Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-05
MISS BIRD IN CHINA.
Amid Many Dangers She Trayerses Q
District Hitherto Uncxplored.

From the Londcn Times
Mrs Bishop who is perhaps better known
to English readers Miss Bird, has re-
Gently described in a Shanghai newspaper
her lates: eastern journey, which took her
through parts OF the province of Szu-chuan,
unknown to European travellers.
Leaving Shanghai on January 10 last she
Travelled up the Yang-tse 10y steamer 10
I-chang, and thence by houseboat 3n miles
to Wanhsien, where Mrs. Bishop left the
river and Travelled by chair FOR 3t1 miles
to Pao-nng, in Szu-chuan. She was much
impressed by the beauty and fertility of
the country. the size and handsome ap-
pearance of the farm houses being espe-
cially renarkab BILE Coal was in great
abunG ance. Along the road the people eX-
hbited great hostility. but the officials did
all they could to protect her.
From Pao-nirg she went. by SintsientSi,
through a filly but less Interesting country
to Mien-chau, still finding coal and salt in
great abundance. On her way to kuanh-
sien. in the northwest corner of the great
pid OF Cheng-tu, the capital of the prov
ince, she met with very bad treatment, be-
ing attacked and stoned by the mob. One
large stone struck her on the head and In
flicted injuries from which she suffered af-
ter her return.
The Cheng-tu plain was another marvel
ous example of fertility and wealth. Mrs.
Bishop says she never saw anything Ike
it anywhere. She Travelled for eleven DAYS
across tie plain and found 1t 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 the
grandest temple in China divided the wa
tiers Of the Min river In such way that
they fertiliZe the whole plain and make
such an irrigation system that there can
be neither floods nor drought. kuanhSi.n
is at the base OF the hills, and is the cen
ter for the trade of Northern Thihet.
Thence Mrs. Bishop went up the MIN
river, which Chinese consider the actual
Yang-tse. to Wei-chau. and, turning up the
Li-fan-ting river, reached the town of that
name. Here the authorities did all they
could to convert her from entering the
Mantsze country beyond. She persisted,
however, and found the Mantsze to he
semi-irdepenGent tribes. who pay tribute
to China, but are ruled by their own chiefs.
Their appearance is quite Caucasian. both
! men and women being very handsome
They live in lofty store houses, many of
which resemble feudal castles In nearly
every village there is high, square tower.
The customs are wholly different from
those of the Chinese; the people are rigid
Buddhsts. and the signs OF their religion
are everywhere. Mrs. Bishop found them
friendly and hosptable. and their coun-
try, as well, indeed, as the whole country
after leaving the Min, "a combination II
Switzerland anG Cashmere" She went up
to the source of the Li-far-ting river a
branch of the Min. on the Tsukushan
mountain and, crossing a pass nearly
14.oo0 feet high, descended on the RonEkai
river, an affiuent of the Great Gold river.
Owing to troubles between the tribes
broken down, and she was unable to carry
out her intention of performing the four
teen days journey down TO Ta-chien-lu, on
the post road to lhasa. Gold and enor-
NOUS quantities of nitrate of soda are
found on this route; the rivers are torrents
of emerald green, ard OF considerable
width, and a succession of rapids and cata-
racts the whole distance
On her return Mrs. Bishop rccrosscd the
plain of Cheng-tu, descended the Min to
kia-ting. and thence through fertile and
beautiful country to Chung-kIng. Every
where, except along the Mantsze, she
found hostility to foreigners which as
tonished her by it's intensity. She has no
doubt that the people in Szu-chuan do
really believe that foreigners eat children
or tear out their eyes. and in Cheng-tu
and elsewhere she saw children wearing
red cross on green ground. as a charm
against foreigners. 1t seems that the sums
paid to the French missionaries for their
losses in the riots has increased the popu-
lar resentment. She thought the officials
desired to protect foreigners
Mrs. Bishop has made full notes OF her
journey and taken a number of photo
graphs. She went from Shanghai to Japan
in search of rest; and thence proposes to
pay second visit to Corea.