Arnold Arboretum Horticultural Library: Botanical Exploration Papers

[? Terms] 1. Salary £750 a year and all expenses paid to commence from date of leaving England. 2. First class free from and to England. In event of my death under one year from signing agreement the year's salary in full to be paid to my wife or her assigne. After one year two years salary in full to be paid as above.

Estimated cost of trip One year in Central China £400 = $2,000 One year in Western China £500 = $2,500 London to Ichang and return £200 = $1,000 Salary @ £750 a year for two years £150 0 = $7,500

E H W N.B. The difference between the [?] and [?] total is about £100. The [?] would have my extraordinary expenses incurred and also freight

Cash Chair Coolie adv [4000] 3|4|07 Boy adv. [5000] 5|4|- Chair Coolie adv [6000] 6|4|- Jack adv 1000 6|4|- Hidstzi adv - 1000 6|4|- Boy adv. [3000] 6|4|- Zappey's Boy Cook odv [2000] 6/4/- Chair [?] [?] adv [1000] 6/4/- Ta Wan [3000] 11/4/07

Boxes 29" 27'

April 2nd 1907.

Cross the Yangtze to An An Miao arriving at 11 o'clock. Journeying alone at even pace we reach Shih Tou Ya at 7 p.m. The day has been gloriously fine without a cloud in the sky. The sun was very hot — The Thermometer is attached Box in my Chair registered 87°. In the shade is was 74° at 3 p.m. Our Caravan consists of men with two Boys - [?] [?] 10 [?] Coolies Camping coolies Collector & Zappey's two hind- men. The journey [by?] through a rather broad, fertile & very picturesque valley, bounded on either side by hills which [increase?] in height as we proceed. A broad shallow

stream flows through the valley & at times makes detours to the right & left. The crops on the side of the river are more luxuriant than in the immediate neighborhood of Ichang. They consist principally of Branded wheat, Broad Beans, Peas, Rape & a little Opium. The road is good with steady rise from the 1st forty li Afterwards & especially towards the finish the ascent is rather irksome. The rocks are principally sedimentary conglomerate & sandstone.

Vegetation is sprouting rapidly & many trees & shrubs are in young leaf & some in flower. Daphne [f?] 1-3 ft high [?] cylindrical [?] of mauve purple fls. are the

Aug. 12th Reach Ch??? 3 p.m.

W IV 9:6 1909 Diary May 3. 1909-June 10 1909

W IV 8:9

1

39611 April 14, 1931

Wilson, Ernest Henry.

#Numerical list of seeds (No.1 - 1474, 4000 - 4462), colelcted on his Arnold arboretum expedition to eastern Asia, 1907-190809, 1910, which were planted in teh arboretum nurseries.

1000 250 550 -----1500

4200 1800 -----2400

June 4th. The wind-storm of last night appears to have broken the great heat and this morning it is fairly [cooling?]. My concern consists of carrier [men?] for various work Boy and two man chair for him and a three-man for myself. The main carriers left at 8:30 a.m. and I followed at 10 am.

We take the [?] route via San Yung Tung Glen in consequence of the main road being congested with railway Coolies for several days journey. My own one was not propitious. I sent on the chairs and had ridden not more than a hundred yards when one of the poles snapped! This occassioned an hour delay but occurring when it did we were able to buy a new pole.

It was one o'clock when I reached the mouth of San Yung Tung & found the [caravan?] & [Tiffin?] arriving [?]. It was very warm in the afternoon and we only did a further 15li to Sha-lao-che, making 35 li in all.

The little hamlet [consists?] in [four?] [scattered?] [houses?] and we [?] ourselves in the longest which is also a wine distillery & the smell of stale [?] is very strong.

The journey up San-Yung-Tung Glen is very interesting and much of the scenery is [wild?] and [?] The continual [cutting?] & [?] of the [?] is tedious and all of us were tired as the lodgings were reached.

All of us are 'soft' as yet & in no condition for long stages.

[?] [?] was in principle but otherwise very little blossoms were to be seen.