The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-06
MISS BIRD IN CHINA.
Amid Many Dangers She Traverses a
District Hitherto UnexpIOred.

London Times.
Mrs. Bishop, who is perhaps better known
to English readers Miss Bird las re-
gently described in a Shanghai newspaper
her latest Eastern journey, which took her
through parts of the province of Szu-chuan,
unknown to European travellers
trave,ed up the Yang-tse by steamer to
I-chang, and thence by houseboat 300 miles
river and travelled by chair for 500 miles
to Pao-ning in Szu-chuan. She was much
impressed by the beauty and fertility CT the
country, the size and handsome appearance
of the farmhouses being especially remark
able. Coal was in great abundance. Along
the road the people exhibited great hostil-
ity, but the officials did ali they could to
protect her
From Pao-nng she went, by Sintsientsi
through billy but less interesting country
10 Mien-chau. still finding coal and salt in
great abundance. On her way to Kuanh-
Sen in the northwest corner of the great
plain of Cheng-tu. the capital of the pro-
vince. she met with very bad treatment
being attacked and stoned by the mob. One
large stone struck her ON the head and in
flicted injuries from which she suffered aft
er her return.
The Cheng-tu plain was another marvel
Gus example of fertility and wealth. Mrs
Bishop says she never saw anything like it
anywhere She travelled for eleven DAYS
across the plain and found it irrigated in
abundance in every part. 1t seems that ages
ago-it is not known when-a man who has
had erected to his memory rhe gran,lrst
temple in China divided the waters of the
hin river in such way that they fertilize
ton system that there can be neither floods
nor drought. Kuanhsien is at the base of
Northern Thibet.
Thence Mrs. Bishop went up the Min riv-
er, which chinese CONSIDER the actual
Yang-tse, to We.-chau, and. turning up the
L-fan-ting river, reached the town of that
name. Here the authorities did all they
could to prevent her from entering the
Mantsze country beyond. She persisted
however, and found the Mantsze to be
semi~independent tribes VINO nay tribute
to China. but are ruled by their own chiefs.
Their appearance is quite Cauca sian both
men and women being very handsome:
They live in lofty stone houses many of
which resemble feudal castles. In nearly
every village theirs is a high, square tower.
The customs are wholly different from
those of the Chinese; the people rigid
Buddh'sts, and the signs of their religion
friendly and hospitabie, and their coun-
try. well indeed, as the whole country
after leaving the Min "a combination CT
switzerland and Cashmere" She went up
to the source of the ii-fan-ting river, a
branch of the. Min. on the Tsukushan
mountain. and, crossing pass nearly
14.00o feet high descended On the Rongkai
river. an aflluent of the Great Gold river
here, the bridges on the Rongkai were
broken down. and she was unable to carry
out her intention of performing the four
teen days journey down TO Ta-chen-lu. on
the post road TO Lhasa. Gold and enor-
nous quantities OF nitrate OF soda are found
emerald green. and of considerable width
and ., succession of rapids and cataracts
the Wncie distance.
on her return Mrs. Bishop recrossed the
plain of Cheng-tu. descended the Min to
Kia-ting; and thence through fertile and
beautiful country TO Chungking. Every
whore. except among the Mantsze she
found a hostility to foreigners which as
tonished her by it's intensity She has no
douDt that the people in S@e-chuan do
really believe that foreigners eat chill
dren or tear cut their eyes. and in Cheng-
tn and elsewhere she saw children wearing
red cross on green ground. as a charm
against foreigners. 1t seems that the sums
maid TO the French p1iSSiONarips
losses In the riots has increased the popu-
lar resentment. She thought the officials
desired 10 protect foreigners.
Mrs Bishop has made full notes of her
journey and taken a number of photo
graphs. She went from Shanghai to ia
pan in search of rest; and thence proposes
% pay second visit 10 Corea.