However, after reaching an altitude of over 10,000 feet
progress was stopped by the limestone precipices which
crowned the ridge, and finding deep snow still lying in the
corries, and no sign of spring as yet, we returned to the
warmth of the valley.
On the downward journey we came across some
pheasant springes of a kind seen in many parts of the
world — a running noose attached to a bent bamboo held
down by a catch, which on being released at once flies up
and suspends the struggling bird in the air.
Next day, our last by the Kin-sha, we went on to
Chi-tien, a semi-Tibetan village of no importance, passing
through groves of Chionanthus trees in full bloom, a
glorious sight. They seem fond of the rockiest places
down by the river side, and are often to be seen hanging
far out over the water.
For the last three days we had been passing a good
deal of opium poppy — not solid fields of it such as I had
seen in one or two places between T'eng-yueh and Tali,
even on the main road, but scattered plants occurring
amongst fields of white and mauve peas, which served
admirably to mask their presence, and there can be little
doubt that these poppies were deliberately sown amongst
the peas so that seed might be kept against better times.
