Diary a, September 30, 1932-July 15, 1933

^[[September 30, 1932 to July 15 1933 Book A Sept. 30 1932 To July 15, 1933]] Smithsonian Notes by David C. Graham, Chengtu, Szechuan, China [[line across page]] [[check mark in left margin]] On Sept. 30 I reached Chengtu, after a hard journey up the Yangtee and the Min Rivers. One boat was wrecked about 8 miles below Chengtu and some of my books were spoilt. My house on the campus was to be ready for us to occupy on our arrival but this is the Orient, and it was not ready. It had not been occupied for three years and was out of repair very badly. The entire inside of the house had to be painted. Painters were engaged to do so in June. A committee of foreigners had been appointed to see that my house was ready. When I arrived I found that the painters had actually been busy two or three days on the house and the kitchen and the second story was so freshly painted that it could not be occupied for two days. The attic was entirely full of other peoples' furniture and the entire first floor was so full that only the front hall was vacant. The front hall had to be painted soon. We therefore could not put a single article of furniture where it belonged. We had to stack everything on the porch, which leaked very badly in several places, so that our things got wet. As a result we have been slower getting settled, and have had a much harder time than we should. Soon after I arrived I was elected curator of the University Museum. The Museum has very valuable materials but nothing at all has been properly labeled and recorded. My first job will be to get blanks printed and classify all the artifacts in the Museum, numbering them and completing all possible records, classifying the materials, etc., etc. [[check mark in left margin]] The hunter[[strikethrough]]s[[/strikethrough]], Yang Fang Tsang rejoined me a Suifu, and also the skinner Ho Yang had a few specimens which I will mail soon. The mammals I will number from 1000 on. These include numbers from 1000 to 1009. There are about thirteen snakes, a dozen birds and a few insects. The rats ate up most of Yang's insects. October 9. Ho and Yang have gone to Kua[[strikethrough]]i[[/strikethrough]]^[[n]] Shien to look over the grounds and to make plans for future work. October 14. The carpenters have been making boxes to contain specimens. I expect to mail some specimens soon. I wrote to Dr. Crook at Yachow, requesting him to forward the Smithsonian specimens to me. [[written in left margin^[[Frank]]]] October 25. Three armies are entrenched in Chengtu. Numbers of soldiers are quartered in temples, in inns and in private homes. Laborers are being commandeered to work for the armies and other Chinese to become soldiers. War has been expected at any time and last Saturday fighting actually broke out on one of the streets. Mr. [[underlined]]Franels[[/underlined]], a foreigner, had a number of bullets hit his home. Panic spread all over the city. Today all the shops are closed as a protest against the disturbing of the peace by the armies. It is hardly safe for a foreigner to move about in Chengtu and less so for Chinese. I am having Ho and Yang remain here in my house for safety until conditions improve. Meanwhile the carpenters are making boxes. There are nine boxes of specimens to forward as soon as the conditions in the province are improved so it is safe to do so.

Smithsonian Notes David C. Graham -2- October 27. Everything is held up temporarily because of the disturbed political conditions with threatened civil war. Our men have been unable to collect for a short time, but I hope to get them busy soon. The carpenter has been making boxes. October 30. War conditions are improving and I am trying to find a way to get Ho and Yang to Kuan Shien where they can work collecting. I sent a radiogram to Shanghai, urging a friend who is coming to Chengtu to bring the ammunition with him. November 2. I have managed to get a passport for Yang and Ho to go to Kuan Shien to collect. I spent the evening preparing for their trip, giving out traps, reckoning accounts, etc. [[check mark in left margin]] November 3. Box 1 contains snakes $2.00 " 2 " " [[ditto marks for "Box" and "contains snakes"]] 2.00 " 3 " " [[ditto marks for "Box" and "contains snakes"]] 2.00 " 4 " " [[ditto marks for "Box" and "contains snakes"]] 2.00 " 5 " [[ditto marks for "Box" and "contains"]] 2 animal skins 2.00 " 6 " [[ditto marks for "Box" and "contains"]] 2 monkey skins, 1 rabbit skin $5.00 " 7 " [[ditto marks for "Box" and "contains"]] 1 tsu tsi skin, 1 skull (pig) 5.00 " 8 " [[ditto marks for "Box" and "contains"]] 1 coon skin, 1 skull of boar 5.00 " 9 " [[ditto marks for "Box" and "contains"]] 18 common birds, 1 baby leopard skin $6.00 " 10 " [[ditto marks for "Box" and "contains"]] wild boar skin $6.00 " 11 " " " "[[ditto marks for "Box" and "contains wild boar skin"]] $8.00 Today we packed these and labeled them, or addressed them for Shanghai. I called men to carry Yang's and Ho's loads to Kuan Shien, but they arrived so late that the collectors will have to start tomorrow morning. November 4. Ho and Yang departed. Nov. 17-19. There had been civil war in Chengtu with heavy cannonading and machine gun and rifle firing. One side is slightly victorious but the other side is still entrenched in the city. It is nearly impossible to get into or out of the city. We are glad we are out. Today a scout aeroplane flew over the city several times, then departed. One foreigner's home has been looted and some other foreigners have moved out here on the University Campus. I did not dare let the collectors take a shotgun, for they would have gotten into trouble. They are trapping. ^[[shien]] [[check mark in left margin]] Dec. 14-1932. Yang and Ho got back last night. They have collected just beyond Kuan [[underlined]]Shein[[/underlined]]. Having no guns they have only secured a few birds and over 100 mountain rats, moles, etc. The mammals of this collection are numbered from 1010 to 1117. The collectors did only fair work and I have had to remind them of many of the fine points to observe to make the specimens neater - points they have learnt and unlearnt several times. They seem to have two or three species of moles. We spent the evening labeling and wrapping specimens. [[check mark in left margin]] Dec. 15, 1932. I spent several hours with Ho and Yang labeling specimens. All but seven or eight of the mammals have skeletons corresponding with them. There are a total of 108 small mammals in this collection, and a few birds.

Smithsonian Notes David C. Graham -3- The collectors were handicapped because they had no shotgun. When they are so armed they will be able to get a much larger collection in the same length of time. We have wrapped all the above mentioned specimens in five boxes, excepting a few that are two long. We will make two longer boxes to contain these. Dec. 16. Reckoned accounts with Yang and Ho. They have secured some fish that look interesting - several small bottles. [[check mark in left margin]] Dec. 19. Packed and wrapped boxes for shipping. Box 12, 50 rat skeletons, value $6.00 (nominal) Box 13 -35 rat skins, value $6.00 Box 15 50 rat skeletons, value $6.00 Box 16 rat skins (3 bird) value $6.00 I reckoned with Ho and Yang. There was a years wages due Yang at six dollars Mexican a month, and I reckoned wages, travel expenses, etc., to Jan. 1, 1932. Dec. 31, 1932. Ho and Yang are going to Suifu to pass the New Year holidays, after which they will return and get to work. I reckoned and paid all accounts to date. They cannot go down the rivers because the armies of two different generals are along the rivers and there are also plenty of brigands. They are taking a round-about route overland through Tsilintsing. ^[[u]] [[located underneath the "n" of Tsilintsing]] A few days ago I severely strained a muscle in my leg and have been laid up in bed but expect to get up tomorrow. The post office will not accept parcels for downstream, so we cannot forward the specimens until peace again prevails in Szechuan. Jan. 26. ^[[1933]] Packed Box 17 - one rat, three birds, value $6.00 Box 18 - contents fish from Kuanshien Szechuan, China Altitude about 2000 to 3000 feet. I went to the city post office and interviewed the Postal Commissioner about sending specimens. He will cooperate and help all he can. Jan. 28. I finished labeling the boxes and writing out customs declar ations. I expect to mail this lot soon. A letter came from Dr. Crook at Yacho[[strikethrough]]m[[/strikethrough]]^[[w]] saying that on account of the Civil War it has been impossible to send the specimens to Chengtu, and that they are probably in good condition. It looks as though civil war is now over and that specimens can be collected and forwarded all right. [[check mark in left margin]] Feb. 25. On February 12, mailed 17 boxes of specimens to the Smithsonian Institution. Later I sent a large box of wild boar skin and bones by a friend to Shanghai. I have bought white cloth and have been making raincoats for the collectors, for they will be needed next summer. Yesterday I bought two white panda skins. One is in good condition and has nearly all the skeleton. The other was badly cut up in killing but I bought it. I am in touch with a hunting group that may bring me lots of wild animals in the

Smithsonian Notes David C. Graham -4- future. I had a long talk with the leader today. Ho and Yang are due soon. A friend has agreed to take my specimens to Shanghai and turn them over to the American Express Company. Feb. 28. I went out with a student to teach him to net. His name is Pen, and he wants to collect for me regularly. March 3. Pen netted but got only some "grand-daddy long legs." I telegraphed to Chingtsin for three kerosene lanterns and two gasolene lanterns. I expect to push the collection from this time with vigor. March 6. I have begun training a new netter, Mr. Yao. Today it was cold and we caught almost no insects. I have had six tin insect or cyanide cans made for future use. Glass bottles are expensive and will break. March 7. The netter has caught a fine lot of small diptera. March 8. Today Yao got very little and I gave him some more instructions and jacked him up. March 11. The coolie Yao is collecting daily but has not learnt the trick well yet. The student Pen collected this afternoon and did well. Another student, San, collected water insects. He got mostly shrimp and only worked about an hour or two. Ho and Yang have not appeared yet, although they are now overdue. I am writing to Suifu about them. [[check mark in left margin]] March 12. I am numbering the white panda skeleton and skin 1118, and the skin without a skeleton 1119. I am calling carpenters to fix boxes in which to ship them to Shanghai. I am numbering a box of insects, Box 19. [[check mark in left margin]] March 16. Filled Box 20 with the two panda skins and Box 17 with the panda skeleton. I will send these to a friend who goes down the river about May 1st. The netter got a large number of small insects today. March 18. I have had two netters working today. They got a lot of insects but not a large variety. Mar. [[strikethrough]]8[[/strikethrough]]^[[6]], 1933. Yang Fang Tsang and Ho, the skinners, are back. Yang had a son born and he died just before he was to start to Chengtu. Dr. Crook writes from [[strikethrough]]Chengtu[[/strikethrough]]^[[Yachow]] that he is forwarding all the skins, etc., he has for me. Mar. 27, 1933. A cold, rainy day. The netter got little. I spent considerable time today getting passports for Yang and Ho for their trip collecting west of Kuanshien. I spent the whole evening getting their outfit ready and reckoning accounts. Mar. 28. Ho and Yang have started on their collecting trip. This morning I went and interviewed Gen. Den Shih Ho and secured a passport for Ho and Yang, so their gun and ammunition would not be taken away from them. Today was rather cold so the netting was poor. [[check mark in left margin]] Mar. 31. I bought a young black bear and have had him skinned. I am preserving the complete skeleton, Mammal 1120. The skinner made the mistake of cutting the gristle out of the ears.

Smithsonian Notes David C. Graham -5- April 1. A fair catch of insects. Carpenters have been making boxes three days for insects. etc. [[check mark in left margin]] April 2. This morning I went into the city and secured the specimens from Yachow. They were not cared for in a first-class way, but are valuable, especially the panda skin. There is a brown panda and some other mammals and birds. One is a large antelope or something of the like. [[check mark in left margin]] Mammal 1121, red panda. " [[ditto marks for "Mammal"]] 1122 Badger (?) with skeleton, June 8, 1931. Mupin, 4000 ft. altitu " [[ditto marks for "Mammal"]] 1123 Musk deer. Mupon, alt. 3000 ft. 1124 Mupin Aug. 2, 31, Alt. 5000 ft 1125 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] July 18, 31, alt. 5000 ft. 1126 Mammal from near Lulin, 1932 1127 White Panda from Mupin, alt. 7000 ft. ^[[March 28, 1931]] 1128 Large animal, deerlike, Mupin. 1129 Weasel, Mupin, March 20, 1931, Alt. 4000 ft. 1130 Feb. 17, 1931, Alt. 4000 ft., Mupin 1131 Sept. 12, 31, 7000 ft. Mupin. 1132 Mupin, July 10, 1931, 7000 ft. Mouse 1133 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Mar. 3,31 1134 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] July 5, 31 1135 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Sept. 21, 31 1136 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] 1137 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Mar. 21, 31 1138 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] 1931 1139 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Aug. 5, 1931 1140 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] June 6, 1931, 7000 ft. 1141 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] April 13, 1931 1142 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Sept. 5, 1931 1143 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] June 10, 1931, 7000 ft. 1144 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]]Mar.[[strikethrough]]June[[/strikethrough]] 15, 1931 7000 ft. 1145 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Apr. 13, 1931 1146 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Sept. 5, 1931 1147 " " 10 "[[ditto marks for "Mupin Sept." and "1931"]] 7000 ft. 1148 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Aug. 4, 1931 1149 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] July 15, 1931 1150 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Aug. 6, 1931 1151 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Sept. 10, 1931 1152 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Sept. 6, 1931 1153 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Sept. 8, 1931 1154 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Sept. 9, 1931 W.O. Skeleton 1155 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Aug. 31. 1931 1156 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] 1931 1157 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Sept. 21, 1931 1158 " "[[ditto marks for "Mupin Sept."]] 6, 1931 1159 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] July 6, 1931 1160 " "[[ditto marks for "Mupin July"]] 9, 1931 1161 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Aug. 7, 1931. 1162 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] July 19, 1931. 1163 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] May 20, 1931 7000 ft. 1164 " "[[ditto marks for "Mupin May"]] 16, 1931 1165 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Mar. 16, 1931

Smithsonian Notes David C. Graham -6- Mammal 1166 Mupin Aug. 5, 1931 1167 " [[ditto marks for "Mupin"]] Jan.19, " [[ditto marks for "1931"]] Squirrel. [[Two red "x"s in left margin. Red checkmarks over box numbers 19, 22 and 23 in text.]] We have labeled and wrapped all the mammals as enumerated above. They have been poorly skinned and wrapped. Box 19 is insects captured in Chengtu, Nov. 20, 1932 to March. 20, 1933. Box 20 has panda skins. Box 21 has mammal bones including the panda. Box 22 has insects caught in Chengtu, Mar. 22, 1931. Box 23 has insects caught in Chengtu Mar. 1931 to 1932. Box 24 has five mammal skins. Box 25 has animal bones. Box 26 has animal bones of the black bear recently purchased. Box 27 has four bottles of snakes, salamanders, etc. [[four red "x"s in left margin]] Mar. 8. Filled box 28 with mountain rat skins and one pheasant from Mupin. Box 29 has the bones of the white panda, etc. Box 30 Bones of the large antelope and small mammals. Box 31, Skin of large antelope. Box 32, Skin of white panda. The boys got many long legged grand-daddies but little else. I had carpenters making boxes, filled and labeled several boxes of specimens. [[red check marks over box numbers 33 and 34 in text]] April 11. Filled Box 33, has a foot of the white panda in Box 32 and also some bottled insects. Box 34, insects from Chengtu, Altitude 1700 ft, April 7-10,1933. Today I took on a new collector of insects, etc., Mr. Li. [[red check marks over box numbers 35 and 36 in text]] April 14. I today made arrangements for a collector to go to [[underlined]]Yuman[[/underlined]]^[[Yunnan]] Province next summer, collecting snakes, insects, etc. Filled box 35, insects, Chengtu, alt. 1700 ft., and Box 36, Ratskins and 12 bird skins, 1 pheasant, 2 blackbirds, 9 sparrows. April 15. Cloudy and threatening rain. We are getting a great many grand-daddy long legs. At first there were many young ones but now large ones are monopolizing the field. April 19. The netters have been working every day with varying success. I am getting ready for a ten day trip downstream in which I can train my men better. Ho and Yang should not get back until about the end of my trip. The netters are working both day time and night time. April 24. During the past few days we have had little success securing insects. April 21. The boat started down river yesterday and we took rickshas to Tsong Shiu Tsang, where we got on the boat and went on to Fu Jia Ba. I have had poor success with night lanterns. Thousands of tiny gnats came but no moths. April 22. [[check mark in left margin]] May 2. Our trip to the country brought very little results. The two collectors have been working daily, filling a number of boxes. The carpenter Wang came from Mupin, saying he had brought a white panda to Y[[strikethrough]]u[[/strikethrough]]^[[a]]cho[[strikethrough]]n[[/strikethrough]]^[[w]] for me. I sent him back to Mupin to collect large mammals, snakes, lizards and frogs. My two young netters have been working night and day. I have been sick with influenza several days and am beginning to recover.

Smithsonian Notes David C. Graham -7- [[red check marks over box numbers 37 and 38 in text]] May 11. I have been sick in bed with influenza and am still so weak that I have to take things very carefully and easily. Labeled Box 37 and 38, insects gathered about May 1st at Chengtu, Szechuan, China, altitude about 1700 feet. [[red check mark over box number 39 in text]] May 14. The Military are commandeering coolies so much that most of the farmers nearby have been carried away and the spring crops are going to waste. I have had to prevent the netters, Li and Yao from leaving the compound. They have succeeded in catching night moths. The moon is disappearing and night moth catching is improving daily. Filled another box of insects, No. 39, May 10-14, Chengtu, altitude 1700 feet. [[red check mark over box number 40 in text]] May 22. Civil war still continues and our collectors have not dared to leave our yard during daytime but are catching night moths on our back porch by means of the electric light. Filled insect box No. 40, May 15-22, alt. 1700 ft. May 25. Yesterday and today I have mailed about a dozen boxes of specimens to Shanghai to be forwarded to the Smithsonian Institution. War conditions still prevail at Chengtu and our collectors cannot go about by day. They are in danger of being forced to join the army. They collect night moths. June 1. The father of the netter Yao has died and he has gone home for ten days. Li is getting lots of night moths. I recently bought a black bear skin, Mammal 1168. [[red check marks over box number 41-45 in text]] June 6. Filled Boxes 41-45, all of insects caught at Chengtu, altitude about 1700 ft. and wrapped them for shipping. Secured Mammal No. 1169, a common house rat, gray in color. I skinned this to teach a scientific student how to do it. June 16. The skin of the small black bear I bought and killed some time ago has almost been eaten up by vermin. I find also that the same vermin are on the black bear skin I bought recently. I'll have to open all the boxes and look over the skins and try every way to prevent the skins reaching the Smithsonian Institution in a useless condition. Probably the only hope is to use lots of arsenic. Mammal No. 1169 is a common house rat secured at Chengtu, Szechuan, China. Mammals No. 1170-71 were secured by [[strikethrough]]Yane Tong Ghave[[/strikethrough]]^[[Yang Fong Chang]], the hunter atnTseo Jia Keo, south of Suifu, Szechuan, China on the Szechuan Youman Border. The collectors Ho and Yang are shut up by the military operations beyond Kuanshien and cannot get out. There is a rumor that there is war between Chinese and Tibetans beyond Tats[[strikethrough]]eenbo[[/strikethrough]]^[[ienlu]]. Box No. 46, insects collected between June 8 and 13, alt. 1700 ft. [[five red stars in left margin]] June 19. Filled Box 47, Insects. Box 47 insects collected June 1-20,1933, altitude 1700 ft. Box 48, animal skins, value $10.00 " 49 " " " [[ditto marks for "Box" and "animal skins, value"]] 6.00 " [[ditto mark for "Box"]] 50 black bear skin " [[ditto mark for "value"]] 45.00 market value $30.00 Today I fired one of the collectors who constantly plays possum instead of working. I found vermin very thick in the big black bear skin and put a lot of arsenic in the skin. I packed some more specimens.

Smithsonian Notes David C. Graham -8- June 23. Today I received letter from Yang and Ho wanting me to get them out. I don't know any way to do it. [[red "x" in left margin]] Box 51 is insects, filled June 15-21, Alt. 1700 ft. Chengtu. June 28. There is now Civil War near Kiating. The road directly to Yachow is very unsafe. Travel to Kuanshien is impossible because there is civil war there. I am now training three new netters and collectors. I am training two to skin birds and mammals and they are doing pretty well on the mammals but weak so far on the birds. There is no doubt as to the advisability of my going to Tatsien[[strikethrough]]bu[[/strikethrough]]^[[lu]]. [[Two red "x"s in left margin]] June 30. Filled two new boxes of insects Box No. 52, June 25, Insects Box 53-54 June 30 " [[ditto mark for "Insects"]] All at Chengtu, Alt. 1700 ft. Civil war is going on all around us so that it is not safe to travel in any direction. I have sent a Chinese teacher to Kuanshien to try to get Yang and Ho out. I am training two new collectors for skinning birds and mammals, Mr. San of Suifu and Mr. Ho, a student of the West China Union University. I am also training a new netter instead of Li. July 3. The messenger sent to bring the two collectors, Yang and Ho, out from Kuanshien has returned without them. Robbers stole his best clothing. Filled Box No. 55, insects July 1-3, alt. 1700 ft. July 4. The netters couldn't leave our house because the soldiers are commandeering laborers for coolies and forcing others to join the army. We are getting good catches of night moths. I am daily training two students, Mr. San and Mr. Pen, to skin mammals and birds. There is fighting around Kiating and elsewhere but the road to Tatsien[[strikethrough]]bo]]^[[lu]] is open. [[red "x" in margin]] July 5. Filled boxes 56-57, insects captured at Chengtu, July 3-4, 1933, alt. 1700 feet. Civil war is certain in many parts of Szechuan. However, I am hoping to get to Tatsien[[strikethrough]]bo[[/strikethrough]]^[[lu]], starting within a few days. I hope to send one man into Yunnan Province to collect reptiles, beetles, etc. Three men are collecting in the [[strikethrough]]Chingtsing[[/strikethrough]]^[[Chungking]] District. Two men are collecting near Kuanshien and I hope to get to Tatsien[[strikethrough]]b[[/strikethrough]]^[[l]]u. July 10. I am definitely giving up the idea of going to Tatsien[[strikethrough]]b[[/strikethrough]]^[[l]]u, partly because the money available this year is less than in previous years and partly because the roads to Tatsienbu are not safe. I hope to get off to Kuanshien within a few days. We are having fair results at night, moth catching. Every day I am training the new collectors, hoping they will reach a high state of efficiency. [[red "x" in left margin]] July 11.Today I had two men practicing on skinning birds and mammals and they and two others on insects. We got a fair catch of insects. I went into the city to investigate the possibility of getting by a round-about route into Kuanshien and on into the high mountains. There is a possibility that may work out all right. Filled box of insects No. 58, July 8-11, Chengtu.

Smithsonian Notes David C. Graham -9- [[red star in margin]] Box 59, bottled insects, same place and locality. July 12. Today I went across the city to the North Gate and on several miles to the headquarters of General Den, who controls the district beyond Kuanshien where I want to collect. I got the permission to go by a round-about way and the official document necessary. I then went to see Mr. ^[[T]][[underlined]]L[[/underlined]]orrance, who is familiar with that reion, but he was not at home. I gave the collectors lessons about how to handle gasolene lanterns for night collecting. Tonight all four whom I am training are working with the night lanterns and although the stars are out they are getting a good catch. [[strikethrough]]Tod[[/strikethrough]] Today I mailed eight boxes of specimens, all insects. One contained bottled insects and the rest dried and wrapped insects. July 13. Spent the day packing or securing the proper passports. I still have one or two more to secure. The netters secured a fair lot of moths today. [[penciled star in margin]] July 15. I have been exceedingly busy packing for the collecting trip to Mowchow, Tsagulow, etc., west of here. I expect to get off Monday, July 17. I have five different Chinese passports and expect to get one more. Filled Box No. 60, insects, July 13-15, 1933, at Chengtu, Szechuan, China.