China disheartened could need but little persuasion to accede to the just demand of England that the frontier of Burma shall be the true south-western frontier of China--the Salween River.
There are no Chinese in the valley, nor would any Chinaman venture to cross it after nightfall.

The reason of its unhealthiness is not apparent, except in the explanation of Baber, that "border regions, 'debatable grounds,' are notoriously the birthplace of myths and marvels." There can be little doubt that the deadliness of the valley is a tradition rather than a reality.
By flights of stone steps we descended to the river, where at the bridge-landing, we were arrested by a sight that could not be seen without emotion.

A prisoner, chained by the hands and feet and cooped in a wooden cage, was being carried by four bearers to Yungchang to execution.

He was not more than twenty-one years of age, was well-dressed, and evidently of a rank in life from which are recruited few of the criminals of China.

Yet his crime could not have been much graver.