gained from the opening of Ch’ung-k’ing—The Yang-tsze the only route—Trade bound to the Yang-tsze 202 Chapter XIII. THE PHÖ. Non-Chinese races of Western and South-Western China—Imperfect knowledge regarding them—A traveller’s difficulties—Phö language approaching extinction—The Miao-tzŭ rebellion—Relationship of the Miao-tzŭ tribes—Art among the Phö—Music and dancing—Characteristics of the Phö language—English-Phö Exercises and Vocabulary 224 Note on Opium Cultivation in China and India 287

THREE YEARS IN WESTERN CHINA.

CHAPTER I.

UP THE YANG-TSZE TO WESTERN CHINA.