Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-11
Gift of Rev. D. C. Graham
includes Geological and
chronological Specimens.
PARTY FACED DANGER
OF BANDITS ATTACK
Expedition Into Moupin Region
Made Despite Menace of War
and Brigands.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

After one of the most adventurous Of
recent Smithsonian Institution expedi-
tions collection of approximately H.
600 geological and chronological speci-
mems has been received in Washington
from Rev. David C. Graham, who for
years has been exploring parts of West
ern China for the institution.
Accompanying the collection came
DR.. Graham's diary, telling of the ex-
treme difficulties under which it was
obtained. Most of the specimens are of
animals-10,000 invertebrates and 1000
vertebrates-many of which are new to
the institution. Or. Graham also sent
approximately 100 artifacts obtained
| from old tombs, which some claim were
pre-Chinese, overlooked by previous ex-
plorers.
One box contains a peculiar native
suit, concerning which DR.. Graham
wrote: The boy had brought his sister
to Suifu to learn weaving When he
went away, the Chinese sold his sister
as slave. He was poor and could not
get her back. BY selling the garment
to me for So he got Just enough money
to buy her freedom again. He says
he will get me much better garment
ldLcl at a ISdSO1ldDle prize.
The archaeological specimens include
such art work as the right front half
of small dog with pug nose, the
remnant of the face Of a pretty woman
with earrings and part of a hen with
a chicken on its back" The articles
now are in the hands of various museum
curators for classification.
Expedition Menaced by Soldiers.
For several years DR.. Graham had
planned visit to the section of western
China around Moupin, but had been
prevented by the outbreak Of local wars.
Last year he set out despite war in
progress between the Chinese and the
Lolos, native tribe, who had cut
bridges and fortified strategic points
The expedition was in constant danger
of attack from these Lolos.
The expedition" ne recounts, start
ed from Suifu on July 4 with 10 coolies
to carry the loads two or three native
collectors, cook and an escort. On
the 5th we passed through robber re-
sort which was quite peaceful because
the militia had made a raid and exc
cuted one of the robbers. We saw him
being carried home, escorted by his wife
and others, to be buried after the priest
had performed the long ceremony of
opening the way to Hades. His blood
had sprinkled the roadway for at least
a half mile.
ION the next day we had an escort
of 10 men and rifles, as the danger from
brigands was increasing. On July II
the party passed over the Gi-Tsi- Gang
pass. At the summit we saw the head
Of robber, set up as warning to
others"
"On the 21st," his letter said, "a
Chinese woman, evidently in much
mental distress, knocked her head on
the ground and told me that three of
her children we're captives among the
Lolos. She had no money to ransom
them. These Lolos are fierce. abort
ginal tribe who live largely by plumber"
Coolies Were Opium Smokers.
The return journey was begun August
6. DR.. Graham notes in his diary that
all his coolies were opium smokers, and
1t was a problem every morning TO get
them up in time to smoke their opium
and get an early start on the road. On
the 10th, he writes, they passed many
ruins of towers and fortresses, and that
nearly every town was walled as a pro-
lection against the Lolos Stopping at
Chinese city, his collectors were not
allowed to collect insects outside the
gates after shutdown because of danger
from the fierce tribesmen, who had
burned more than 10 houses in the
neighborhood the day before
A few days later the party reached
the town of Fu-Lin, where they spent
several days at the house of friendly
Lolo, through whose help they were
able to make anthropometicaI measure
ments of some pure-blooded tribesmen,
and also obtained two sets of Lolo
armor which are probably more than
200 years old. This armor, according
to DR.. Walter Hough, curator of the de-
partment Of anthropology, now is unique
in the United States, and constitutes
one of the most valuable recent Access
sions to the National Museum.
Leaving this town, the party made
hard trip across the Da-Shiang-Lin
pass with an escort of 90 Chinese
soldiers and on the east side of the
mountain were met by another military
escort. On August IS, Dr. Graham
notes in his diary, nearly 100 brigands
robbed a caravan and were pursued by
soldiers and militia, the battle continu-
ing until about noon"
The remainder of the return Journey
was made by raft constructed of bam-
boo poles strapped together On this
trip the party made a lucky escape
from four men with rifles who ordered
them to stop. The party arrived at
Suifu, its starting point, on September
2. In the course Of the expedition DR..
Graham covered more than 800 miles
on foot.