that malaria is very prevalent and this scourage accounts for the absence of population and cultivation. During the building of the R.R. great numbers of coolies died of malaria from Sookay up to the head of the forest country. The malaria is a very malignant sort (I believe) people within a day. It is doubtless some sort of black- water variety. The train left the Sookay station at 6:10 & then stopped across the River in Chinese territory for one hour for customs inspection. The road follows the Namti River the whole way. This stream is smaller than the Red River & rocky from the Navigable. The valley is very narrow and the deep ganters rising 300-500 feet above. Rock formation limestone, which of the many cliffs, hill without much forest growth, chiefly but grass covered to summits. At Changang station