The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-12-29

OOOIh OHlkA
to see them so frightened at us who
were their friends, and yet amused
at their rapid transit" and the speed
with which they vanished from view.
When we reached the summit of the
mountain, we stood and viewed the
landscape DER" East, west, north and
south, the lofty mountains rose, range
beyond range, as far as the eye could
see, while the river we had just left
behind could be seen here and there,
threading its serpentine way in and
out among the foothills.
We had begun the descent when
"Old Plum" the cOolie who carried my
baggage, while walking round corner
on the narrow path, staggered, lost his
balance and fell down the embank-
ment. Man, suitcase, bedding and
basket in a tangled mass, went slid
ing down the mountainside. 1t looked
as II "Old Plum" had a through tick
ct" until he slid against a clump Of
bushes which brought him to a sud-
den stop. Here the coolie crawled
pityingly up at US for help. What a
sight His trousers, not being accus-
toned to that mode of travel, had
given way; and with several small
bruises on his shins, and his face Gov.
cred with CRIME and dirt. he was In
deed an object Of pity. Fortunately
he was not much hurt, and with the
assistance OF the other carriers he was
soon on the path and away with his
load.
Among the runo Tribes.
Upon reaching the mountain base
we found compact village nesting
among the foothills. The people be-
longed to another tribe, the lungs,
who, like their neighbors, the Yaos,
have their homes among the tribe.
The homes the people lived In were
all two-story dwellings. The ground
floor was used as a COW stable or pig
sty, while the people themselves oc-
cupy the rooms above.
The women wear black kits. These
are made with numerous fine tucks,
varying in width and number accord
the time Of making. Their limbs were
also bound with the same goods or en-
cased in cloth leggings. Their wrists
and ankles were ornamented with sill
yer rings, while other rings varying in
size and numbering from one to FIVE
were hanging around their necks.
Their sailorlike blOuses were fastened
in the front with bright glass or brass
buttons, and their feet were adorned
with pretty homemade shoes that
turned up at the toes.
The journey to the city of Kuchow
was uneventful. Our road was on an
ascending scale, each day climbing
higher than the day before, until
sometimes the mountain peaks seemed
to pierce the blue above. Two days af-
ter leaving Linhsi we crossed over the
southern table land, after which all
streams were found to be flowing
northward down through the province
Of Human to join the turbid water of
the great Yangtzekiang.
kuchow 4 Heterogeneous City.
As we neared the city our caravan
was sighted, and seeing it small boy
was soon scurrying along the street
bare-headed, and calling to the people
to, "Quick, look, see." 1t had the de-
sired effect, for out of every store the
crowds poured until we were sur
rounded by a motley throng, which In
creased in numbers ms we proceeded
The street was packed with pushing,
pulling, surging humanity, each trying
to get near enough to peep into our
strange faces.
This city, In which we rested over
Sunday, is the most heterogeneous /
have yet passed through. Cantonese
and kuangsi merchants compete with
each other in the busy business
streets; Hunanese and Kueichow cool
les jOstle against each other In the
Mao, Tung and Ling tribesmen bring
their various wares here and, sitting
down on the river bank outside the
city, spread them out for sale. Here
were gathered people of all descrip-
tions; women clad in skirts, and wom-
en- wearing trousers, old women with
their hair done up in a knot, young
women wearing snowy bracelets, NAM
moth earrings and silver rings encir-
cling the neck, while the ankles of the
more wealthy were also ornamented
with the same glittering metal. There
were men with queues and men with
out them; some with heads bound
round with cloth, and others with hair
done up In ball and fastened in place
with a comb; while here and there
among the crowd the Tung men could
be distinguished by their wearing ear
rings In the left ear as a charm n
ward on misfortune and disease.