Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-01-20

teresting things, haven't the time nor
the paper to write about.
Our representatives here, as else
where all along the trip, were exceed
ingly proud of me, and loved to take
me about the town, showing me off, ,
as it gives them "face" to have their
European bosses call on them. Here
IN Tong Hang there is located a large
natural hot water spring, so that night
before retiring, | had three bockets
of the hot H2O all to myself, and sue
cessfully erased from my body all evil
dences of my labors of the day. They
| fixed up my camp bed and mosquito
netting in a large sheltered boat on the
oank of the river in front of the shop,
as the night was very hot and it would
have been unbearable sleeping in the
shop where ventilation is about nil
! You know the Chinese bolt and bar
every window and door at night for
fear of robbery, SO you can imagine
how much ventilation there can bewith
only a small hole Or two in the roof
through which fresh air can come in.
Had fine sleep out there in the boat,
getting every breeze that was On the
move that night.
Our next objective point was Sa
Heung 100 lis (33) miles ina northwest
direction from Tong Hang across big
mountain range. Owing to our inabili-
ty to get chair coolies the next day, we
were compelled to wait over the fol-
lowing day making a total of two
nights and a day at Tong Hang.
|, At 500 a. m. on April the Bird, my
whole party, myself, two Interpreters,
and cook, got into chairs and along
with five coolies or so to carry our bag
gage, we started for Sa Heung. We
were some imposing looking party
with our four chairs, twelve chair cool
les, and five baggage coolies. The
weather had changed over night, so it
was cold, dark, and rainy, making it
impossible for me to get good photos
of our small army, but have plenty of
opportunities yet so "maskee" (mean-
ing, Il should worry.")
We'll, that mountain trip on the backs
of three husky Hakka coolies, comfort
ably sheltered with a canopy over
head and well covered with wooden
blankets I'll never forget. It was con-
stantly moving up and down, over and
around lofty mountains with a change
OF scenery every minute; many times,
IN fact, during most of the trip, our
sure footed coolies would be walking
on narrow cobble path running along
a cliffs edge or on the steep precipi-
tous side of some mountain, where in
case of slip of the foot, coolies, yours
truly, chair and all would be dashed
to humiliation below Sometimes we
were compelled to get out and walk
because of some steep ascent or de-
scent over a divide in some mountain
range. Every hour or two we would
stop at some little hut of an inn where
the coolies would rest and refresh
themselves with hot tea and a pull at
their pipes. Of course we passengers
would take advantage of these stops
to get out and stretch our legs a bit.
At noon we stopped at Chinese res
taurant along the way, Ho Tsu is the
name of the place, and such a dirty
hole it was; but it was not for me to
complain as I was thankful that anv
sort of place at all was handy where
we could prepare some chow. My cook
got busy with little stove and before
| knew it, l had a fine dinner before
me.
AT 600 p. m. we were compelled to
put up at little dirty road house
hotel the coolies called it-as we were
some five or six hours from Sa Heung.
| wish you could have seen the place.
Whew!!! Such dirt and smells that
prevailed. The hotel keepers chick
ems, and pigs lived in the house, run
ming freely about picking stray
crumbs and filth here and there. and
not being over particular of advertis-
ing themselves about the place. Oh
yes, Chinese pigs are nice, we'll man.
nered, immaculate animals and have
such excellent 90 habits about the
house.
My room was 6x12 feet, boasting of
one small window heavily barred. an
old Chinese bed that looked as if it
might walk, or rather had things on it
that walked, large earthenware bowl
IN one corner that gave evidence that
it had experienced usage, for l had
same Immediately and peremtorily
sent from the room and planted half
dozen "joss" sticks where it had rest
ed to sort of bring me good luck as it
were, and to eradicate from my sensi-
tive nostrils any evidences of said
bowls occupancy.
Of course yoh know that every Chi
nese man as soon as he arrives at the
age Of 15 or 16 or SO gets married or
perhaps was married when but a child
by his parents. Nevertheless Won nov