Imperial Valley press., 1937-03-07

drizzing rain But the men pushed on with light
hearts, laughing at diff1culties and hard work
supremey confident that my little compass knew
the way.
We discovered beautiful lake set like a Jewel
amid the green laroh forest, It's shores a gray
line of volcanic ash Near by were two large
ponds, swarming with maard ducks. shot
three roe deer and wild boar and trapped
many small mammals. Birds were everywhere:
flowers made brilliant carpet in the parh-lke
openings of the forest.
A day before we reached the Yalu, while hunt
ing roe deer stumbled into the camp of eight
Manchurian bandits - tall, brown hard-bitten
fellows, armed with long f1intlock rifles sus-
pected Immediately what they were, but they
saw me as quickly as saw them. NY rifle did
not help any. They had me covered from several
directions There was nothing to do but bluff it
out. Fortunately knew little Chinese said
was friend, laid down my rifle and advanced
After little, they resumed eating and offered
me tea and millet. Then they went to my camp
They looked over all our stuff, but there was alb
solutely nothing they could use except my rifle
I told the cook to get busy as he never had be-
fore and prepare dinner of roe-deer meat. The
bandits were pleased and accepted the invitation
to eat with alacrity.
A FTER dinner the brigands became most
~ friendly. They admitted they were part of
band which held this region near the Yalu. All
merchants sending goods between villages must
pay them taxes. AS we were not merchants and
had been so hospitable. they would charge us
nothing. Moreover, they told us how to avoid
others OF the band who might not be so friendly.
The next day, we camped on the bank of the
great river. which at that spot was less than
thirty yards across. Following down the stream
for two days, we came to Korean settlement
There was great rejoicing among my men, for
they were heroes. Had they not been to the Long
White Mountain and faced the terrors of the un-
known wilderness, and all with the aid of a tiny
compass?
Further down the riven we came to the first
logging operations conducted by the Japanese
Here dismissed my caravan and arranged to
float down the Yalu on a log raft. It was very
comfortable on the raft The men made me a
little house of bark and had huge deck for a
playground Sometimes at night we tied up to a
bank, but usually the raft 1oated on, guided by
two men with huge sweeps. l shot ducks and
geese for specimens, retrieving them in small
boat towed behind the raft
watched the Yalu grow with every mile for
we passed dozens of small streams each of
which contributed it's share to swell the giant
river. The trip was very restfu after the strenu-
GUS days of continued travel
But was sorry sight in the way of garments
when we reached Antung at the mouth of the
river My shoes and trousers were completely
gone. was dressed in Korean clothes, except
for coat and hat. In this garb I reached Seoul
and registered at the Sontag Hotel
cable to the Museum elected a delighted
reply. For nearly five months I had dropped out
of the world and the usual reports of death in
the Korean wilderness had been cabled far and
wide. have died" SO frequently since that am
quite accustomed to it; it seems to be the best
little thing do
The Museum was pleased with the results I
had explored and mapped a considerable area of
unknown country and brought out a large col
lection of mammals and birds, many of them
new to science.
True Stories From
T.. "ToId n tbe Extiorers Club"
!. Courtesy Albert & Charles Boni Inc
(PHbi'bers- Nsy York)