to prevent measures against robbers who formerly were numerous here & hidden in the forest. By cutting off the trees no cover for the bandits was left, this sound like an excuse but it is a new case of deforestation for Australian minds. (31) During the night there was beating of drums at Shik-tien near on temple where a dragon parade was in progress. The road left the valley within a mile of the town & wound up the steep side of a mountain over one of the slippery stone faced tributaries of Ching. The country was rolling & pine clad for the next 10 miles & then descend into a narrow valley with planted rice fields, the sun now in our direction & its rays were reflected by the flooded fields directly in our face so as to affect our sight. Water is everywhere on both sides