the i B B i the then reigning Ohiei. I t was therefore impossible under
these cironmstanoes to do much at Sanda in investigating its natural history. As
the same liability to attack was anticipated on the march from Sanda to Muangla
as had been experienced between Manwyne and the former place, the Mission had to
keep well together, and to be on the alert. At Mnangla, we were warned not to go
any'distance from the town, and I had therefore to coniine my observations to a
radius of about two miles. .
From Muangla to Nantin, and from thenee to Teng-yue-chow (Monuen), a
large caravan of merchandise, which had long been delayed in its progress by
reason of the dangers of the road, took advantage of the fancied protection
afforded by the Mission. A short way from Muangla, however, the advance of the
caravan and Mission was retarded for a few hours, as the Panthay Officers H |
met us a t the latter town reported th a t a large body of armed men had assembled
to oppose our progress, a t the head of the narrow defile which closes m the vaUey.
This report, however, proved to be erroneous, and to have had its origin in a
murderous attack which had been committed on a poor Shan trader, whom we
passed lying dying on the road. Beyond the defile, our advance was protected
by bodies of armed Mahomedan rebels (Panthays), who beat their gongs and fire
their matchlocks as we passed, in honour of the Mission and to scare away the
robber bands of hilknen. At Nantin, we remained only two days, during which
I had to show all my alcoholic collections in order to remove an impression from th e
minds of the officials th a t we carried about with us flying dragons, to le t loose on the
people. A few miles beyond the town, we were attacked by Chinese, and lost three
of our Panthay guard, and two mule-loads, chiefly consisting of my property, an
which entailed on me the irreparable loss of most of my notes on Natural History.
As it became evident th a t the further progress of the Mission beyond Monuen
would be a t once dangerous, and, in the existing state of things, liable to embroil
it with the Chinese constituted authorities, it was resolved not to attempt the prosecution
of our enquiries beyond Momien. During our residence there, we were not
permitted to go beyond sight of the town without the protection of an armed guard,
and were only once allowed this doubtful privilege. The marches back to Manwyne
were nearly a repetition of our advance, but without experiencing any open
hostilities. -
Prom Manwyne we diverged and crossed the mountain range on the south ot
the Sanda Yalley into the sequestered valley of Hotha and Latha, where we mummed
about three weeks, still bearing with us the unenviable reputation of bringing flying
dragons and other evils upon the inhabitants, who alleged th a t a person had died
in every village we had visited. In this valley I shot neither bird nor mammal.
Prom Hotha, we marched direct to the plains, without encountering any further
difficulties, and, from Bham6, returned to Mandalay by boat.
The Second Expedition was appointed to leave Burma in January 1875, in
order to accomplish the passage of the hill country before the setting in of the
rainy season.
The command was entrusted to Colonel Horace Browne, of the Burmese
Commission. The post of geographer was filled by Mr. Ney Elias. Mr. Margary,
a most promising member of the Consular Service, thoroughly versed in the Chinese
language and etiquette, had also been appointed to accompany the Mission, and had
crossed China from Shanghai to Bham6 for the express purpose. The Mission had
also the services of Mr. Allan, another officer of Her Majesty’s Chinese Consular
Service. The preparations for ensuring the success of this Mission in every department
were made as complete as foresight could make them.
The Mission was despatched with the intention of thoroughly examining the
country to the east of Teng-yue-chow, and of traversing China to Shanghai. Its
history, however, was excessively brief and most disastrous. After vainly a ttempting
to penetrate into Yunnan by the Sawady route, a few miles to the south
of Bham6, Colonel Browne resolved to revert to the route pursued by the Eirst
Expedition under Colonel Sladen.
The Mission, however, was only permitted to make three marches, when it was
attacked by a large body of Chinese, and compelled to make a precipitate retreat
to Burma; Margary, who had preceded the mission by one march, having with
four of his followers been treacherously murdered a t Manwyne.
I t is evident, from the foregoing brief summary of the history of these Missions,
tha t the opportunities they afforded for the prosecution of Natural History inquiries,
and for the investigation of the subjects tha t were allotted to me, were very few
indeed. I have thought it desirable to bring these difficulties out prominently,
because there can be little doubt but that the area traversed is very rich in animal
life. Its geographical position, along with the little knowledge we have gained of
it, leads to the conclusion that, when facilities are offered for its thorough examination,
it will yield many new specific forms of great interest.
I ' have elsewhere1 described in detail the physical features of the country
traversed, and have given some illustrations of. these in another work,2 from photographs
flTid sketches taken on the Expeditions. I t is therefore unnecessary that
I should again re-enter on this subject.
i Report on the Expedition to Western Yunnan vid BhamA. Calcutta, 1871.
* Mandalay to Momein: a narrative of the Two Expeditions to Western China of 1868 and 1875. London:
Macmillan & Co., 1876.