In this weapon the spring of the trigger was broken so that it could not be pulled; if it had been in order, there was no cap for the hammer to strike; if there had been a cap, it would have been of no use because the pinhole was rusted; even if the pinhole had been open, the rifle would still have been ineffective because it was not loaded, for the very good reason that the soldier had not been provided with powder, or, if he had, he had been compelled to sell it in order to purchase the rice which the Emperor, "whose rice he ate," had neglected to send him.
An early start in the morning and we descended quickly to the River Shweli.
[Illustration: THE RIVER SHWELI AND ITS SUSPENSION BRIDGE.] The Salween River is at an elevation of 2600 feet.

Forty-five li further the road reaches at Fengshui-ling a height of 8730, from which point, in thirty-five li, it dips again to the River Shweli, 4400 feet above sea level.

There was the usual suspension bridge at the river, and the inevitable likin-barrier.

For the first time the Customs officials seemed inclined to delay me.

I was on foot, and separated from my men by half the height of the hill.