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Through Shenkan

THE ACCOUNT OF THE CLARK EXPEDITION
IN NORTH CHINA.

1908-9.

By

ROBERT STERLING CLARK

and

ARTHUR de C. SOWERBY

Edited by Major C. H. Chepmell

T. FISHER UNWIN
LONDON: ADELPHI TERRACE
LEI P SIC: INSELSTRASSE 20
1912

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

INTRODUCTION.

TTHIS book is issued in the hope that it may be of some interest to the
general pubHc, at a time when China is once again fixing the attention
of all Western peoples.

In its compilation an attempt has been made to carry the imagination of
the general reader — by pen, brush, and film — into the very heart of the
Celestial Empire ; and further, to set down with accuracy, and in as com-
prehensive a way as possible, such facts and figures as may form a solid basis
for the future explorer in North China.

Including preparations, the expedition, in the course of which these facts
and figures were obtained, extended over a period of eighteen months. During
this time about two thousand miles of road were traversed. The names of
convenient halting-places are, of course, mentioned as we reach them in the
narrative, but complete itineraries for the use of future travellers in these
regions are given in Appendix I., together with a table containing the
latitudes and longitudes of all those places, whose positions were determined
by observation. We venture to think that future explorers may rely safely on
these figures, as very great pains have been taken to ensure their accuracy,
and much of the route having been traversed twice, ample opportunity was
afforded for checking results. It should perhaps be pointed out that figures
given in the text are usually in round numbers, greater exactitude being
reserved for the Appendices.

The large Map (scale 1/1,000,000), which accompanies the book (in a
pocket at the end), has been compiled from the plane-table survey made on
the expedition by an expert. The original survey was on the scale of four
miles to the inch, and the work was checked by astronomical observations,
taken at intervals of not more than one hundred miles, along the line of
march. A short description of the means and methods employed to ensure
accuracy, together with a slight sketch of similar work previously done in
the locality, will be found in Chap. XIV. For the general reader, a birds-
eye map is given showing the more important points along the route.

(i)

331414

Special attention has been devoted to tlie Zoological work of the
expedition, in which connection some very interesting discoveries were made.
Detailed scientific papers on the Mammals and Insects collected have been
embodied in Appendices (II. — V.) ; but as the collections of Birds and Cold-
Blooded Vertebrates contain no new species, scientific descriptions are not
necessary, though the reader will find Chapters dealing in a more or less
popular way with both these branches of Biology, as well as a review of the
whole Biological work.

The Meteorological observations will be found in tabulated form
(App. VI.), interesting points concerning the climatic conditions of the
country being detailed in Chapter XV. An attempt, too, has been made to
give a general sketch of the Geology of the country passed through.

The photographs and coloured plates which illustrate the book, have been
chosen with a view to presenting different types of natives, geological
formations, scenery, and other matters of general interest. It is unfortunate
that, owing to the necessity for a distribution of the plates throughout the
volume, these cannot always fall at — or even near — the mention of them in
the text ; but, as far as possible, references are given where they illustrate
places visited or explain points raised, as, for example, in the Chapters on
Natural History and Geology.

We take this opportunity of acknowledging our debt of gratitude to the
British War Office for lending the services of Captain H. E. M. Douglas,
V.C., D.S.O., R.A.M.C. ; and to the Survey of India for those of Hazrat Ali,
our surveyor, whose sad death in the performance of his duty is so deeply
regretted by every member of the expedition.

Out best thanks are also due to the Hon. N. Charles Rothschild, M.A.,
F.L.S., for the paper on Siphonaptera ; to Mr. H. R. Hogg, M.A., F.Z.S., for
his contribution on Araneidae ; to the members of the British Museum Staif,
who kindly examined and classified the specimens belonging to the orders of
Invertebrates contained in the collection ; to Mr. Gerrit S. Miller, of the
Smithsonian Institution, for his description of five new species in the collection
of Mammals ; and to the Rev. Frank Madeley for his assistance in connection
with the history of the moundsand monuments examined round about Hsi-an Fu.

Major L. D. Fraser, Royal Artillery, afforded invaluable assistance in
undertaking the preparation of the Map, in correcting the spelling of Chinese

(ii)

place-names, and in so many other ways — not only in the production of the
book, but also in the original arrangement and fitting-out of the expedition — that
it is impossible to over-estimate our obligation to his kindness.

Owing to the circumstances under which a great part of the manuscript
was produced, it stood in need of considerable revision and compilation, and in
the absence of both authors from England, Major C. H. Chepmell, late R.A.,
kindly undertook these duties, and has carried out a difficult task with
painstaking skill. Expert assistance was obtained where special knowledge
was required; and our best thanks are due to Mr. R. I. Pocock, F.R.S.,
Professor J. Logan Lobley, F.G.S., FR.G.S,, and Mr. R. Corless, M.A.,
F.R.Met.Soc, for consenting to revise our proofs dealing with Natural
History, Geology, and Meteorology respectively.

ROBERT STERLING CLARK.
ARTHUR DE C. SOWERBY.
August, 1912. ^

(iii)

CONTENTS

PAGE

Chapter I. — Inception, Aim, and Outfitting of the Expedition . . . . i

,, II. — Narrative of March to the Yellow River . . . . . . 6

,, III. — Passage of THE Yellow River — ^March to Yu-lin Fu . . .. i6

IV. — March to Yen -an Fu — ^Winter Quarters . . . . . . 24

V. — Clark and Sowerby's Narrative of Journey to Hsi-an Fu . . 34

„ VI. — Description of Hsi-an Fu — Clark and Sowerby's Journey to

Lan-chou Fu . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

„ VII. — March of Douglas and Grant to Lan-chou — Description of

Lan-chou Fu . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

,, VIII. — ^Murder of Hazrat Ali . . . . . . . . . . 63

,, IX. — Return March of Grant and Sowerby from Lan-chou to

T'ai-yuan . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

„ X. — Biological Work — by A. de C. Sowerby . . . . . . 79

XI. — Birds of North China — by A. de C. Sowerby . . . . 96

„ XII. — Reptiles, Batrachians and Fishes — by A. de C. Sowerby . . 109

„ XIII. — Geological Notes — by A. de C. Sowerby .. ,, .. 115

„ XIV. — Survey Work of the Expedition — by R. S. Clark . . . . 130

,, XV. — Meteorological Report — by A. de C. Sowerby . . . . 135

Appendix I. (a). — Itineraries .. .. .. .. .. .. 155

„ I. (b). — Table of Latitudes and Longitudes .. .. .. 170

II. — ^Mammals Collected in Shansi, Shensi and Kansu — by A. de

C. Sowerby . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

III. — Invertebrates Collected on the Expedition — by A. de C.

Sowerby . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

„ IV. — Description of three New Species of Siphonaptera, — by the

Hon. N. Charles Rothschild, M.A., F.L.S. . . , . 194

V. — Araneidae of the Clark Expedition to Northern China —

(Diagrams p. 218) — by H. R. Hogg, M.A., F.Z.S. . . 204

, VI. — Diary of Meteorological Observations . . . . . . 219

COLOURED PLATES.

FACING PAGE

The Fort, near Yii-lin Fu, Ordos Border . . . . 20

Cave Inn, near Yen-an Fu . . . . . . . . 36

The Yellow River, near K'ang-chia-t'a, Shansi 76

Brown Snake and Toad-headed Lizard
Sunset on the Ordos Border
In the T'sing-ling Shan

I'ACING PAGE.

no

130
134

PLATES.

I . — Hazrat Ali

2. — Native Hunters, T'ai-yiian-Fu, Shansi. .

3. — Camp at Chao-chuang, T'ai-yiian Plain.

Washing Sheep
4. — Chin-ssQ Miao Pagoda, near T'ai-yiian

Fu, Shansi . .
5. — View from Summit of Mo-erh Shan,

Shansi
6. — Threshing Floor, Shansi
7. — Ch'eng-wu Miao (Temple), Ch'ing-ting

Shan, Shansi
8. — Washing Clothes. Shansi Tjrpe
9. — The Yellow River at Huang-ho-yiieh . .
10. — Sand Dunes, east of Yii-Un Fu, Shensi
II. — Pi Jung-pei, Head of the Police, Yii-lin

Fu, Shensi . .
12. — Chinese Lady
13. — Towers of the Great Wall, north of

Yii-lin Fu, Shensi . .
14. — View of the Great Wall, showing

encroaching sands . .
15. — Epitaphs in Sandstone Outcrop, near

Yii-lin Fu, North Shensi . .
16. — Horse Fair, outside South Gate, Yii-lin

Fu, Shensi . .
1 7- — The Sandstone Strata near Ch'ing-chien

Hsien, Shensi, in winter . .
18. — Cave Temple (Sung Dynasty) at Yen-an

Fu, Shansi . .
19.— Representation of Buddhist Hell, in the
Lung-wang Miao, at Yen-an Fu,
Shensi
20. — " Goddess of Mercy " in the Cave

Temple atYen-an Fu, Shensi
20A. — Cormorant Fishing on the Wei Ho,

Shensi
21,— Robert S. Clark (left) and Arthur de
C. Sowerby (right) with Christmas
Day's Bag of Pheasants . .
22. — Loess Canon and Plateaux, south of

Fu-chou
23, — Sowerby and his First Bustard

12

14
16
18

22
24

26

28

30

32

€4

38

40
42
42

44

46
48

Plate 24. — Gateway marking Boundary between

the Provinces of Shensi and Honan 50

,, 25. — Roadside Scene, Honan . . .. .. 52

26. — -Rubbing from Tablet in the Pei Ling

(Monument Grove), Hsi-an Fu . , 54

„ 27. — Camel Inn at Ta-yii-ch'eng, Shensi . . 56

28. — Hua-kuo Shan, Shensi . . . . . . 58

29. — Colossal Buddha, at Ta-fu-ssii, Shensi. . 60

,, 30. — General Ma's Avenue, Kansu . . . . 62

31. — Criminal in cage on his way to execu-
tion in Lan-chou Fu, Kansu . . . . 64

„ 32. — Temple on Loess Spur at Kan-ts'ao-

tien, near Lan-chou Fu, Kansu . . 68
„ 33. — Yellow River at Shao-shui-tzQ, near
Lan-chou Fu, Kansu. The river

here cuts through granite . . . . 70

,, 34. — Peasant Woman. Kansu Type . . 72

35. — Ssfl-ch'uan Women, settlers in Kansu. . 74

,, 36. — Peasant Woman. Kansu Type . . 78
,, 37. — Wang Tao-t'ai of Ku-yiian Chou, with

his Secretaries and Guard . . . . 80

,, 38. — Loess Valley, near Hui-ning Hsien,

Kansu . . . . . . . . 84

,, 39. — Loess Canon, Ying-t'ao-ho, Kansu . . 88

40. — Manchu Lady . . . . . . . . 90

41. — Our Military Escort from Lan-chou Fu 94
„ 42. — Exiles in Chains. Hui-ning Hsien,

Kansu . . . . . . . . 96

,, 43. — Chang-t'ai-p'u, Kansu . . . . . . 100

,, 44. — Guard House on Hsi-an to Lan-chou

Road, Kansu . . . . . . 104

,, 44A. — Peculiar Head-dress. Only worn in
the vicinity of Chen-yiian Hsien,

Kansu . . . . . . . . 104

,, 45. — Deserted Cave Village, Kansu . . . . 106

,, 46. — Isolated Column of Sandstone, Hai-

shui-ssii, Kansu and Shensi border 108

,, 47. — Wild Boar shot near Yen-an Fu . . 112
, 48. — Chipmunk. {Eutamias asiaticus sene-

scens) .. .. ,. .. 114

„ 48A. — ^Mole-rat. {Myospalax cansus) .. 114

,, 49. — Sand Hamster. {Phodopus bedfordicB) . . 120

FACING PAGE.

Plate 49A. — David's Squirrel. {Sciurotatnias david-

ianus) . . . . . . . . 120

,, 50. — Three-toed Jerboa. {Dipus sowerbyi) . . 122

,, 51. — Suslik. {Citellus mongolicus) . . . . 126

„ 5 1 A. — Polecat. {Mustela larvata) . . . . 126

,, 52. — Allactaga. {Allactagamongolicalongior) 128

,, 52A. — The Pika. (Ochotona annectens) . . 128
,, 53. — Wild Pig. (Sus moupinensis) . Shot

near Yen-an Fu, Shensi . . . . 136

>> 53A. — Domastic Pig . . . . . . • . 136

54. — Mud Turtle. {Trionyx sinensis) . . 140
,, 54A. — Day's Bag near Yen-an Fu. Roedeer,

pheasants and hare . . . . 140

Plate 55. — The Summit of Mo-^rh Shan, Shansi . ,
.. 55A. — Sandstone Beds, west of the Chiao-

ch'eng Shan, Shansi
„ 56. — Loess Plateaux, east of Fu-chou, Shensi
,, 56A. — Loess showing stratification, Shansi . .
„ 57. — Valley near Chen-yiian Hsien, showing

the dip of the Sandstone beds
,, 58. — Sandstone Strata at Sui-t^ Chou,

Shensi
„ 5 8a. — Canon in Limestone Formation west

of Fen-chou Fu, Shansi . .

FACING PAGE.
144

144
148
148

MAPS.

General sketch of route followed by expedition

(Scale 1/6,000,000) . . . . Frontispiece.

Route of the Clark Expedition through Shansi,
Shensi and Kansu (Scale 1/1,000,000)

(In pocket at the end)

PLATE 1 .

CHAPTER I.

INCEPTION, AIM, AND OUTFITTING OF THE EXPEDITION.

CIX centuries have elapsed since Marco Polo returned to Europe from his long
sojourning in the unknown East. Wonderful indeed were the tales he
brought, but none surpassing his description — incredible as it seemed — of the
mighty dominions of the Grand Khan. It is related that on his death-bed the
Venetian traveller was adjured to recant his narrative. But he remained firm ;
succeeding years have steadily piled up an overwhelming weight of testimony
to his truthfulness ; and never throughout this whole period have the peoples
of the West failed to find in China a source of most lively interest and
unlimited speculation.

Nor, indeed, has this interest been of a purely abstract character, for, as
century has followed century, merchants, missionaries, explorers and scholars,
have made their way in ever-increasing numbers, to the shores and boundaries
of the Celestial Empire. They have penetrated into the interior, studied the
language, and investigated customs, classics, and folk-lore. They have written
many books, compiled maps, and brought away pictorial records on film and
canvas. Numerous Treaty Ports have been established, each with a large and
increasing European population. In many towns of the interior, schools,
colleges, and hospitals have been started under the direction of Europeans,
who, living thus amongst the Chinese, obtain ample opportunity of studying
their characteristics. Railways, too, have been opened, connecting the large
cities of the maritime provinces, as well as those of the Hinterland. With
all these facts in view, we may be tempted to wonder whether any great scope
for the explorer still remains.

And yet how little is really known. Cathay, with its paradox of barbarism
and civilisation, its teeming millions of yellow-skinned agriculturalists —
toiling to-day with implements as rude as those their forefathers wielded
two thousand years ago — its mighty rivers and mountain ranges, its rich
mineral deposits, its ancient tombs, and its relics of a bygone prosperity,
remains still a land of mystery — enigmatic, perhaps inscrutable. Who can
say that he knows the Chinese people ? What scholar has wrested from their
classics and their records all the secrets of that dim past, when war raged
without cease along the Tartar marches, and the first dynasties of the infant
Empire were emerging from the tumult and the strife ? Can we be confident
that even in the littoral and more traversed regions the flora and fauna hold

in store no new surprise for the biologist ? Can the geologist explain intricate
hill systems, or tell the formation of high mountain ranges and vast plains that
occur throughout the length and breadth of the land ?

No. All these questions must be answered in the negative. Much useful
knowledge has been brought to light by many and eminent explorers ; much
has been done, much remains to do ; and this, too, in almost every branch of
human knowledge. A reliable map is useful to the explorer ; a complete and
accurate survey indispensable to the geographer ; and yet at the present time
vast areas remain still unmapped, whilst a large proportion of the maps in use
are misleading in their detail. The naturalist needs good collections of
animals from all parts, in order that he may form a comprehensive idea of the
spread of species in Eastern Asia, and of their relationship to the creatures of
the surrounding islands. The enormous mineral resources of the country are
only now beginning to be realised in the West, and great financial schemes —
depending for their successful development on an increased knowledge of
potential markets — all tend to augment the clamour for full and trustworthy
information. And thus it came about that the expedition, of which this book
gives the account, was undertaken in the hope of rendering some service to
the Western world by increasing — be it only by a fraction — the knowledge of
China and things Chinese.

The expedition, organised and financed by Mr. Robert Sterling Clark, of
New York, should start, it was proposed, in the autum of 1908, from T'ai-yiian
Fu in Shansi, and after traversing Shen-kan {i.e., the provinces of Shensi and
Kansu), skirt the Tibetan border to Ch'6ng-tu Fu, in Ssuch'uan ; then descend-
ing the Min River to Sui-fu (Hsii-chou Fu) return to Shanghai via the Yang-
tzu. Its primary objects were, a careful plane-table survey of the whole route
followed, and astronomical observations for latitude and longitude of all
important towns visited along the line of march. In addition, it was decided
to take and record daily meteorological observations ; and photography was to
play a great part in many ways. A useful and extensive outfit of instruments
for all these branches of work was purchased in Europe, in addition to tents,
camp furniture, stores, and other equipment required for a long trip in
Palaearctic regions.

Mr. Clark, after making all preparations possible in England, proceeded
to India, and was there fortunate in securing the services of an expert native
draughtsman, kindly placed at his disposal by the Survey of India. This was
Hazrat Ali, a native of the Panjab, who, with fifteen years' experience of
survey work in the Army, and speaking seven languages (including English

PLATE 2.

and Chinese), had every qualification for the undertaking. A good Mussul-
man, he required a co-religionist to do his cooking, and in consequence a
second Panjabi, Muhammad Husein, who had been a camp follower in the
Soudan and South African wars, was also engaged. Accompanied by these
two men, Mr. Clark continued his journey to Peking, and there engaged the
services of Mr. Grant, a gentleman who had resided in China for several
years, as interpreter, and to assist in the general management of the
expedition. Mules and horses had been purchased already in Honan, and
these were sent to T'ai-yiian Fu, the city which, as stated above, was to be
the starting-point. Thither', too, the party proceeded by rail, with a following
of native servants, and the numerous boxes and panniers containing stores,
and settled down to perfect their preparations for the long journey westward,
meteorological observations being commenced on May i6th.

On May 27th a camp was made close to a small village named Chao-
chuang, situated on the plain about five miles north-west of T'ai-yiian Fu.
Here Messrs. Clark and Grant, with Hazrat Ali, Muhammad Husein, and
some of the Chinese servants, took up their quarters for the purpose of
measuring a " base line." Owing to many interruptions this work took a long
time, but eventually a base line of 2400 feet was measured twice over by
means of an invar tape ; the probable error working out to one in fifty
thousand (i in 50,000). A visit of four days duration was paid to a temple in
the hills about ten miles north-west of T'ai-yiian Fu. From a peak close to
this, angles were observed to various other peaks and stations, including both
ends of the base line in the plain, and various other points in the vicinity
were fixed. Hazrat Ali, then commenced his plane-tabling, and before very
long had mapped out a wide sweep of the country extending north-east and
north-west of T'ai-yiian Fu for a distance varying from twenty to fifty miles.
A splendid view of the surrounding country was obtained, and a good idea of
its configuration could be formed. The following description is taken from a
diary kept at the time : " Fifteen hundred feet below, the valley of the F6n Ho,
now covered with bright green rice-fields and the golden ripening corn,
spreads southwards in an ever-widening plain of rich alluvial soil, irrigated by
numerous canals from the river. Ten miles beyond the river, to the east, the
mountains, which, running northwards, ultimately join the Wu-t'ai Shan, rise
in successive terraces of loess to a height of 5000 feet. To the north-east of
this position rugged bare mountains form a half-circle, and join up with this
range, which is rocky and steep on its eastern side, but slopes gently in the
usual loess terraces towards the river on the west. A little to the north the

F^n Ho cuts through the range, and there the sides are precipitous. Beyond
this and away to the west stretch range upon range of mauve-blue mountains,
some of the peaks in which are from 8000 to 10,000 feet high."

During our visit frequent thunderstorms and heavy rains were experienced
so that the river was continually on the rise and fall. After rain in the
mountains to the north-west, there would be a great rush of water, and the
river would become impassable for several hours. Every time the water rose
large quantities of silt were brought down, and the fords had to be moved
repeatedly, owing to the treacherous and shifting nature of the river bottom.
On several occasions different members of the party got into trouble with their
ponies in crossing ; but although the animals would sink rapidly in the quick-
sands up to their haunches, they always succeeded in scrambling out again.
The camp was frequently visited by sick natives asking for help, which they
usually received in the form of simple drugs, or " first aid " treatment in the
case of injury. A lad with his head cut open would be brought in, or an old
man with a shoulder dislocated would hobble from his work in the fields
expecting some miraculous cure ! The mules during this time were kept in
T'ai-yiian Fu, but the ponies, being required for work continually, were kept
tethered in the open out at camp.

By July i6th everything in connection with the base line and triangula-
tion had been completed, and the party returned to T'ai-yiian Fu, where they
put up at a private house, rented for the purpose, to await the arrival of further
supplies. Preparations in the way of packing the provisions and outfit, in loads
suitable for mule transport, were commenced. This was no light task, as can
be imagined, when we consider the length of journey contemplated, and the
varied nature of outfit necessary ; and it kept all at work. Further, it had
been decided to have a medical man with the party, and the services of
Captain H. E. M. Douglas, V.C., D.S.O., of the Royal Army Medical Corps,
were very kindly lent by the War Office for this purpose. On arrival, Captain
Douglas at once took over the meteorological work. Mr. Clark desired,
moreover, to add a zoological department to the expedition, and to undertake
the charge of this he engaged the services of Mr. A. de C. Sowerby, who had
recently returned from a collecting trip in Shensi.

This increase in personnel naturally entailed a further store of provisions,
to obtain which Mr. Grant paid a visit to Shanghai, at which place, too, he
took over an additional supply of photographic material just arrived from
Europe.

Arrangements, too, were made for the telegraphic determination (from

PLATE 3.

-•-••• •

Tientsin) of tlie longitude of T'ai-yiian Fu. Major Davies, of the General
Staff, a well-known Chinese explorer, very kindly undertook to perform the
observations necessary at Tientsin, whilst everybody was kept busy at the
T'ai-yUan end of the line on the nights of September gth and loth. The
determination was entirely successful, and the longitude thus obtained —
together with the latitudes already taken — were reduced to the Hsin-an M^n
(the Eastern Gate of the Southern Wall of the city), the position of which was
found to be : longitude, ii2°-33'-55'.73 E., and latitude, 37''-5i'-36".3 N.

After this, final preparations for an early start westward were pushed on
with all speed and completed by September 27th. All stores were packed
away in suitable cases, the surveying instruments carefully stowed, the photo-
graphic material arranged so as to be easily accessible, and each member of
the party finally told off to his individual task.

The constitution of the expedition then at starting was as follows : —

Leader • - - - - R. S. Clark.

Doctor and Meteorologist - - Captain H. E. M. Douglas,

V.C, D.S.O., R.A.M.C.

Artist ----- Haviland B. Cobb.

Interpreter and General Manager G. A. Grant.

Naturalist - - - - A. de C. Sowerby.

Surveyor ----- Hazrat Ali.
Muhammad Husein, fifteen muleteers, three grooms, two survey coolies, eight
personal servants, and Josephus, a young shikari, engaged for two months
only ; making a total of thirty-six persons.

At the last moment it was found necessary to hire several extra pack
animals, so that the expedition started with forty-four mules and five donkeys.
There were besides eight ponies for the use of the Staff and two attendant
grooms.

CHAPTER II.

NARRATIVE OF MARCH TO THE YELLOW RIVER.

T^HE 28th of September broke fine and clear, and in the courtyard of the
house which had sheltered the members of the expedition since the middle
of July all was bustle and excitement. Outside, the street was crowded with
mules, braying and kicking, their drivers busy roping up the last few loads.
But by eleven o'clock the last load had been hoisted on to the last mule, and
the long train, slowly working its way across the city, passed out through the
Western gate to a stretch of level flats already bared of their rich crops of
grain. It made a striking picture as it crossed the low-lying land between the
muddy waters of the F^n Ho and the great dyke raised to shield the city from
the summer floods. The pack-animals, each with his jangling bells,
swinging tassels and waving pompons, were kept in single file by their
drivers, who swore at them, cracked their whips, and seemed anxious generally
to outrival the bellowing of their charges. The animals were all fresh, well-
conditioned, and full of fight, and, though their spirits calmed down
wonderfully after a few marches, always ready to give trouble.

It had been decided to make the first stage a very short one, so after
fording the river without any mishap, we pitched our camp on the threshing-
floor of a village named Nan-shih, about five miles west of T'ai-yiian Fu.
This village was the home of our shikari, Josephus, and he and all his people
did their best to make things comfortable for us. The loads were deposited
in a field hard by, and the servants set to work with a will on pitching tents
and erecting our cooking-stove, and although their good intentions were
hampered by a lack of experience, everybody was comparatively snug and
comfortable by nightfall. Two policemen had been sent by the Yang-wu-chti
(Board of Foreign Affairs) " to protect the foreigners," and were set to guard
the loads. These worthies, not relishing the task, hunted up the head-man
of the village, and warning him that he would be held responsible in case of
theft, ordered him to send someone to watch the things. This proved to be
a very sound and sensible arrangement, and the practice was adhered to
throughout the whole expedition. The servants, as was to be expected, found
the greatest difficulty in preparing food ; but as they gained in experience, and
got at home in the new conditions, our meals became soon quite appetizing.
There were five tents in all, of which two were occupied by the Staff, one by

PLATE 4.

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Hazrat Ali and his compatriot, and the remaining two by the personal
servants. The muleteers and grooms found quarters for themselves and their
animals in the village, and, during the time that tents were used, camping-
grounds were always chosen to be within easy reach of some suitable village.

On September 29th an early start was made. Just before camp was
struck we received a farewell visit from Mr. and Mrs. McCoy, who, with Miss
Sowerby, had ridden over from T'ai-yiian Fu to see the last of the expedition.

For the first five miles our road gradually ascended the dry boulder-strewn
bed of a mountain stream. It then entered a deep, narrow gorge, and up this
we travelled for several miles, and after a sharp ascent reached the village of
Hsieh-tao-ts'un. From this point we obtained a last view of T'ai-yiian as it
lay in the plain, a thousand feet below us, with its gate-towers and sweeping
city walls.

From Hsieh-tao to Sh6ng-yi, where camp was pitched, the road lay along
the tops of shale ridges ; in places it was very rough, but no great difficulty
was experienced by the sure-footed mules. The country along this part of the
road was wild and covered with scrub, whilst the slopes surrounding Sheng-yi
were clothed in conifers. This district is full of small game and wild pig, and
in consequence is frequently visited by residents of T'ai-yuan Fu during the
shooting season. The natives we found to be very poor, sufficient crops to
last them through the winter being raised only with the greatest difficulty.
Several coal mines were noticed near Hsieh-tao ; but the low price of coal in
T'ai-yiian affords the miner but a poor return for his labour. The coal, after
being carried for fifteen miles on mules, is delivered to the consumer at the
rate of two and a half cash per catty, which works out at about eight
shillings a ton.

From the figures recorded on the road-wheel, Sheng-yi was estimated to
be sixteen miles from T'ai-yiian Fu, and almost due west of it. On
September 30th the caravan left Sheng-yi, and continued its route over the
mountains, still in a westerly direction, patches of scrub, pine spinneys and
small spaces of cultivated ground being met with. By climbing a peak to the
left of the bridle-path, which served as a road, an extended view of the
surrounding country could be obtained. Ahead of us some eighty miles
towered the Chiao-ch'eng Shan, and so clear was the air that in every
direction the peaks stood out sharply defined, as though viewed through some
powerful telescope.

Throughout the march a sharp look-out for game was kept by the more
enthusiastic sportsmen of the party. Clark and Grant found abundance of

subjects for their cameras ; the naturalist busied himself in the pursuit of
chipmunks through the ravines ; and from time to time Hazrat Ali and his
coolies could be seen hard at work in country which, for the purposes of the
surveyor, it would be hard to beat.

After reaching an altitude of well over 5000 feet, we commenced to
descend ; at first gradually, but after some distance the end of the ridge was
reached, and the road fell away sharply as the valley of the F6n Ho came in
sight. At about four o'clock we entered Ku-chao, a large village situated on
the right bank of the river, and some thirteen miles from Sh^ng-yi. It may
be noted that the river runs from Ku chao in a south-easterly direction, but
then taking a turn enters the plain fifteen miles north-west of T'ai-yuan Fu
and, having fallen 300 feet since leaving Ku-chao, flows past that city in a
southerly course, thus forming two sides of a triangle, along the base of which
we had travelled. The population of Ku-chao was estimated at five hundred,
including women and children. A peculiar square-built tower, rising above
the rest of the buildings, was found to mark the house of a local magnate.
Several other small villages could be seen scattered along the valley in both
directions. We halted at this place for a day to afford the servants an
opportunity of getting things straight, for, unaccustomed to this nomadic life,
they had allowed our commissariat to get in a terrible state of muddle.

On the following day, October ist, the journey was continued still in a
westerly direction. At a spot about a mile from Ku-chao the F^n Ho, coming
from the north-west, changes direction as a large affluent joins it from the
west, and up this latter lay our road to the Chiao-ch'eng Shan, so that the
caravan had perforce to quit the bed of the main stream. The road was good
all the way to Tsa-k'ou, where we pitched camp. During the day we passed
some nine small villages, with an average population of from a hundred to a
hundred and fifty. In one was a little Roman Catholic church, and all the
villagers appeared to be converts. The valley varied in width from one to
four furlongs, and though boulder-strewn or sandy in places, contained
occasional cultivated fields. The hills on either side were covered with the
usual loess terraces, bearing rich crops of millet, buckwheat, castor-oil, and
potatoes, and the natives were busy harvesting after a very good season.

On October 3rd our march was resumed up the valley, the sides
of which were now lined with lofty straight-boled poplars. The road soon
became very rough, and began to ascend sharply, until at last a high pass was
reached at a height of over 6000 feet. The descent from here into the bed of
a second wide stream, running from south to north, and consequently at right

PLATE 5.

angles to that just quitted, was very steep and rough, but it was negotiated
without mishap. Mi-yiieh-ch'^ng, distant from Tsa-k'ou about nineteen
miles, was reached in the afternoon, and we encamped in a grassy field close
to the village.

From Mi-yueh-ch'eng the road ran southward up the valley, the country
becoming wilder and the mountains higher with each succeeding mile, until at
last the valley narrowing and changing direction we began to ascend, west-
wards again, to another high pass. Here an altitude of nearly 8000 feet was
attained, lofty forest-clad peaks rising still higher to right and left. A descent
of about 1000 feet brought us into the Mo-an valley, and a camping-ground
was chosen in a sheltered ravine at the foot of a mountain named Yun-t'ing
Shan ("Cloud-roof Mountain"). No village was passed during this day's
march ; only here and there a cluster of two or three huts, and the muleteers
were forced to go on down the valley for about five miles to a village, where
they could stable their mules. The grooms, however, managed to find
sufficient accommodation for the ponies in the cattle-sheds of a tiny hamlet
across the valley, near the camp.

The ravine chosen for the camp was comparatively wide, and opened
towards the north, so that astronomical observations could be made
comfortably. Towards the south it soon narrowed, ascending rapi«Hy at the
same time until lost in the forest-clad slopes of Yun-t'ing Shan. The ridge to
which this mountain belongs runs east and west, commencing with a series of
peaks, heavily covered with forests of larch and fir, and diminishing in size till
they merge into the shale and loess foothills, and terminating in the supreme
grey granite crest of Mo-erh Shan. From its base again branch out several
lower ridges, of which the largest, curving towards the south, splits into a
number of sharp peaks. As a rule, the slopes facing north are clothed in
dense forests of pine, spruce, larch, and birch, interspersed with patches of
impenetrable hazel scrub, whilst the slopes facing south are grassy, or covered
with low herbaceous growth. The forests commence at about 7500 feet, and
extend to the summits of the ridges. At the season of our visit the larch's
autumn foliage of bright gold and the coppery tints of the hazel stood out in
striking contrast to the deep blue-green of spruce and pine.

A trip was made during our stay in camp to the summit of Mo-erh Shan
for the purpose of taking a round of angles to check the plane-table work.
From this point the panorama that stretched itself before us was magnificent
in the extreme. In every direction winding valleys threaded by sparkling
streams; granite crests and rugged scaurs, all ablaze with colour; and, as a

background, the more distant ranges shading away, wave upon wave, in every
tone, from mauve to deepest blue. Eastward, beyond the T'ai-yiian valley,
the Lung-wang Shan were plainly discernible, flanked to north and south by
ranges marshalled in complex and bewildering formation. Only to the north-
west was the horizon flat, indicating the wastes of the great Ordos desert.
To the west, ridge upon ridge of rounded loess hills, broken only by the three
lonely peaks of the Ch'ing-ting Shan. It is no exaggeration to say that our
view extended for over a hundred miles in every direction, except perhaps the
south — a scene indeed not easy to match in either the Old World or
the New.

The expedition remained in this neighbourhood for nearly a fortnight.
Deer were reported plentiful, and several hunting trips were organized, but
without any very remarkable success, though hare, pheasant and partridge
were frequently bagged. Sowerby, however, was more successful on a
miniature scale, and managed to secure a good collection of mice and voles.
The vegetation of the district is luxuriant, and comprises not only the forest
trees and hazel already mentioned, but herbaceous trees and shrubs in
countless variety. The natives, though poor, are healthy-looking ; the men
stalwart and well-built, the women decidedly better looking than those in and
around T'ai-yiian Fu. However, goitre seems not uncommon, and we noticed
many cases of sore eyes, the result, no doubt, of smoky wood fires. The
cultivation of oats and potatoes — the only crops that will ripen at such an
altitude — affords a meagre source of livelihood. The cutting and hauling of
timber, though supplying fuel and building material for the rude huts, are
useless for trade purposes, no easy means of transport existing, such as the
Fen Ho provides to the people of the Ning-wu district further north. During
the winter months musk-hunters visit the district, and medicine-hunters from
Ssuch'uan prosecute their search for genseng and other roots at all times of
the year. Roman Catholic missionaries have penetrated these mountains
and made many converts, who abjure the smoking of opium. One or other
of the Fathers from T'ai-yiian Fu visits the district twice yearly. In 1900,
during the Boxer troubles, Yu-hsien, the Governor of T'ai-yiian, sent troops
to execute the converts ; but the people, most of whom own a firearm of some
sort, and are of a sporting turn, rose at once, and chasing the soldiers over
the mountains killed them almost to a man.

On its becoming known that one of the party was a doctor, the usual
deputations begging for medicine invaded the camp. One and all received
attention and a " cure " in some tangible form, even were this nothing more

10

PLATE 6.

imposing than a reliable pill. The weather was now becoming very cold, and
before the party left the neighbourhood a heavy fall of snow had draped the
mountains in its thick white mantle. At last, on October i6th, camp was
struck, and the caravan moved slowly down the valley, winding from side to
side like some monstrous serpent. Several large villages were passed, and
word having gone ahead, the inhabitants turned out en masse and stood in
groups, mouths agape and eyes wide open, to stare at our procession. We
felt gratified at the thought that they evidently regarded us as some sort of
travelling circus. After the first two or three miles of rough and rocky going,
the valley opened to a width of about a quarter of a mile, and the path
became less uneven, sloping gently to the west. Soon the high ridges and
wooded slopes were left behind, and we found ourselves once more amidst the
shale and loess. Camp was pitched at Ma-feng, a village situated at an
altitude of about 4500 feet, and some ten miles from Yiin-t'ing Shan. The
inhabitants, about three hundred in number, took the greatest interest in our
proceedings, crowding eagerly round the camp. This was natural enough, as
the only Europeans they had seen before were Roman Catholic missionaries,
who adopt the native style of dress. The explorers, with upturned moustaches,
outlandish clothes, leather saddles, and countless strange accoutrements, were
indeed something to see, and will probably afford a subject of conversation
for many years to come.

That night our larder was raided by a wolf. He got away safe, and no
doubt satisfied, for the servants thought it necessary to send to the village for
Josephus and his gun, though several members of the party would have been
only too happy to exchange their chances of sleep for a shot at the robber.

On October 17th the journey was continued down the valley, which here
bends to the south, and Feng-hsiang-ch'eng, a village of some size, was reached.
From Ma-feng to this point, a distance of about eight miles, and on to
Yung-ning Chou, a good cart-road exists, though no carts were met with.
Just beyond Feng-hsiang we turned up into the loess hills to the west. Our
road ascending gradually, and becoming more and more rough as the loess
gave place to shale, finally reached the head of the pass, at a height of about
5300 feet. From here the valley of the Yellow River was distinctly visible.
Descending slopes, covered with scrub-oak and hazel, into a deep and narrow
ravine called Sung-chia-k'ou, we passed three tiny hamlets, and pitched our
tents in a ploughed field lying between a towering cliff and a sheer drop of
about fifty feet. This latter bid fair to become a death-trap to many of the
mules, rampaging madly round after being relieved of their loads. At this

11

place it was found necessary to get rid of the head-groom. He was found to
have been habitually under-feeding the ponies and bullying his subordinates,
and was dismissed on the spot. From his departure there was a very marked
improvement in the condition and spirit of the animals ; some which, till now,
had seemed lazy and unwilling, developing a liveliness which made it
imperative to ransack our stores for curb-bits. The altitude of this camp was
estimated at about 3900 feet, and its distance from the last halt about
seventeen miles.

The following day after continuing down the ravine for another ten or
twelve miles, we arrived at the walled town of Lin Hsien, situated on the
slope of a broad valley. Just before we quitted the ravine, a fine golden eagle
was shot whilst feeding on the body of an infant child by the roadway. Such
a sight is by no means uncommon in a country where the people refuse to
bury dead babies under the curious belief that if eaten by a wild animal the
child is born again to its original parents. On hearing of our approach, scores
of men, women, and children, poured forth from the town gates. They
flocked round the camp, and were only kept from entering our tents with the
very greatest difficulty. The gentleman acting as deputy in the absence of
the Hsien magistrate certainly did his best to make things comfortable for us,
but he had no real authority over the crowds that surrounded the camp. The
party entertained him, however, together with a native Roman Catholic
evangelist at dinner the same evening, and they seemed to appreciate the
meal. We had another visit that night, this time from three wolves ; how-
ever they contented themselves with a serenade. Sowerby went after them,
but the moonlight was insufficient to afford any chance of a shot.

Lin Hsien, a well built town, surrounded by a wall in an unusually good
state of preservation, contains a population of about 3000. The Roman
Catholics have established here a Mission station, where a priest resides.
The place owes its prosperity mainly to the fact that it forms the mart and
distributing centre for a large stretch of country. Situated, as already stated,
on the western slope of a broad valley, running north and south, a part of its
wall ascends and encloses the crest of the hill overlooking the main portion of
the town. This is a means of protection very frequently employed in a land
where towns and cities are perforce built under high cliffs and hills. In the
river bed to the eastern side of the town a strong dyke of massive stone blocks
has been constructed to withstand the fierce attack of mountain torrents.
These sweeping down the valley in the rainy season, unbroken sheets of water
eight or ten feet deep, and filling it from side to side, would very quickly

12

PLATE 7.

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undermine the walls, were it not for the protection given by the dyke, which
stretches the whole length of the wall, and incidentally forms an excellent
esplanade.

Next day camp was struck, and our march resumed. For the first three
miles the road lay in a northerly direction up the valley, and then entered a
ravine on the west. The rest of the day's journey was up this ravine, which,
commencing of some width, where it meets the Lin Hsien valley, gradually
dwindles to a chasm in the loess. At Kan-tsao-k'ou, where a suitable camping
ground was found, it again widens out, and divides up into several branches,
which run up into and drain the eastern slopes of the Ch'ing-ting Shan
about two miles distant. Kan-tsao-k'ou means literally " dry grass pass " —
the name being applied equally to ravine and village. This nomenclature is
almost invariably adopted where a village lies near the head of a long ravine.
For example, Sung-chia-k'ou (literally " the pass of the Sung family ") was
the name applied not only to the ravine where the expedition passed the night
of October 17th, but also to the village just above that camp.

From Kan-tsao-k'ou it was decided to make a trip to the summit of one
of the Ch'ing-ting Shan peaks, to estimate the altitude, latitude, and longitude,
and also to secure a round of angles to check the plane-table work. As this
would necessitate a halt of a few days duration, Cobb and Sowerby decided
to go on in advance of the main body. The former was anxious to get to
Yii-lin Fu that he might set up a temporary studio, and fix his impressions on
canvas ; the latter to make a collection of the desert fauna before the cold
weather definitely set in. Marching from Kan-tsao-k'ou with their baggage
and the mules necessary on October 21st, these two gentlemen reached
Yii-lin Fu six days later without adventure. They found quarters first at an
inn inside the town, and afterwards in a fine temple, San-yeh Miao, outside
the south gate.

Meanwhile at Kan-tsao-k'ou we had been obliged to postpone our ascent
of the mountain for several days owing to heavy rains ; but on October 24th,
after a stiff climb, the temple of Ch'eng-wu Miao was reached. This is a
building curiously like a mediaeval fortress. No observations were possible
that night owing to cloud and mist ; but next day was clear and sunny, and a
fine view was obtained. This isolated upland covers an area of not more than
twenty-five square miles, and protrudes in a peculiar manner above the sur-
rounding loess, of which the whole neighbourhood on three sides, save one
low range across the Yellow River, is formed. This gives the scenery a very
curious and distinctive character ; the country with its hummocks and water

13

courses resembling nothing so much as a Titanic crumple of brown paper.
Eastward, the hills are more rocky, and gradually increasing in height fade
away into the blue and lofty peaks of the Chiao-ch'6ng Shan.

We returned to camp on October 26th, and the following day resumed our
march to the Yellow River. A high pass, about 5400 feet, between two of the
peaks of the Ch'ing-ting Shan, was easily negotiated, the ascent being neither
rough nor steep. An equally easy descent brought us into yet another deep ravine,
along which our route was continued till Ts'ai-chia-wei, a village of about 300
inhabitants, was reached. The first five miles of this march had lain through
limestone and shale, which then gave place entirely to loess, cut and hollowed
by many rains into the most fantastic shapes : weird grottoes, deep chasms,,
narrow ridges, and isolated columns.

On October 28th, after leaving this village and following the ravine for
about ten miles, we ascended about 1000 feet, and kept along the top of a
winding ridge, terminated by the steep descent to the bed of the Huang Ho,
facing the little village of Huang-ho-yeh. The altitude here was estimated at
2400 feet. As it was found impossible to cross the river that night, camp was
pitched on the eastern bank.

The slope behind the village opposite being very steep, it had been found
necessary to build platforms for the houses. These were constructed in the
form of rows of Roman arches, with the result that the whole village had the
appearance of the ancient Roman ruins so common in Italy, In fact Mr.
Cobb, the artist of the party, has declared that the hills and general scenery
of Western Shansi recall in a most striking manner the clear and sunny
atmosphere of the Apennines. These vaulted platforms, supporting similarly
vaulted houses, are characteristic of the villages along the banks of the Yellow
River, in this district. They are also found in other parts of Shansi and
Shensi, but nowhere so frequently as here.

A good idea of the formation of the sedimentary rock, which extends
* through a large part of Western Shansi and over the whole of Shensi north
of the Hsi-an Fu plain, was obtained at this spot. The Yellow River having
cut deeply into this bed, a section some five hundred feet deep is exposed.
Nowhere were any faults noticed, though the strata were found to be in places
slightly undulating.

The general conformation of the country between the F^n Ho and the
Yellow River may now be considered briefly. The most striking feature is, of
course, the range of high mountains, which, commencing near Ning-wu Fu,
about one hundred miles north-west of T'ai-yuan Fu, and stretching south-

14

PLATE 8.

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ward in a more or less unbroken line beyond F6n-chou Fu, a large city about
seventy miles to the south-west, forms the watershed between the two rivers,
F^n and Huang. The average height of this chain is between 7000 and 8000
feet, but here and there great peaks like Mo-drh Shan rise to a far greater
altitude. These are usually of granite, or some similar crystalline rock,
probably of an intrusive nature. On the eastern side of this divide numerous
ravines running together form valleys, which vary in width from one to four
furlongs, and extend in a more or less easterly direction. Those near the
source of the F^n Ho in the Ning-wu district run south-south-east, and are
succeeded a few miles further down the course of the river by others running
south-east, whilst in the country west of T'ai-yiian Fu the valleys run almost
due east. ' West of the divide there are fewer large valleys, but these are
broader and run more nearly north and south between ridges of shale and
loess. They are joined on either side by numerous gorges, which cut down
through the strata to a considerable depth. The broad valleys join the bed
of the Yellow River some distance southwards. It was noticed that the
country east of the divide was much rougher and more irregular than that on
the west, whilst the hills were uniformly higher and more pointed. Reference
has been made already to the peculiar isolated peaks of Ch'ing-ting Shan.
West of these the ravines all had a south-westerly direction, opening finally
into the bed of the Huang Ho.

15

CHAPTER III.

PASSAGE OF THE YELLOW RIVER — MARCH TO YU-LIN FU.

/^N October 29th we proceeded to cross the river, an undertaking which
required some little management owing to the recent heavy rains.
Several large ferry-boats were brought over from Huang-ho-yeh, and into
these the mules and baggage were all bundled without further ceremony;
though anyone who knows the Chinese boatman, and the Chinese muleteer
and mule, will realise that the operations were conducted without any very
elaborate regard to silence. Each ferry-boat was divided into three compart-
ments, of which two were occupied by the animals, and the third by their
loads. The crossing — effected by keeping the nose of the boat pointed at an
angle up and across the stream — was a perilous undertaking. As each of the
unwieldy craft approached the western shore it was caught in a swirling eddy,
and seemed bound to capsize, but at this juncture, the ferrymen, bending
vigorously to their oars, forced it slowly to the land. These oars are effective
but very primitive in pattern, usually split tree-trunks, one end pared down to
form a handle, and each is manned by two or three men. The mules showed
no reluctance to leave the ferry-boats, which, by the end of a passage,
contained several inches of water. It took five hours to get the whole caravan
across, and we were fortunate in that no losses were sustained. The current
was running like a mill-race, and, had one of the oars broken under the strain
to which it was subjected, the result would have been disaster.

At last, when all had been landed safely, the pack-train, preceded by the
Staff on their ponies, entered the mouth of a deep gorge leading westward.
The walls of this caiion rose sheer for over a hundred feet and the floor was
very rough, strewn with boulders and square masses of rock. A comparatively
large stream flowed through the caiion, and the strata, which were of sand-
stone, exhibited surfaces honeycombed in a peculiar manner. The remains of
a well-paved road were in places recognisable, and seemed to suggest that this
had been at one time an important highway. For some distance the caiion
continued rugged and bare, but at one place, where it narrowed, a small stone
fort guarded the passage. At last the loess began to show on the sides, and
we noticed the first village, or sign of cultivation, since leaving Huang-ho-yeh.
A steep ascent was made and camp was pitched near a village named

16

PLATE 9.

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Liu-chia-mo, some five and a half miles firom Huang-ho-yeh and at an altitude
of about 3100 feet. Sand from the desert, in small patches, was noticed here
for the first time.

The following day, October 30th, our road led first over a small plateau,
from which it descended into the sandy valley of the Tui Ho. This river,
though not large, flows swiftly down a channel which it has worn out of the
rock, leaving the greater part of the valley to the wind-borne sand, drifted
doubtless from the Ordos. After crossing the Tui Ho near a small village, the
road ascends another rough ravine. For the rest of the day's march no
villages and but very little cultivation were seen ; the country was growing
steadily wilder and more desolate, desert sand was noticed, and the loess itself
was composed of larger particles of silica. The ravines and gorges were found
to shelter large coveys of red-legged partridges, many of which were bagged
for jthe pot. We reached camp rather late. This had already been pitched by
the now expert servants at Chin-chia-k'ou, a village some seventeen miles from
Liu-chia-mo. The weather was becoming a trifle too cold for tents ; the
stoves leaked abominably,. and no fuel but a very smoky bituminous coal was
obtainable. The minimum temperature at Chin-chia-k'ou was 23*5 Fah.,
which gives sufficient indication of our experience. The altitude worked out
to about 3400 feet.

Next day a march of five miles brought us to Chiu-ts'ai, a hamlet on a
stream called Chia-lu. This lies slightly lower than our last camp, but the
going was very bad, the road being mainly across an isolated belt of sand — the
first really definite sign of the great Ordos Desert towards which the expedi-
tion was gradually working.

On November ist the journey was up a broad valley, varying in width
from a quarter to half a mile. A good road extended all the way. Sand in
patches was frequently seen, and it was also observed on the coarse-grained
loess forming the sides of the valley. Two tiny hamlets were the only signs of
habitation noticed ; but camels loaded with soda, and donkeys bearing coal
and salt were encountered, giving some idea of the products of the neighbour-
hood. After a march of about nine miles we halted at Yang-chia-tien, where
quarters were secured in a large Buddhist temple. Of this the priest seemed
rather the landlord than an officiating minister ; however, to show his piety,
he had instituted religious processions, in which apparently all the ragamuffins
of the locality took part twice daily. The impossibility of serving God and
Mammon holds as little real place in Chinese ethics as perhaps in those of
some other nations. So comfortable were the quarters that we were loath to

B 17

hurry, and it was decided to spend a day in idleness. This fact was turned to
account by the sick and ailing, who came to Captain Douglas with their
troubles. A good many proved to be malades imaginaires, and were treated to
Livingston Rousers, which the experienced Army Surgeon declares of the
highest efficacy in this class of case. Several of the native servants were
noticed during the day sitting in the sun with their coats off, conducting
exhauTstive investigations into the probable cause, or causes, of a personal dis-
comfort from which they had for some time suffered. It may be mentioned in
this connection that the Staff of the expedition had recently found it advisable
to make their own beds.

On November 3rd the march was continued up the valley for about two
miles, and then up a narrower gully' for three more; the latter portion running
along an overhanging path but a few feet wide. Then, a loess divide being
crossed, our tents were pitched near the small but well-built and prosperous
village of Liu-chien-hua. It was estimated that at least one quarter of the
terrain passed over that day was of loose sand. The cliffs and hills, too, were
very sandy in their composition, and it was only on the highest and most
wind-swept ridges that loose sand was not in evidence. Vegetation had been
for some time very scarce, and the stunted trees were everywhere half buried
in the sand. Nevertheless there was no sign of drought, for every ravine held
its stream of fresh, if not always very clear, water. The salt, of which we had
seen some fifty donkey-loads in the day, was for distribution amongst the
villages on the Yellow River. The altitude of this camping-ground was
estimated at 3500 feet.

Next morning, November 5th, an early start was made with a view to
covering the fifteen miles lying between us and Yu-lin Fu in good time. The
road proved to be satisfactory almost the whole way, but the sand became
markedly more abundant. The sides of the streams were no longer cliffs, but
high banks of loose sand sloping sharply to the water's edge. At last Yii-lin
was reached, and we gladly took up our quarters in the warm and comfortable
accommodation provided by the hospitable officials of the city.

San-yeh Miao, a Buddhist temple of considerable dimensions, and
admirably suited for the purpose, had been placed at our disposal. It com-
prised two large courts, one some ten feet higher than the other. Into the
former opened several smaller courts, containing the living rooms which had
been done up for our reception. The large upper room and side rooms of this
court were devoted to images of Buddha with his attendant spirits; whilst
the far end of the lower court was occupied by the usual theatre-stage. One

X8

PLATE 10.

A '

ij

■'^'Z

J C

large room was set aside as our dining and general living room, adjoining
which was a small sleeping chamber. This latter was converted into a dark-
room, and Grant, who had a large number of plates to develope, had his bed
set up in the living room. Clark and Sowerby found comfortable quarters in
two cave rooms, and above was Cobb's studio, where he had his bed and a
small stove. Douglas, preferring quiet and early hours, betook himself to
a well-ventilated apartment adjoining the outer court, where it was only by a
most lavish use of rugs and blankets that he survived the cold. It was
decided to stay some time in Yii-Hn Fu, as there was plenty to be done.
A large number of exposed plates had accumulated since the commencement
of the journey, and it was thought best to get these developed and packed
away out of hand. Some time, too, was necessary for making the good
collection of desert fauna, upon which the naturalist had set his heart ; and,
in addition, the surrounding district had to be investigated. It was also
desirable to get a good set of astronomical observations, and considerable
interest would attach to a series of meteorological data collected over a
lengthy period.

Cobb and Sowerby had, at their arrival, called upon the Chih-hsien
(District Magistrate), at whose residence they met several other local officials.
They were kindly received, and, presenting their cards and that of Mr. Clark,
explained the objects and work of the expedition. The mention of astro-
nomical research seemed to awaken particular interest, and it transpired
subsequently, through certain remarks made by the Chih-fu (Prefect), that
these eminent public servants had jumped to the conclusion that Clark was
a learned astrologer, and his failure to predict deaths in the Imperial Family,
which occurred a few weeks later, was to them a source of the most grave
disappointment. On his arrival, Mr. Clark, in turn, accompanied by Sowerby
as interpreter, paid a round of visits to all the officials, who promptly returned
the calls. One and all sent presents — sheep, chickens, eggs, and sweetmeats
— to which Clark responded by taking their photographs and presenting them
with copies, which were highly appreciated. Although long conversations
were held with the Chih-fu and the Head of the Police, little of interest
concerning the history of Yii-lin Fu was obtained. The informants seemed
as ignorant of the subject as their interrogators. The Head of the Police,
Pi Jung-pei, was a particularly pleasant and agreeable old man, and he often
called for a little chat, or when some official communication had to be made.
The highest military official in Yii-lin Fu was the Brigadier-General, or Chfin-
t'ai ("Commander of One Thousand Men"), of whose force, however,

19

some six hundred had existence on paper only. At the date of our visit he
was suffering from chest trouble, and the severe effects of having to abandon
the use of opium. For this reason he excused himself for not calling ; but
a professional visit from Douglas seemed to be much appreciated by the
invalid.

Yii-lin Fu, an ancient border city on the eastern bank of the Yii-lin Ho,
is a busy place, forming, as it does, the chief mart for all commerce between
the Southern Ordos Mongols and the Shensi Chinese. On the eastern side,
sand from the desert has in many places banked itself up in a ramp against
the city wall, thus affording an easy means of entrance to belated travellers.
The western wall runs along the valley of the Yii-lin Ho. There are numerous
temples within the city, in one of which, situated on high ground at the
eastern end, a fine spring rises and pours its waters into a stream which,
flowing through the town, fills in turn some large ponds within the western
wall. From these the water escapes through a low heavily-barred archway,
and is utilised to irrigate a large tract of cultivated land lying between the
river and the city. One long street runs north and south from gate to gate,
and from this issue many side streets. The main street, lined as it is with
shops and pedlars' stalls, presents a busy and interesting scene. Hides in
great numbers lie pinned out to dry in the sun, whilst on all sides blacksmiths
are busy turning out Mongol stoves, wolf-traps, household utensils and
agricultural implements. Provisions, such as flour, vegetables, fowls, and
mutton are very cheap. Excellent mutton may be bought at thirty-five cash
per catty, or about a penny a pound ; ten cabbages can be bought for the
same sum. The chief commercial products of the city and district are horse
and cow hides, the skins of antelopes, foxes, sheep, and goats, camel's wool,
and various sorts of hair and wool, both unmanufactured and in the form of
felt and sacking. We obtained some very serviceable felt socks, made to fit
over the boot, whilst the servants and muleteers laid in an ample stock of the
strong native boots, for the manufacture of which the city is famous. A
bituminous coal, which burns well, though with too much smoke, is obtained
from a mine about a mile from the south gate. Outside the same gate several
horse fairs are held annually, to which Mongols from every part of the Ordos
bring their ponies, shaggy and unbroken, for sale or barter. One of these
fairs took place during our stay, and an opportunity was thus afforded us of
seeing some of these typical desert-dwellers.

Just within the Great Wall, and about three miles north of the city, stands
a large fort built originally to guard the entrance, through which runs the

20

WB^M^m0W:-M''^^';'

^iiw,:

main road from the Ordos. It is some ninety feet in height and surrounded
by a high wall. There are three storeys : the first a solid block of masonry
about thirty feet square ; the second and third similar, but lessening in size.
Access to the second storey is gained by a stairway inside the lowest, but the
steps from this to the top are on the outside. From here a splendid birdseye
view of the desert is obtainable — countless sandhills stretching away north
and south to the horizon ; in the near distance two affluents of the Yu-lin Ho,
their banks marked out by elms and willows. The sandhills assume varying
hues of pink and yellow, swept from time to time by a darker patch of mauve,
the shadow of a drifting cloud. The delicacy of the colouring, remarkable at
all times, becomes specially so at sunset. A peculiar phenomenon was noticed
from the temple, the great sandbank that lies beyond the river taking on at
night a deep red glow particularly noticeable in the moonlight. The Great
Wall at this point, and indeed along the whole boundary-line between the
Ordos and Shensi, is little more than a low ridge of earth. Its course,
however, is easily distinguishable by the watch towers still existing at
intervals of about three hundred yards. In many cases these are in admirable
preservation, leading to the supposition that the Wall in this part was not
itself faced with brick or stone. It seems possible that there were battlements
of brick, but there is no indication of any further masonry. It has been
suggested that the towers are of later date than the Wall, or that they alone
have been kept in repair ; but there is no good reason for either view, and
certainly there is no trace of any repair whatever.* But so much has been
written about this stupendous work that any further discussion or remarks
here would be superfluous.

An interesting visit was paid to a temple situated on the bank of the
Yu-lin Ho, at the point where it cuts through the Wall. It is formed mainly
by caves hewn out of the solid sandstone, which appears here as a massive
outcrop. Opposite the temple, on the western bank of the river, are numerous
epitaphs carved on the face of the cliffs in Chinese and Tartar characters.
They are to the memory of officials and Mongol princes, whose sepulchres
can be seen as deep excavations below. Photographs of the fort and temple,
and of the Wall at various points, were secured. A series of astronomical
observations of both sun and stars, reduced to the South Gate, seemed to
indicate that the old Jesuit longitude is about twenty-eight miles out.

♦ As a matter of historical interest, it may be mentioned that the Wall was repaired by Chien Shen, of the Ming

dynasty (1465-87).

21

The country about Yii-lin Fu is wild and inexpressibly dreary. Very
few trees are to be seen, and the bare brown cliffs and yellow sand are devoid
of any vegetation, save an occasional tuft of some sage scrub. In places,
especially where, as in the north-east, it rises to any prominence, gloomy
chasms, with deadly quicksands lurking in their depths, gape in the sandstone
and the half-formed shale. To north and west the prospect is heart-breaking.
Sand-dunes and sand-dunes, and again sand-dunes — shifting with every storm
and obliterating every landmark. Only here and there, as tiny islands in
a sea of desolation, small clusters of mud huts, where some little oasis marks
the site of a spring or well.

An unpleasant discovery was made soon after our arrival at Yii-Hn Fu.
The current expenses of the expedition had been under-estimated, with the
result that there was a serious shortage in the silver available. After some
consultation it was decided that Cobb and Grant should start at once for
Hsi-an Fu, the capital of Shensi, where it would be possible to negotiate
certain drafts and wire to Peking for a further supply of specie. As Cobb's
time was nearly up, and there were urgent reasons for his early return to
Europe, he decided to make this his farewell to the expedition, and to push
straight on to the coast from Hsi-an Fu. Grant would return with the silver
as far as Yen-an Fu, a city midway between Yii-lin and Hsi-an, where the
main body would meet him. After a farewell dinner, and amidst the customary
leave-takings and regrets, Cobb and Grant, with a small caravan of mules,
started southward on November 27th.

The winter was now coming on apace, and it was thought wise to set
about making an early start for Yen-an Fu, where we could go into winter
quarters, and accordingly the remaining members commenced to busy them-
selves packing and preparing to resume the march. A few days later we were
all astounded by the news of. the three deaths in the Imperial Family — those
of the Dowager Empress, Emperor, and Emperor's uncle. This was indeed
startling. What would happen ? Would the long-expected revolution break
out and sweep all before it ? Where were Cobb and Grant ? These and a
hundred similar questions tormented our minds, for there was nothing to be
gained by ignoring the fact that we were in the heart of a country where very
many atrocities had from time to time been committed. However, after
discussing matters, we came to the conclusion that everything would pass off
quietly, and that there was little need for anxiety. Nevertheless, as a
precautionary measure, the rifles were overhauled and a good supply of
i2-bore cartridges filled with buckshot and issued to all hands. The Chinese

\
?2

PLATE 11.

ii§0i0" '

Pi Jung-pei, Head of the Police, Yii-lin Pu, Sliensi.

Seep. ig.

officials sent reassuring messages to the leader of the expedition by the mouth
of Pi, the Head of the Police, who himself anticipated no trouble whatever.
And thus reassured, the party continued their preparations for an early
move southward.

23

CHAPTER IV.

MARCH TO YEN-AN FU — WINTER QUARTERS.

/^N December 5th our long string of animals were once more on the march.
The mules, after their month's rest, were particularly obstreperous.
Loads were pitched off in every direction, and kicking, braying animals went
careering over the sandy flats. However, after much trouble, the refractory
brutes were captured, the loads straightened out or re-made, and the train
continued on its way. The cold was now severe, and the travellers often
suffered acutely. The stoves were hardly adequate in such temperatures as
were now registered; and the doors of the inns en route were as a rule
ricketty, ramshackle contrivances, miracles of ventilation, calculated to admit
the maximum of air in the minimum of time. Very often too the only fuel
available was a smoky coal, which caused many severe headaches and con-
siderable discomfort generally. It should be remarked that tents had been
discarded for the time being.

The whole journey between Yu-lin and Yen-an occupied fifteen days ; the
country passed through taking the form of loess hills of from 500 to 1000
feet in height above the valley bottoms, and their summits characterised by a
singular uniformity of level, which in conjunction with the excessive cold,
rendered Hazrat Ali's work extremely difficult. However, he stuck bravely
to his plane-table, though of course the extent of country mapped on either
side of the road was of necessity reduced. This uniformity of level is the
natural result of the geological formation. A huge deposit of loess, cut up in
every direction by deep ravines and guUeys, lies upon a substratum of
carboniferous rock — sandstone, shale, and slate. In many places there are
seams of coal, and at one spot there were thought to be signs of mineral oil.
This is by no means improbable, as the famous oil wells of Yen-ch'ang Hsien
are not far distant. Unlike those of Shansi, every ravine and gully here has
its stream of sweet clear water, which flows into some affluent of the Yellow
River. The majority of these affluents are of a quite respectable size, and
all flow in an easterly direction.

Except for the eccentric behaviour of the mules at starting, the first day's
journey was without incident. The road followed the course of the Yii-Hn Ho
all the way. The country was covered with thick layers of sand, and very
little cultivation was noticed. Many little streams enter the river on either

24

PLATE 12.

m

w=»

so

^■■■H

^

m

a

y

.i-a

Chinese Lady.

side. A mile or two south of Yti-lin Fu we passed a massive stone bridge
spanning the river at a point where it cuts through an outcrop of rock, and
some miles further south came upon the remains of a swinging chain bridge.
So far as could be gathered, two chains, their ends fastened to rocks on either
side, had carried across the river a roadway of timber, In any case the
contrivance had long fallen into disuse, the chains were rusted nearly through,
and but fragments of the planking still visible. At other points the passage
of the river had to be effected by fords, or ferries. Seven small villages were
passed, and towards the end of the day, after covering twenty-one miles, we
reached Yu-ho-p'u, a small walled town which at one time held a garrison of
soldiers, though the present population cannot exceed two hundred all told.
Our entry was effected over the top of the north wall, where sand had banked
up to such an extent as to render this possible. Huge mounds of sand from
twenty to thirty feet high were also noticed inside the wall.

December 6th saw us once more on the march. The road still continued
down the valley of the Yii-lin Ho, and was excellent throughout. Shortly
after leaving Yii-ho-p'u, the last of the sand was left behind. The valley
widened out considerably, being bounded on either side by low loess hills
overlying a thick, faultless and slightly undulating stratum of shale. The bed
of the river was cobbly, but no signs of limestone, or anything but slate,
sandstone, and shale were visible. The river flowed down a bed some ten to
twenty feet below the level of the rest of the valley. Round the villages we
noticed numerous plantations of jujubes valued for their sweet, date-like fruit.
It was ascertained that wheat, millet, and sorghum form the chief crops
grown in the valley, and on the surrounding hills. The latter are not so
carefully terraced as in Shansi, where the natives dislike cultivating any but
level surfaces. At a village named Yen-wa (literally ** salt scrape " or
** scratch ") extensive salt works were found. To collect the salt, flat surfaces
are prepared, and allowed to remain for a few days, at the end of which time
an efflorescence appears. This is scraped off, and put into large perforated
earthenware jars, through which water is allowed to percolate, thus dissolving
out the salt. The impregnated liquid is next boiled down, and the salt
extracted. This product, containing as it did a considerable portion of alkali
which could not be separated, was found to be of very poor quality. The
whole population was engaged in this industry, and the village looks a very
dismal place. We noticed the remains of numerous forts, some perched on
the hills, others extending across the valley; whilst high mounds at half-mile
intervals marked the sites of watch towers, which had run in a regular chain

23

from Yii-lin Fu. Mi-chih Hsien, a walled town of about two thousand
inhabitants, was reached after a long march of over twenty miles. As at
Lin Hsien, the wall encloses the hill behind the town. In this case, however,
the hill is extremely steep, and rises to about 700 feet above the valley.
Satisfactory quarters having been secured at the inn, it was decided to remain
here for two days. Moreover, it had been found that in this class of country
Hazrat Ali could only manage from eight to ten miles a day, and it was
thought best that the main body should rest and march on alternate days,
covering from eighteen to twenty miles at a time ; thus the number of our
halts would be halved, and the surveyor, without losing touch with us, could
work along daily at the rate which best suited him. During our stay we were
fortunate in escaping what might have been a nasty accident ; one of Clark's
trunks had its bottom burnt through, having been placed on the kang
immediately over the fireplace ; the smell of burning wool was noticed just in
time for the explosion of a case of Express cartridges in the trunk to be
prevented. The maximum and minimum thermometer was stolen during the
night, but on investigation it was " discovered " by one of the inn servants
some twenty feet away from the window-sill, where it had been placed.

On December 9th we left Mi-chih Hsien, and continued our journey
southward. The road was still excellent, and followed the valley of the Yii-lin
Ho till Sui-te Chou was reached. Here the Yii-lin changes its name, and
becomes the Wu-ting Ho (literally " river of no certainty.") This name is
given to it owing to the uncertainty with which it rises and falls. The same
features which had characterised the country between Yii-ho-p'u and Mi-chih
still prevailed, though the valley was considerably wider, and the hills much
higher. The road in places skirted the edge of the valley, with the river some
thirty feet below it. Everywhere the country was under cultivation, and the
villages looked decidedly more prosperous. Sui-t^ Chou is situated some
twenty-one miles south of Mi-chih Hsien, and on the opposite (right) bank of
the river. The walls here are of stone, and embrace a large portion of ridge
to the south. Just before reaching the town the river makes a sharp turn to
the east, and is crossed by a temporary trestle bridge, very shaky and insecure.
The town is a picturesque place of some importance, four high roads meeting
here, viz., those from Yii-lin Fu, T'ai-yiian Fu, Yen-an Fu, and Ning-ling
T'ing in Kansu. That a considerable amount of traffic passes through may
be gathered from the number of inns. Few of these, however, offer
accommodation suitable for European travellers, and it was with difficulty
that we managed to secure rooms at all passable in the southern suburb.

26

PLATE 13.

c

3
U.

On December nth, the expedition left Sui-te Chou, and entering the hills
to the south commenced to wind up and down a tortuous ravine, usually not
more than sixty or seventy feet wide, and with perpendicular sides of
considerable height. In this ravine, as in all the others encountered during
the day, a stream, now covered with a thick layer of ice, flowed down a
channel carved from the bedrock. Here and there large hollows held deep
pools ; numerous frozen waterfalls were passed, and from the sides of the
ravine hung great masses of icicles. In short there was every indication of
an abundant supply of water for the inhabitants of the small villages dotted
at frequent intervals along the line of march. Soon after leaving Sui-te the
end of the first ravine was reached, and after crossing a high pass we entered
a second. This was followed throughout its course until a small village
named T'ien-chuang was reached, and here we halted for lunch. The road
turned up next into a third ravine, which was followed to within a short
distance of its head, and here quarters were secured in a small village named
Shih-ts'ui-yi. This, as the name indicates, was at one time a changing post
for the quick horse-courier service. This organisation has long been dispensed
with owing to the peaceful state of the border, but in the days when constant
watch had to be kept for Mongol raiders the village must have been a highly
important place. The present population cannot be more than one hundred
and fifty, and the houses are roughly built of shale slabs rudely cut and
arranged in herring-bone pattern. The distance from Sui-t^ Chou is about
nineteen miles, and the road being newly cut was excellent, though some of
the gradients would not allow of wheeled traffic. Hazrat Ali arrived on the
evening of the 12th, having completed his survey up to this point. It was
fortunate that he passed this night within reach of medical assistance, as he
was taken violently ill : a result of poisonous fumes after his long exposure to
the cold. This necessitated our spending another day at this place.

On December 14th the journey was resumed, and we crossed a high pass,
3725 feet, a few miles south of Shih-ts'ui-yi. The top of the pass was barely
a hundred feet lower than the surrounding hills, so that a view to the south
and east was obtainable. The horizon was remarkably level, the summits of
the loess hills being, as usual, of uniform height. The descent into the valley,
which we followed for the rest of the day as far as Ch'ing-chien Hsien, was
very steep. The road though good, was frequently on the bedrock, into
which the stream had cut very deeply. Ch'ing-chien, an insignificant town,
is distant from Shih-ts'ui-yi about eighteen miles. Here an excellent quality

27

of lignite is obtainable ; this is mined at An-ting Hsien, another small town
about twenty miles higher up the valley, to the west.

One day was spent at Ch'ing-chien, and on December i6th, after a march
of nearly twenty-two miles, we put up at a miserable village named Ma-chia-
k'ou. The road for the first two-thirds of the way followed down the same
valley as before, but just before reaching the dilapidated and almost deserted
town of Yen-ch'uan Hsien, it turned to the west up another ravine. The
same geological formation was noticed, and nothing worthy of note occurred.
The whole country from Yii-lin Fu to this point was remarkably bare of
vegetation, and almost equally devoid of game ; only a few small coveys of
partridges, and some large flocks of rock-doves being sighted. Adhering to
the decision made at Mi-chih Hsien, we halted here for a day to enable Hazrat
Ali to keep pace with us. Only very poor coal is obtainable in the place.

Next day a distance of twenty-four miles was accomplished ; a high pass
— about 3600 feet — being surmounted without difficulty, thanks to the good
quality of the road ; and after following down a wide valley for some miles,
we entered that of the Yen Shui, a short distance up which lay Kan-ku-yii.
This day's journey was somewhat more interesting. Pheasants were seen in
considerable numbers, whilst a flock of several hundred pigeons came in for
its fair share of attention. Out of this flock thirteen birds were bagged at one
shot. There was considerably more vegetation in the valleys, which were
themselves broader than any met with since the Yii-lin Ho had been left
behind. This night we had thirty-eight degrees of frost. Kan-ku-yu must
have been at one time an important town, as indicated by the remains of a
high and well built wall. At present it contains but one small street of very
poor houses and inns. It is probable that, but for its being a regular stopping
place for travellers passing between Sui-te Chou and Yen-an Fu, the place
would be utterly deserted, The country generally was under cultivation,
though very thinly populated.

On December 19th a start was made with the intention of covering not
more than ten miles, but no suitable quarters being found anywhere on the
road it became necessary to push on to Yen-an Fu, which place we reached
late in the evening. All along the valley, which was fully a mile wide in
places, the patches of scrub yielded any number of pheasants, so that we
managed to enjoy the best shooting yet secured on the expedition. Only very
small hamlets had been passed^ during the day, and but little traffic was
noticed. The Yen Shui was frozen over to a depth of several inches. Really

28

PLATE 14.

c
ea

c

c

n
o

good quarters were obtained in Yen-an Fu, and we all settled down to spend
Christmas and New Year in comfort.

Yen-an, a city of about three thousand inhabitants, was built, it is
believed, early in the Sung dynasty. It has sustained many sieges from time
to time, these chiefly at the hands of the Mongols, whose ravaging hordes
poured in from the Ordos by the valley of the Yen Shui, on which river
Yen-an Fu is situated. During the Ming dynasty the northern part of Shensi
was in the hands of the Mongols, from whom it was wrested by the famous
Yang. This intrepid soldier, making his headquarters in Yen-an, drove the
intruders back across the border, and there held them successfully at bay.
His remains lie in a large cemetery situated in the valley about a mile to the
north of the city. In more recent times the city was sacked by Mohammedan
rebels, the inhabitants cruelly massacred, and the temples — in part at least —
destroyed. It is built under the brow of a high and precipitous hill, and the
wall as usual runs up the steep slope taking in the crest, which is divided from
the rest of the ridge by a deep chasm cut by the original builders to preclude
the possibility of attack from that quarter. Immediately outside the eastern
wall flow th^jnuddy waters of the Yen Shui.

Up the side of a high sandstone cliff, facing the city on the left bank of
the river, is built a most beautiful temple — a relic of the Sung dynasty. Its
most interesting feature is an enormous hall hewn out of the solid rock, in
which sit three colossal Buddhas, each on the sacred lotus lily. These,
however, received but little of our attention, as though large and very
gorgeously painted they are made only of mud. But the walls of the hall
itself are lined with thousands of little Buddhas carved from the rock in
strong relief, not one square foot of wall being left blank. Here and there
were larger statues of other deities ; one of which, a beautifully carved figure
of the Goddess of Mercy in a reclining attitude, called forth our special
admiration, and considerable pains were taken to obtain a good photograph of
this exquisite piece of work. There were evidences that the carvings and
statues had been at one time coated with paint ; but that they look far better
in their present condition we have no doubt. There were signs of a strong
Indian influence in this artistic work. The priest attached to the temple told
us, on being questioned, that it was six hundred years old. On the crest of a
high hill above, and beyond this, there are still visible the remains of what
must have been at one time another magnificent temple. It was evidently of
very considerable proportions, and is said to have been destroyed by the
Mohammedans. Sections of an immense stone stairway are still visible on

29

the sides of the steep hill. Inside the city walls are several other temples,
Confucian and Buddhist, whilst in the cliff near the northern gate is another
cave similar to the one across the river, but in a sad state of disrepair.

From the sportsman's point of view, Yen-an Fu affords winter quarters
hard to beat. Several large valleys meet at this point, and in these the
numerous patches of thorn-scrub shelter great numbers of hares and
pheasants. The rocky sides of the valleys form the homes of large coveys
of red-legged partridges, and at no great distance from the town roe-deer and
wild pig are abundant ; the former having been seen even within a mile of the
town walls. Wild fowl, chiefly mallard and teal, may be shot on the Yen
Shui, where they are often to be found disporting themselves in the open
spaces of an otherwise ice-bound river. They afforded a very welcome
addition to our bill of fare ; in fact during our stay we may be said to have
lived almost entirely on the spoils of the chase ; deer, hare, pheasant,
partridge, pigeon, mallard, or teal always contributing to our table.

It was a great disappointment to find that Josephine, who had come with
us from T'ai-yiian and had the looks of a good setter, was useless in the field.
The birds would lie low till the guns were right on top of them, when they
would break cover with a terrific thundering of wings, flying in every
direction. The result was disconcerting in the extreme. On being disturbed
they would always make for the hills, when long tiring scrambles would
become necessary, if more birds were to be secured. Needless to say that
shooting under these conditions was often erratic, whilst the bags were never
very large in spite of the abundance of game. However, hot corners were
frequent, where the sportsman could have managed very well with two or
three loaders. Even as things were, it was often possible to load two, three,
or even four times before the last bird rose from the surrounding scrub. On
Christmas Day, Clark and Sowerby had a particularly good day's pheasant
shooting. The latter on his specimen-trapping excursions had obtained a
good idea of the spots where pheasants were most likely to be found in large
numbers. Riding out at about lo a.m. with their guns and a mounted
attendant, they made for a large patch of thorn-scrub some distance from the
Yen Shui valley. It was their intention to work back slowly from here to the
city, and then up another valley till daylight failed. The sport commenced
with a hot corner, where the guns got right into the thick of a large flock of
pheasants, bringing down six birds with the first few shots. From that spot
onwards the place seemed to be alive with birds, and throughout the day the
party never once drew blank. Here a bouquet yielded its quota of fine fat

30

PLATE 15.

c

JC

a

cocks ; there a couple of hens, driven up by the groom, were neatly bapfged
as they headed for the hillside. At last a long patch of scrub was reached,
from which it seemed impossible to drive the birds away. They flew out and
back again ; a bird or two being secured each time they rose. A couple of
hares breaking cover were bowled over before they had gone a dozen yards.
Then as the day drew to a close and the pheasants had all gone away to roost
up the deep ravines, the sportsmen, tired and hungry but in high spirits,
returned homewards with a bag of twenty-five pheasants and two hares. A
certain amount of rivalry had only sufficed to make both men more keen, and
the day's shooting ended in Clark's favour, with two hares and three birds to
the good. As usual, several wounded birds got away into the thick scrub, and
were lost. In some places the shooting was so hot and the birds rose in such
numbers that it was impossible to mark every bird that was hit. The groom
who was holding the ponies was able, by watching the proceeedings carefully,
to point out many lost birds, but a good many escaped even his hawk-like
eyes.

The absence of reliable dogs is certainly to be regretted, but they are
very difficult to obtain in the interior ; Josephine, in fact, had only been lent
to us by a friend in T'ai-yiian. Later on, when Clark visited Shanghai, he
brought back two good pointers, but the season was by that time rather far
advanced, and the expedition came to an end before we could get the full
benefit of their services. The natives occasionally use dogs — half pariah and
half wolf — for hunting pig, but they are not of much use. No doubt if good
boar-hounds were procurable, a fine old-fashioned form of sport could be
enjoyed : the hounds bringing the boar to bay, and the hunter using the spear
on foot. The native dog of the hilly and mountainous country is a fine
looking animal, closely resembling a wolf in appearance, and capable of
enduring extremes of both heat and cold, but so far as is known he has not
been trained to the chase.

Hazrat Ali was a shikari of a very high order. His object, however, was
not sport, but rather to make sure of a good bag. With this intent he might
be seen creeping cat-like upon a covey of unsuspecting birds, and when he
fired two or three brace were often the result. He prided himself that the
number of birds killed usually exceeded the number of cartidges expended.
He kept careful tally of both, and could give a good account of each cartridge
he used. A ludicrous incident occurred, in which this quiet but deadly fowler
drew down upon himself vials of wrath from the rest of the guns. The whole
party was on its way to take observations from a peak to the north of the city,

31

when a flock of mallard was spied on a small open patch of water in the
river. Clark, Grant, and Sowerby at once dismounted, and started off down
stream with the intention of working round, and coming upon the ducks under
cover of a high bank on the opposite side of the river, where they could take
the birds as they rose. Meanwhile Hazrat Ali, who apparently had not
grasped the meaning of their manoeuvre, advanced upon the ducks in the
open. The rest of the party, having caught sight of the intruder moving
rapidly upon what they justly considered their game, howled at him to desist.
Not hearing the remonstrances hurled at him, he continued to move towards
the apparently mesmerised ducks, and when within easy range opened fire
killing three. This was typical of all his shooting ; heedless of the rules of
sport, he was, nevertheless, an excellent pot-filler, which is after all a very
useful attribute on an expedition of this nature.

On December 28th, Grant arrived back from Hsi-an with a huge mailbag.
He reported all quiet at the capital, and gave us the account of a pleasant
journey to Hsi-an and back again. Cobb had started off safely in a litter for
Honan, whence he could proceed by rail to Hankow. Grant reported
excellent game country almost all the way to Hsi-an, in support of which
intelligence he had several brace of pheasant and duck, beside a couple of
geese on his mules. He stated that Cobb and he had been somewhat
alarmed at the news of the deaths in the Imperial family, and that on the
day of its receipt they seemed to meet an unusual number of men travelling
northward with their women and children, and noticed also several bands of
disreputable beggars hurrying south. The former they took to be fugitives ;
the latter human vultures flocking to scenes of butchery. Their fears,
however, were dissipated, for on reaching Yen-an Fu they found everything
quiet.

Amongst the letters brought back by Grant were some advising of the
landing of provisions, etc., at Shanghai ; these being to enable the expedition
to prolong its duration and extend its work. As matters now stood, our
equipment was inadequate for extended work on the Tibetan frontier ; our
ammunition especially was running very short ; the tents though good were
found to be insufficient for the party; and the stoves were by this time almost
useless. Nothing but charcoal could be used in them without their smoking
badly ; their chimneys were too narrow, and indeed the rough handling of
careless natives had practically demolished them. It was therefore decided to
separate for the time being as follows ; Clark and Sowerby would hurry down
to Hsi-an Fu, from which place Clark would go on alone to Shanghai, take

32

PLATE 16.

over the provisions and two large tents specially ordered for the summer
work, procure suitable stoves, and with all speed proceed to Lan-chou Fu,
picking up Sowerby again on his way. Sowerby, after Clark's departure from
Hsi-an, would stay in that neighbourhood and collect, until on the receipt of
a^wire from Shanghai he would proceed to Honan, and there re-join Clark.
In the meantime Douglas and Grant, with the greater part of the pack-train
and stores, were to proceed westward into Kansu, taking an unfrequented
road to Lan-chou, at which place they would await the arrival of Clark and
Sowerby. Hazrat Ali would accompany this party, and carry on his plane
table survey from Yen-an to Lan-chou. Everything having been arranged in
this way, the party set about re-packing stores, etc., to suit the altered plans ;
and on January 28th Clark and Sowerby left Yen-an Fu on their southward
journey. A few days later the remaining division, having completed their
arrangements, started westwards.

33

CHAPTER V.

CLARK AND SOWERBY'S NARRATIVE OF JOURNEY TO HSI-AN FU.

AS already stated in the last chapter, we left Yen-an Fu on January 28th
on our way south to Hsi-an Fu, the capital of the province of Shensi. We
took with us a small caravan of hired mules and three ponies. A groom to
look after the ponies, and three personal servants including Lao Chao, a
muleteer temporarily promoted, formed our retinue. The mules, of course,
were accompanied by their owners, but these last devoted their energies
mainly to opium-smoking, and incidentally to driving and feeding their
animals. Lao Chao had first attracted attention in camp at Chao-chuang
by his courage and unusual strength — on one occasion he forded the F6n Ho
in flood to get provisions for the party. Showing himself very ready to be of
use, he had been selected to accompany Cobb and Grant on their journey to
Hsi-an Fu, and even went with the former as far as Honan, working his way
back independently just in time to come with us on this trip.

Grant had kept notes of the country passed through on his journey some
weeks earlier, and these supplied us with a list of halting-places and inter-
vening distances, information always warmly appreciated by travellers in
China. The first day's journey was across some very fine game country,
which had already been visited by Grant and Sowerby deer-hunting. The
travellers followed a long valley to its head in the high shrub-covered loess
hills ; a pass was crossed and a second valley entered, similar to the first.
Numbers of charcoal-burners were noticed in this wooded area. Near the
pass stood a roughly made hut, sheltering a small detachment of soldiers, who
were stationed there to protect travellers against highwaymen, for whose
atrocities this lonely stretch of country was at one time notorious. The
robbers found ready cover in the many ravines branching off from the main
valley ; but since the opening of the new road, and the posting of this little
garrison, they had found it advisable to disappear. The first halt was made
at a small town named Kan-ch'iian Hsien, ninety It from Yen-an Fu, and
here comparatively comfortable quarters were found.

An early start, and a long journey down an ever-widening valley, where
large numbers of pheasants were seen and a few shot, brought us next day to
a village not far from the large town of Fu Chou.

34

PLATE 17.

be

The road branched off to the east up a small ravine about a mile north of
Fu Chou, and at this point two or three inns and a few miserable houses
formed the village of Ts'a-f6ng ; and here we halted. This stage is reckoned
to be eighty-five It. At this time of year travelling was anything but pleasant,
owing to the severe cold. The inns were never warm, the badly-fitting doors
and torn windows admitted streams of cold air, which effectually counteracted
any benefits accruing from the use of charcoal braziers and a small portable
stove. The innkeepers are far too poor to keep the kang fires lighted during
the day, and as these estimable contrivances take some hours to heat up, and
in addition smoke abominably, they were tabooed. By hanging up waterproof
sheets over the doors and windows we could manage to render the temperature
a little more endurable ; but bed was the only really comfortable place. The
early rising, necessitated by our desire to cover long stages every day, was
perhaps the hardest trial, although again precedence might be given to the
keen head wind which, in spite of the heaviest clothing, seemed on some days
to cut through to the very bone. Usually, however, when once fairly on the
move, we found that the interests of the road, the not infrequent opportunities
of sport, and the varying scenery kept us from noticing the low temperature
and the biting wind. The road was in excellent condition, and in that way
did credit to the soldiers who made it. But it is probable that the absence of
wheeled traffic had more to do with its present smooth surface than anything
else. At first it was hard to understand why no carts made use of this
magnificent road, but after seeing some of the gradients no further explanation
was necessary. The only wonder that remained then was why so much
labour should have been expended to construct a cart road, whilst such
important details as suitable gradients, easily obtainable with very little extra
work, had been utterly neglected. However, even this is explainable by the
reflection that the work was carried out by Chinese.

Leaving Ts'a-f6ng before daybreak, we travelled for a short distance up
the small ravine which we had entered the night before. Snow commenced
to fall, and alas ! for hastily formed opinions, the road became abominable.
Its smooth surface becoming greasy offered no foothold, and as several steep
ascents had to be made, travelling became not only unpleasant, but distinctly
dangerous. The mules with their heavy loads had the greater difficulty in
keeping their feet, but even the ponies floundered about in a most distressing
manner. However, the badness of the road led to no mishap, though Clark
met in another fashion with a most unfortunate accident. In stepping from a
high kang in an inn, where the party stopped for lunch, he slipped and

35

sprained his ankle severely. Coming, as it did, soon after an earlier injury
sustained out pheasant-shooting, just before we left Yen-an, the sprain
assumed a dangerous aspect. It was only by exercising the greatest care that
he could set foot to the ground by the time Hsi-an was reached. Needless to
say, the rest of the journey was rendered anything but enjoyable to the victim
of such misfortune. Soon after the departure from Ts'a-feng a steep ascent
was made, and we found ourselves upon a flat wide plateau of loess, cut up in
every direction by canons of considerable depth. These, however, were not
noticeable till the observer got within fifty, or one hundred yards. After
travelling across this table of loess for some five or six miles, the party came
to the edge of a vast valley, across which lay the road. On the other side of
the valley could be seen the commencement of a second tableland, and this
sort of experience was repeated all this day, and half of the next. It seems
probable that this formation represents a great loess deposit in its early stages,
before the action of rain and water has rounded the great sections between the
caiions and ravines into the hills and ridges so typical of most loess country.
Indeed, the moulding process was noticed along the sides of the larger valleys,
where, instead of the abrupt cliffs and sharp edges of the ravines and canons,
the sides were rounded off, and sloped with comparative ease to the stream
below. On the plateaux some bustards were seen not far from the road,
whilst a fox was put up from a clump of graves. Pheasants were noticed still
on the fields, but they were few in number and very shy. The surfaces of the
plateaux were under cultivation, but nowhere could any villages be seen.
This was explained, when it was discovered that the villages were either built
on the sides of the smaller ravines, or formed by extensive excavations below
the surface level. In the latter case each dwelling would consist of one large
square pit, twenty to thirty feet deep, and forming the courtyard, from which
opened deep cave-rooms, occupied by the members of the family and their live
stock. The courtyards were reached by long and gently sloping shafts, fitted
at their lower ends with stout wooden doors. The villages built above ground
were the larger and more important, and few and far between. After crossing
three plateaux, the caravan stopped, late in the evening, at the town of
Lo-ch'uan Hsien, where the usual well-ventilated quarters were secured. This
day's journey was eighty It.

The following day, after crossing two more plateaux, and winding up and
down several deep valleys, the party reached Chung-pu Hsien, close to which
is situated a huge mound, supposed to be the grave of the great Huang Ti, or
Yellow Emperor (B.C. 2700), one of the five mythical emperors of Chinese

36

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history. The mound was noticed certainly, but so great is it, that we actually
took it for a hill. A large grove of cypress trees, planted near the town in
memory of the same monarch, was also observed.

The country immediately to the south of Chung-pu Hsien was unin-
habited, and very wild. As in the case of the deserted area south of Yen-an,
this district was well wooded, and large flocks of pheasants were seen. The
travellers amused themselves by shooting at these with their revolvers ; so
much good shooting had been enjoyed that it needed something more than a
pheasant to draw anything but a few revolver shots. It snowed heavily half
the day, and in consequence much difficulty was experienced in negotiating
the heavy gradients of the road. It was fortunate for Clark that he was riding
a particularly sagacious and careful pony, for he was, of course, unable to
dismount at difficult places, as the others did. Even as it was, poor Blacky,
as the pony was called, slipped once, and rolling over, threatened to crush his
rider. Sowerby and the groom left their ponies and rushed to the rescue,
helping Clark up on to his sound foot. At this juncture all three ponies took
it into their heads to bolt, and were soon lost to view round a bend in the
road. Things looked decidedly bad, as the mules were a considerable distance
away, and the nearest village was ten miles off. The ponies did not go far,
however, and, stopping to feed on the stubble by the roadside, allowed them-
selves to be caught. Later on, one of the mules went down a steep slope, and
as it frantically struggled to regain its feet, was momentarily within an ace of
destruction by falling over the edge of the deep ravine. From this terrible
predicament it was only rescued with the greatest difficulty. A halt was made
that night at a small town named Yi-chun Hsien, seventy U from Chung-pu
Hsien.

The following day we passed through a splendid game country, where the
beauty of the scenery seemed emphasised and enhanced by its covering of
new-fallen snow. The road for the first eight miles led along the top of a long
ridge of high shale mountains. Many deer were seen from the road, and in
one place a huge wild boar was chased right across our path by a pack of
hounds, followed shortly by their master. Unfortunately the necessity for
haste on this journey prevented us from joining in the chase. The last two-
thirds of the day's march were along a deep, rocky, and very beautiful ravine,
which widened out into a fine valley towards the end of the day. In the
ravine we saw, besides many other birds, a large number of handsome blue
magpies. Here, for the first time in North Shensi, was any faultiness noticed

37

in the sandstone and shale strata. In places immense folds existed, and
everywhere were evidences of considerable disturbance.

At a small village, where the midday halt was made, a band of Ssiich'uan
emigrants was encountered. These people, in their light summer clothing
and hemp sandals, seemed to be suifering great distress. It was a pathetic
sight to see little children of four and five trudging along in the snow and
slush, each carrying a little bundle. The still younger children were carried
on their mothers' backs. These unhappy folks had travelled up from
Ssuch'uan, via Han-chung Fu, in the coldest part of the cruel winter, in order
to reach their destination in time to till the ground for a summer crop. They
seemed to be possessed of but few goods and chattels ; what they had, being
carried on their backs, or in wheelbarrows. Their faces were rounder, and the
features flatter, than in the natives of this portion of the country ; and they
wore turbans. The hemp sandals formed their only footgear, and they seemed
to have little in the way of quilted or wadded clothing, just braving the winter
in their thin cotton things. Such men and women could hardly fail to make
good settlers, and, in later journeys in Kansu, opportunity was given to some
members of the expedition of seeing the good results obtained by these hardy
peasants.

That night, T'ung-kuan, a military town, was reached, and a visit was
received from the Secretary to the Head Military Official, who made apology
for the absence of his chief. He offered the party a small escort of soldiers to
see them safely to Hsi-an Fu. This offer, however, was politely declined,
there being no necessity for such guardianship. This town is situated ninety
It from Yi-chun Hsien, the stage being long and difficult. T'ung-kuan
produces a fine class of dried persimmon, than which few more palatable and
nourishing dried fruits exist.

The next halting-place was Yao Chou, a large and busy town, but of no
particular interest. On the road between T'ung-kuan and Yao Chou a belt of
limestone was traversed, the first sign of this rock yet noticed in Shensi. The
day's journey was not so long and fatiguing as the one before, the distance
covered being seventy It.

Throughout the greater part of the following day, the road led down a
broad valley, which finally opened out into a series of great loess terraces or
steps, on which were observed several large flocks of bustard. Sowerby tried
hard to secure one of these magnificent game-birds, and was rewarded finally
with a nice sixteen-pounder. Towards the end of the day the little party
descended from the heights to a great plain — the valley of the Wei Ho — in

38

PLATE 18.

w

B
>>

Q

u

c

3
«

S

H

>

which is situated Hsi-an Fu, one of the ancient capitals of China. That night
we put up at a miserable inn in the large, busy and populous city of San-yiian
Hsien, Though only a " Hsien " {i.e., sub-prefecture), San-yiian is larger
than any of the prefectural cities in the province north of this point. An
immense ravine has been eroded by water since the city was built, and is now
spanned by a large and well-constructed bridge. The sides of this bridge are
built over with shops, after the fashion of old European bridges, so that, but
for a glimpse he gets as he approaches it, the traveller would not suspect that
he is crossing a ravine of considerable width and depth. Many industries are
carried on in the southern, and by far busiest, portion of the town. Brass-
work of all descriptions forms the most important of these ; but there is also
a considerable amount of carpentry and bamboo-work. It may be noted that
there are not more than 400,000 inhabitants in the province north of this.

The change from the mountainous to the flat country was also accom-
panied by a decided difference in the character and appearance of the people.
Not only do these stamp them as being of a southern type, but their manners
and customs are also markedly distinct from those in the country just left.
A great difference was noticeable in the food, and method of eating. It seemed
as if everybody ate their meals in the street, purchasing them from stall-
keepers, who prepare them on the spot. And not food only, but boiling water
as well, for it is only the more wealthy citizens who keep fires in their houses.
There was something not at all displeasing in this mode of taking meals,
extreme sociability being the keynote. Numerous tables, on either side of the
street, and sheltered by light mat roofs from sun or rain, afforded accom-
modation to scores of merry diners. Travellers from all parts of the Empire
freely mixed and chatted with the citizens of the town, and everybody seemed
thoroughly happy, and perfectly contented with the prevailing conditions.
A distinctly southern touch was added to the streets by the huge bamboo
baskets of oranges, pommeloes, and sugar-cane — delicacies never seen in
towns of the northern interior. The streets, paved with huge stones and
crowded to suffocation, formed a marked contrast to the wide and dusty
streets of the towns recently passed through. San-yiian Hsien may be
considered in some respects a rival of Hsi-an Fu itself. It is situated eighty
It from Yao Chou.

Being anxious to reach Hsi-an in good time, we made an unusually early
start on February 5th. Our intention was to ride hard so as to arrive in time
for lunch, knowing as we did full well the hospitality of the missionaries whom
we were likely to meet. It was still dark as we rode clear of the suburbs of

39

San-yiian ; but ere long a faint glow in the east heralded the approach of day.
The air was filled with the distant honking of geese ; and, with the spreading
of the glow in the east, long chains of wild fowl became visible, flying south-
ward. Presently a small river was reached, and there, thick upon the
southern bank, were hundreds of geese and duck, the latter being of the
species Sheldrake, or as it is usually called in China " Yellow Duck." Soon
after sunrise we passed a large pagoda, which had been noticed standing out
against the gathering mists as we descended the heights the preceding after-
noon. At last the bank of the Wei Ho was reached, and considerable delay
experienced in getting across. The weather was very gloomy, whilst the
mournful calling of the ducks, the dismal flats, and grey sombre river all
combined to enhance the feeling of depression which seized the travellers as
the heavily-laden ferry moved slowly across the sluggish water. Though the
temperature was not in reality very low the cold seemed unbearable, a result
doubtless of the moisture in the atmosphere. Moored alongside either bank
of the river were huge coal-barges with quaint roofs and dragon-headed joss-
poles, which, in the morning mist, seemed to assume strange forms, gigantic
and menacing. As the ferry-boat passed close to a sandbank in the middle of
the river, an immense cloud of duck rose with a thundering whirr. After
circling overhead, and flying up and down the river in a rapidly moving, ever-
changing cloud, the birds suddenly swooped into the water, countless little
jets of spray marking the spot where they had struck its smooth surface.

On landing we noticed some geese not far off, and Sowerby, riding up to
the small flock, managed to secure one from the saddle. The rest of the
journey to Hsi-an lay over a flat country, the first part of which was much
intersected by irrigation canals, supplying water to the swampy rice fields.
Here many mallard and teal were feeding, and round the villages the beautiful
pink and white ibis waded knee-deep in the black, oozy mud. As Hsi-an was
neared, the rice fields and canals gave place to wide, rolling fields of early
wheat, the green of which was hailed by the party with the liveliest satisfac-
tion. The pleasure afforded to the eye by a green field, after the yellow, grey,
and brown of a North China winter, cannot be expressed. A quaint charm
was added to the scene by strong battalions of geese drawn up in serried ranks,
as if on parade. In every direction, too, were little detachments, giving the
impression of the outposts, pickets, and scouts of main opposing armies.
When approached and fired upon, the flocks arose en masse, honking wildly
The noise was deafening, and the sky black with frightened birds till, breaking
into chains, they flew off in all directions.

40

PLATE 19.

c

3
U.

B
C

v

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be

n

bo

c

3

mi

a

a

For some time we had been straining our eyes for a sight of the city of
Hsi-an Fu. It seemed difficult to believe the natives, who declared it to be
close at hand ; but when the travellers were within a quarter of a mile of the
place, suddenly the massive towers and solid walls sprang into view, and the
capital lay revealed in a large depression. Entering by the East Gate we
made straight for the Baptist Missionary Hospital, where Dr. and Mrs.
Jenkins gave us a warm welcome, and entertained us royally. Then a visit
to the Post Office, to secure any letters that might be there ; and Mr. Mullen,
the Postmaster, insisted on his visitors taking their evening meal with him, an
invitation which, after months of rough and often badly cooked food, they
were only too ready to accept. The inn at which accommodation was secured
turned out to be surprisingly poor, especially when the size and importance of
the city are remembered. However, paradoxical as it may appear, it seems to
be the rule in North China that the quarters obtainable vary inversely with
the size and prosperity of the town. Away in some lonely place, where the
people hardly know how to secure a living, it is almost invariably possible to
find roomy and comfortable lodgings; but in a large and populous city such as
Hsi-an, full of fine residences, large shops, and all signs of considerable
luxury, the only accommodation procurable is of the very dirtiest and poorest
nature imaginable. We could, of course, have accepted the hospitality
generously offered by the Missionaries or the Postmaster, but a short stay only
being anticipated, it seemed a pity to disturb the routine of their quiet
households.

Observations were taken at Hsi-an on the 5th and 6th, and the rate of
the chronometer-watch determined ; and on the 7th the party left the city and
reached Lin-t'ung, a place fifty // distant, where some famous hot-springs
exist. Quarters were secured in the grounds of the gardens attached to the
springs, and the exquisite luxury of a hot mineral bath was enjoyed.

The discovery of the springs goes back to a very early date, but the
building of the present commodious baths is attributed to the famous
K'ang-hsi (1662-1723). There is no charge for the use of the baths, a small
tip to the attendant securing privacy in the warmest and cleanest of the series.
This spacious bath lies under the arch of a large cave, and is capable of
holding comfortably some fifty or sixty bathers. It is fed from a spring that
issues directly from the back of the cave, and is divided from a second bath by
a wide stone platform, pierced by several low arches through which the water
flows. This second bath lies in the open, but is enclosed by a high wall.
From here the water is conducted underground to two small private baths,

41

adjoining large staterooms. From these in turn the water escapes into a
beautiful artificial lake, planted with lotus-lilies and full of fish ; its sides steep,
and overhung with masses of yellow jessamine. In the centre of the lake
stands a pretty T'ing-tzu, or summer-house, intended as a dining-room for
visitors. The grounds are planted with flowering shrubs and stately trees ;
and the clear placid lake, its surface faithfully reflecting summer-house, trees,
and wealth of golden flowers, presents an entrancing picture. In an adjoining
compound, a second series of baths fed by another spring is devoted to the use
of the common people. When first built this series was intended for
K'ang-hsi's queen and her court, whilst her lord and master disported himself
in the beautiful grounds first described. The waters are slightly sulphurous in
composition, and having, therefore, a very relaxing effect upon the system, are
far-famed for their medicinal properties. The temperature of the water was
found to be io8 Fahr., and entering the bath is a slow process, as it is
necessary to accustom the body to the great heat gradually. So hot indeed is
the water that bathers, after leaving it, can dry and dress themselves in a keen
wintry wind, without suffering any inconvenience. From both series of baths
the water, still quite warm, flows out eventually into small canals^ covered in
with matting, and is thus conducted over ground carefully cultivated, where
rich crops of vegetables are raised. These — onions, and a special variety of
garlic during the winter months — are grown in hollows, and are also covered
with matting. There can be little doubt that the splendid crops obtained, as
well as the wonderful display of jessamine-blossom round the lake, are largely
due to the warmth of the water which permeates the soil. A large pool, just
outside the grounds, must not be forgotten ; here all the pigs in the neighbour-
hood wallow, their snouts just showing above the surface.

On February 8th, Clark tore himself reluctantly away from Lin-t'ung and
started off for Shanghai, via Ho-nan Fu and Hankow ; and three or four
days later Sowerby returned to Hsi-an Fu, and proceeded to investigate the
fauna of the mountains to the south of that place.

At the end of a fortnight, spent in the collection of mammals and birds,
Sowerby received a telegram from Shanghai, and in accordance with its
instructions started for Ho-nan Fu, from which place he would proceed by
rail to Hankow, there to await Clark's arrival. Leaving Hsi-an Fu, he
marched to T'ung-kuan Hsien, a town situated close to the junction of the
three provinces of Shensi, Shansi and Honan. The road, though exceedingly
bad and marshy, is very interesting, running a few miles north of, and parallel
to a chain of magnificent, and precipitous mountains. At Hua-yi Miao a

42

PLATE 20.

•* Qoddess of Mercy " in the Cave Temple
at Yen-an Fu, Shensi.

See p. 2Q.

Cormorant Fishiig on the Wei Ho, Shensi.

palatial temple with gold-tiled roof and beautiful grounds is to be seen, built
in the face of a precipitous and castle-like mountain, Hua Shan, one of
the five sacred peaks of China,* famous as representing Buddha's hand.
Indeed, several deep chasms, cutting perpendicularly through the massive
square-topped peak, seem to suggest the fingers and thumb of a Titanic
hand. Numerous Buddhist temples are perched about its summit, and these
forrn places of pilgrimage for the devout, as well as admirable summer resorts
for the wealthy people of the plains. At T'ung-kuan Hsien, the Yellow River,
after having flowed southward between the provinces of Shansi and Shensi,
turns abruptly to the east. All along the road from Hsi-an Fu to this point
waterfowl of every description were very abundant, and remarkably tame ; so
much so, indeed, that on one occasion Sowerby was able to ride into a small
flock, and bag a goose with a cut of his whip. From T'ung-kuan eastward
the road lies along deep, and most disagreeable loess gullies. Dust lies on the
surface of the road to a depth of a foot or eighteen inches, the depth of the
gullies preventing any possibility of its removal by the wind. The result
being that in dry weather it is raised in high, choking clouds by every passing
vehicle, and in wet it forms a veritable morass. After experience of both wet
and dry weather in the district the opinion may be expressed with confidence
that this is the very worst road in North China.

Being, of course, anxious to reach Ho-nan Fu by the date given in the
telegram, Sowerby managed to accomplish the last four days' journey — log
miles — in thirty-six hours ; a performance which, considering the state of the
roads, speaks well for the endurance of his mount, a typical Manchurian pony
of thirteen hands.

Nothing of any particular interest occurred at either Hankow, or
Ho-nan Fu. Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining the carts necessary
for the transport of the additional stores at Ho-nan Fu, but eventually
arrangements were made, and we left this place on April 13th, and regained
Hsi-an Fu on the 24th after an uneventful journey.

• The five Sacred Peaks of China are: Hang Shan, in Shansi; Hua Shan, in Shensi ; Sung Shan, in Honan ;
H€ng Shan, in Hunan ; and T'ai Shan, in Shantung.

43

CHAPTER VI.

DESCRIPTION OF HSI-AN FU — CLARK AND SOVVERBY's JOURNEY TO

LAN-CHOU FU.

LJSI-AN FU, the Western City of Peace, ancient capital of China, the
home and burial-place of many illustrious emperors, lies in a great plain
watered by the Wei Ho, a navigable and important tributary of the still
mightier Huang Ho or Yellow River. A city of no mean appearance, its
extensive walls and massive gate-towers rival those of the modern capital.
The population, fixed and floating, is very large; merchants, pedlars, and
other travellers of every sort flocking hither from all parts of the empire.
The traffic of six great highways pours daily through its streets. The road
from Peking, joined at the frontier of the province by that from Honan, enters
on the east ; a second from the south-east, in which direction lie Hankow and
the Han River, with the water-borne commerce of Shang Chou ; a third taps
the produce of Han-chung Fu and Ssuch'uan in the south-west ; a fourth
enters the western side from Kansu, and its north-western extension, the New
Dominion, and from Tibet ; a fifth and sixth from the north-west, and north
respectively, bringing with them, the former skins and wool from Ning-hsia
Fu, the latter the trade of North Shensi, and Mongolia. The unceasing
ebb and flow of wealth from this enormous area places Hsi-an Fu in the first
rank of importance as a distributing centre.

The plan of the city differs but little from that of any other large Chinese
capital. Outside are the usual extensive suburbs, and within long streets
lined with shops, and crossed at intervals by shorter streets ; some of the
points of intersection being spanned by square, four-arched towers. The
most important and central tower in the place, the Ku-lu* (or Drum Tower),
is, however, set slightly back from the main street, and astride of one of the
cross streets. The open spaces in front of the various Ya-men are thronged
with busy crowds ; cooked food of every description is sold and eaten in the
streets ; and on all sides hawkers display their wares under booths of straw-
mat or blue cloth. The fat lands round the city produce great quantities of
wheat, rice, and cotton. Of these, the last is sent off in wheelbarrows to the
railhead! at Ho-nan Fu, whilst the surplus grain is distributed over Kansu and
South Shansi.

* Our observations for latitude and longitude were reduced to the centre of the base of thb tower.

t The projected railway from Honan-Fu to Hsi-an Fu vid Shan Chou and T'nng-kuan Hsien, has as yet only fifty miles

of earthwork under construction, starting from the first-named.

44

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Living in Hsi-an Fu is extremely cheap, flour being sold at eighteen to
twenty cash per catty, or about a half-penny a pound. Vegetables are sold at
correspondingly low rates, and even meat is less expensive than in most places
further north. Oranges, pommeloes, pears, persimmons, and grapes are
particularly abundant, though only the last three are actually grown in the
district. The two first, together with sugar-cane, bamboo - shoots, and
innumerable dried luxuries — cuttlefish, mushrooms, shrimps, and sharksfins —
are imported at comparatively low prices from the south-east and south-west.

But in the present chapter it is proposed to deal, not so much with the
commercial importance of Hsi-an, as with the many interesting relics which
are to be found in the neighbourhood, and which bear witness to the former
glory and prosperity of the ancient capital. A thorough examination of these-
would demand months, at least, of patient research ; an adequate description
would fill several volumes ; so that we must content ourselves with making
mention of such objects of archaeological interest as were brought to our
notice, and setting down any legends or stories about them which came to our
ears.

The visitor to Hsi-an, as he travels over the rolling plain from no matter
what direction, cannot fail to notice numerous mounds of unusual shape dotted
about everywhere like immense molehills, often attaining a height of at least
100 feet, and standing on bases of very considerable area. So remarkable are
they that he will instinctively seek information concerning them, and will
learn that they are the tombs of kings and emperors, and their wives, and of
scholars and sages notable in their day. But few indeed have anything in the
way of tombstone or epitaph to tell who sleeps beneath the tons of yellow
earth ; though, concerning some, fantastic legends still linger in the minds of
the people. Perhaps the best known of the many hundred mounds that go to
make the Hsi-an plain a veritable Royal Cemetery, is the one that marks the
burial place of Shih Huang-ti, of the Chin dynasty, the builder of the Great
Wall. This mound is situated some twelve or fifteen miles to the east of
Hsi-an and close to the small town of Lin-t'ung Hsien, famous for the hot
springs already described. This mound differs from the others in resembling
a bell-tent, much depressed, instead of a camel's hump, and in being
surmounted by a monument. It rises to a height of about thirty feet, and is
said to contain vast treasure. The story goes that extraordinary precautions
were taken to prevent the rifling of the tomb ; special mechanism was devised
to secure the vault, and the workmen who constructed it were buried inside.
Shih Huang-ti {ne Prince Ch'eng) was hated by the literati of his age because

45 V

he ordered the destruction of many classics and other valued books, and
eventually, on remonstrance being made, burnt alive 400 of the philosophers
themselves. He sought to strengthen the nation by means of martial
exercises rather than by increased book-learning, with the result that his
countrymen, averse to militarism in any form, remember him with odium to
this day. In fact the people living in the immediate vicinity of his tomb still
use his name to frighten their children into good behaviour, and as a term of
abuse in scoldings and quarrels.

The next mound of more than ordinary interest is situated on a loess
rise some six miles south of the city. It contains the remains of Kao-ti the
first Emperor of the Western Han dynasty, which lasted from 206 B.C. to
25 A.D. Not far distant, on another prominence in the loess, lies a third mound,
wherein rests the Empress Dowager, illustrious mother of Kao-ti, and heroine
of a quaint legend. Of humble parentage, it seems that when but a girl she
had a dream in which an old man informed her that she would become the
mother of an emperor. She told her strange dream to the neighbours ; and
being spread abroad, it came to the ears of the reigning emperor. With true
Oriental cunning, this superstitious but wily ruler hit upon the simple
expedient of marrying the woman, who, in due course, presented him with a
son. In this way the succession was assured to his family without any
opposition being offered to the supposed divine prophecy. As already
indicated, the son, although as born of a secondary wife, not the real heir,
actually succeeded to the throne, and became the first Emperor of the glorious
Han dynasty, and at his death was buried in the spot now marked by a huge
mound. Both these famous mounds can be seen from the walls of the city.
Before leaving this subject we will refer to the mound which marks the burial-
place of the famous Yellow Emperor at Chung-pu Hsien. One of the five
semi-mythical emperors of China, Huang-ti*, is supposed to have begun his
reign in the year 2698 B.C., and to have continued on the throne for 100 years.
Beyond this, little is known of the warrior king. It may be interesting to
note that according to our generally received chronology, Noah must have
been a comparatively young man — about 250 years old — at the time of
Huang-ti's accession. Other mounds contain the remains of emperors of the
Western Han and Chou dynasties.

The district further abounds in ancient tablets and monuments of stone,
some adorned with beautiful pictures, others studded with characters and

* This monarch xt. />af excellence the Huang-ii (Yellow Emperor) of Chinese history, though all his successors have

borne the same title.

46

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recording interesting historical events. Thus of the many large and beautiful
temples within the confines of the city, the famous Pei-ling (Monument
Grove) is perhaps the most interesting. Here are preserved over a thousand
tablets of stone, on which are carved many of the ancient masterpieces of
Chinese brushwork, both literary and pictorial. All styles of writing are
represented, many being of extraordinary beauty and quaintness. The temple
is a somewhat rambling place, and the tablets are arranged in rows in long
halls, or grouped under shed roofs. Others are let into the walls, but these
are smaller and would be more liable to unauthorised removal. The place of
honour in the grand upper hall is occupied by a large portrait of Confucius,
and to this the Chinese who visit the place always make obeisance on entering
the hall, or in crossing the pavement that leads up to it. There is a certain
dignity in the features of the Oriental teacher, as depicted on the tablet, but it
cannot be said to equal several portraits of the sage extant in various parts of
China. In the same hall there are full-length portraits of other celebrities
and deities. To the left the Goddess of Mercy is shown on a large monument.
The artist, in this instance, has succeeded in getting wonderful grace of hne in
the sweeping curves of the drapery. The typically Indian features, pose, and
attire only serve to emphasise the strong influence which that country has had
upon the Chinese in religion, culture, and art. A smaller monument near to
the sacred Confucian portrait gives a remarkable picture representing a
certain Ta-mo (pron. " Dah-mah "), who, according to ancient legends, came
from the West about the beginning of the Christian era as the teacher of
a new religion. He is supposed to have carried his religion to the Japanese,
crossing the sea by miraculous agency on a straw. A picture of the missionary
standing on a stem of wheat, which floats on the conventional waves of
Chinese art, also stands in the Confucian hall. In both pictures the head is
remarkable by its difference from the Mongol type. The abundance of curly
hair, the markedly Semitic nose, the thick eyebrows, moustache, and beard —
all suggest the Jew. From the Rev. F. Madeley comes a tentative suggestion
that the original of these portraits and legends was no other than St. Thomas
the Apostle, who is supposed to have travelled into Central Asia as a
missionary. The name is distinctively suggestive.

Kuan Li (or Kuan Kung), the God of War, is also represented in this
wonderful stone portrait gallery. In the accounts of this redoubtable warrior,
fact and fiction are so inextricably mingled that it is difficult to know what to
believe concerning him. However, it seems fairly certain that, originally a
market-huckster {circa i8o A.D.), on becoming a soldier he espoused the cause

47

of Liu-pei, towards the end of the second century A.D., and became a national
hero. He was canonised in the 12th century, " became in time a tutelary
deity " at the end of the i6th century, and was " promoted " to the " rank of
God " by the Emperor Wan Li (Ming).

Let into the wall, and immediately behind the Confucian portrait, is a
small tablet on which are shown the two sides of a fan. On the one side,
amongst reeds and water lilies, stand two cranes, on the other is neatly
written a quotation, or composition. The original picture and writings, from
which the^cuttings were made, are acknowledged to be the handiwork of the
scholarly Emperor K'ang-hsi ; and they certainly attest his ability.

Leaving the grand upper hall, we pass down a roofed pavement, lined
on either side with large tablets covered with various writings in every
conceivable style of character. To-day some of these even Chinese scholars
cannot decipher. Here and there a single large rendering of the character
" Fu" (prosperity) occupies the whole surface of a tablet, and is much admired
by scholars as the work of some famous scribe. One example, executed with a
single continuous sweep and flourish of a large brush, is placed to the credit of
K'ang-hsi, and is especially valued and admired.

Turning to the right, when about half way along the avenue of
monuments, one reaches shortly a large side room, wherein a fine collection of
massive monuments are arranged in picturesque confusion, some standing on
solid cubical bases, some leaning against the walls or propped against one
another. This room seems to be devoted to artistic productions rather than
to literary works, and some of the pictures it contains reach a high standard.
Particularly is this the case with a large tablet that faces the door ; a repro-
duction of a rubbing from this stone is given in Plate 26, so that a description
is unnecessary. On another tablet, of equal size, are given the eight principal
views round Hsi-an Fu, a description of each appearing below it. This tablet,
and two others bearing quaintly executed representations of T'ai-pei Shan and
Hua Shan, two of the five sacred mountains of China, show that scenic
beauty appeals to the cultivated Chinese mind. T'ai-pei Shan is a lofty peak
lying some days' journey south-west of Hsi-an. It is studded with temples,
but extensive and very precipitous, giving shelter to the Tahkin (a peculiar
animal, looking like a cross between an ox and a goat), the goral (goat-
antelope), and other animals of shy and retiring habits. The priests of the
temples, and the natives of the district, being good Buddhists, do not chase
these animals, which fact no doubt accounts for their presence in great
numbers. Hua Shan, as stated in the preceding chapter, is situated close to

48

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the eastern border of the province of Shensi, not far from T'ung-kuan, and is
supposed to represent Buddha's hand. The pictures of both mountains have
something of the form of charts, each temple having its name cut beside it ;
whilst the paths up to them are marked by dotted lines. Sweeping clouds,
mountain torrents, lakes and waterfalls are all represented conventionally,
but with wonderful grace.

Our attention is next drawn to what is known as the Kuo-fing, a sort of
lobby that divides one court from another in large Chinese buildings. Here
we find the famous Nestorian tablet,* about which so much has been written.
This was erected about 781, A.D., to commemorate the advent of Christianity
into China in the 6th century, the followers of Nestorius founding a church
in Shensi about this period. Up till about two years before our visit, the
tablet stood unprotected in the west suburb of the city ; but on an attempt
being made by a Swedish collector to carry it off for some western museum,
the Chinese authorities realised that what was worth removing was worth
retaining, and it was placed amongst the other tablets in the Monument
Grove. This interesting relic of early Christianity in China stands upon a
large stone tortoise and is of considerable size. The combined height of
tablet and tortoise must be over ten feet, so that one does not envy the
collector the task he had set himself in endeavouring to transport it out of
the country. As a matter of fact, this enterprising gentleman had an exact
counterpart of the monument made, and this he almost succeeded in getting
out of the country; but after endless troubles with Customs officials and
others, he dumped it down and left it somewhere along the Yang-tzu. The
mention of museums recalls a story told by one of the missionaries at Hsi-an
Fu. He had bought a complete set of rubbings of all the massive stone
monuments in the Pei-ling — one thousand odd, and sent them to a famous
museum in Europe. The rubbings were returned with thanks, and an
intimation that the originals would be greatly appreciated!

A set of galleries — in many ways the most interesting part of Monument
Grove — is next reached. The sixteen classics are here set forth in ordinary
caligraphy, written upon both sides of some one hundred and fifty tablets of
immense size. These alone would serve to mark the galleries for special
veneration and respect amongst all classes in China ; but there are, in addition,
many other tablets of interest and renown. What are supposed to be the
oldest of Mohammedan monuments find shelter within these sacred walls.

A very interesting account of the Nestorian tablet is given in "China and Keliiiioii," by Professor E. H. Parker, M.A.
S 49

They are dated 742 A.D. and are specially interesting as giving early Arabic
and Chinese history. The Rev. Frank Madeley, for some years resident in
Hsi-an, was the first to draw the attention of Mr. Marshall Broomhall (of the
Chinese Inland Mission) to the two monuments, and the latter subsequently
brought out a book upon them.

The monument Hsia Yii Ch'ii Shui Pi (" How Yii of the Hsia dynasty
controlled the flood ") is also ensconced within this building. As the
description sets forth, it deals with the controlling of a flood by one Yii, who
lived in the 21st century B.C. The flood referred to was doubtless due to the
overflow of the Wei Ho, and to this day the banks of the river have to be
carefully watched, continuous earthworks running parallel to its course some
little distance from the water's edge. The story goes that the great Yii was
deputed by the then ruler of the kingdom to reclaim the flooded lands, and
confine the river to its proper course. He showed great devotion to this duty
by labouring unceasingly for two years ; nor did he once during that time cross
the threshold of his home to see his newly-wedded wife. Even when he heard
the cry of his infant son, as he passed the house, he refused to enter. He
eventually succeeded in bringing the water under subjection in the year
2286 B.C., and was ennobled. In 2205 he ascended the throne and founded
the Hsia dynasty. His death took place in 2107 B.C. ; from which it will be
seen that he enjoyed a portion of the longevity so common at that period of
the world's history. This monument is in the '* bird-foot " character, with
ordinary Chinese character added where the meaning is known.

A quaint picture carved upon a small tablet and representing a clump of
bamboos — the leaves cunningly arranged to form a number of Chinese
characters — is supposed to be the work of Kuan Li, the God of War. Close
by stands another interesting tablet of about the same size. This has, carved
on alternate squares, what seem at first five weird symbols, and paragraphs of
descriptive writing. The five symbols are supposed to be maps of the Five
Sacred Mountains already mentioned.

The pictures and writings in most cases were executed originally not on
stone, but on paper. They were carefully preserved, but in spite of all
precautions began to show signs of perishing. Accordingly, the famous and
scholarly Emperor K'ang-hsi had the valuable inscriptions and pictures
accurately transferred to stone, so that they might be everlastingly preserved
to the Chinese people. Thus many of the monuments themselves are not
more than 250 years old, though the originals of the writings and drawings
preserved upon them are mostly of great age. A fair proportion of the actual

50

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monuments themselves are of considerable antiquity, notably the Hsia Yii
Ch'ii Shui Pi, the pair of Mohammedan monuments, the Nestorian tablet,
and the sixteen classics. The stones are usually oblong in shape, and over
six inches thick. In many, the sides have been decorated with beautiful scroll
work, showing marked signs of Indian influence. In some of these designs
are figures of animals and birds that strongly call to mind the Assyrian
sculptures. Especially is this the case with some lions, which bear no
resemblance whatever to the conventional Chinese form. For a moderate
sum excellent rubbings of all the monuments can be bought from the
gate-keepers of Monument Grove, who are moreover ready with any amount
of information, accurate or otherwise.

In a large pagoda a mile or so south of Hsi-an are two Buddhist
monuments dated the fourth year of Yung Hui, which corresponds to the year
653-4 A.D. of our Calendar. They tell of the visit of a Chinese pilgrim to
India to learn what he could of Buddhism ; of how, after crossing the Ganges,
he studied the language of the country and the new faith ; and of his eventual
return to Hsi-an, where he was loaded with honours. The stones further
relate how he translated 250 Buddhist books into Chinese ; but perhaps their
date is the most interesting feature, coming as it does within a year or so of
a date upon the Nestorian tablet. This seems to suggest that Christianity
and Buddhism may have reached parts of China almost simultaneously.

A few other monuments or tablets may be noticed here, though they
cannot be said strictly to belong to Hsi-an Fu. Two of these form a pair
near Chou-chih Hsien, a small town situated at the foot of the Middle-South
Mountains (Chung-nan Shan), fifty miles west of Hsi-an. On these monuments
are inscribed the whole of the Tao-tei-ching, the Taoist classics. At Yao
Chou, a large town some fifty miles north of Hsi-an, is a broken Buddhist
tablet dated 529 a.d. This is one of the oldest monuments in the district,
but is otherwise of no great interest. There are besides, tablets, though of no
very ancient date, cemented into the walls of the buildings within the grounds
of the hot springs at Lin-t'ung Hsien, and testifying to the heahng properties
of the waters.

At Hsi-an we were detained some days by the necessity of taking
astronomical observations, but by May 6th we were once more on the road to
Lan-chou. After clearing the western suburb and traversing some ten miles
of low-lying country, we once more crossed the Wei Ho, and stopped the first
night at Hsien-yang Hsien, which lies on the bank of that river. About three
miles from this town the road begins to ascend a series of loess steps, and from

51

there onward steadily rises till it reaches an altitude of nearly 9000 feet at the
summit of the Yung-yao Pass to the west of P'ing-liang Fu (Kansu). These
mountains make a formidable barrier and can only be negotiated with great
difficulty. The eastern slope is about three miles in length, in which distance
it rises about 3000 feet. To accomplish this ascent, each cart needs about
treble its usual number of mules, and several carters have to combine to help
one another, their wretched animals being forced to make the heart-breaking
journey two or even three times during the day. Not infrequently a caravan
will spend the whole day in getting across this difficult pass. The severity of
the strain on the animals may be gathered from the innumerable skeletons
that litter the slopes close to the road. The difference in temperature
between the eastern and western slopes of these mountains was very
noticeable. On the eastern side foliage was well advanced ; the valleys and
ravines were filled with dense bushes already in full leaf; the slopes were
covered with scrub in an equally advanced condition ; whilst the trees that
lined the roads had assumed their summer livery. The western side presented
a very different aspect ; the slopes, valleys, and ravines were almost nude ; no
green was to be seen ; a few straggling trees stood bare and brown in the
bottoms of the hollows. In crossing the pass the travellers had stepped from
a beautiful country, rich in animal life and sylvan scenery, into a dry, cold,
and barren wilderness.

At a small village about five days journey from Hsi-an, we came across a
temple of the T'ang dynasty, Ta-fu-ssu (Great Sage Temple). This consists
of a cave close upon seventy feet high, and proportionately wide and deep,
in which sits a colossal Buddha placidly contemplating the eternal cycle of
things, and supported on either side by gigantic attendant deities. The
figures, as well as the cave itself, have all been hewn with infinite labour out
of the solid cliff. This temple had been repaired recently, and the figures
were covered with plaster and gorgeously painted. It is possible to view this
Buddha from three different points ; the ground floor, a balcony at about half
the height of the figure, and a second balcony on a level with the face. From
this last a photograph of the face was obtained, and is reproduced in this
volume.

It may not be out of place here to mention another temple of the same
dynasty lying some six miles south of Ho-nan Fu, and known as Lung-k'ou
Miao (Dragon's Mouth Temple). This consists of a series of large caves in
the side of a deep gorge cutting through a range of low, rocky mountains.
Within the caves are large images of Buddha, and attendant sages, all hewn

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from the solid rock. The Buddhas, seated as usual on lotus Hly pedestals,
must be from twenty-five to thirty feet high, whilst the figures grouped
around, all of which are standing, must be from twelve to eighteen feet.

All the figures in both these temples are exceedingly ugly and ill-
proportioned, in strong contrast to the beautiful statues found in the Sung
dynasty temples of a later date round Yen-an Fu, and in north-central Shensi
generally. Other points of difference between temples of the two periods are
that the T'ang temples are much higher, and contain fewer but larger figures ;
on the other hand the Sung temples have their walls lined with innumerable
little images of Buddha carved out of the rock. It would seem as if at the
earlier date the idea of multiplying images of Buddha, as an act of merit, had
not been developed, though what may be regarded as the germ of the later
idea is traceable in the Lung-k'ou Miao by tablets and slabs of rock, on
which have been carved in low relief rows of little Buddhas an inch or so in
height. It is interesting to note that the idea of excavating Buddhist temples
from solid rock cliffs and mountains seems to have originated in India. The
mouths of these caves are usually built up with beams, bricks, and mortar,
and afterwards finished with tiling to form the roofs, verandahs and balconies,
in imitation of the fronts of ordinary temples.

But little of interest happened to us during our march to Lan-chou. We
found the inn-keepers more artful and cunning than further north ; certainly
more sophisticated than a man near Yu-lin Fu, who had run after us for three
miles to enquire if we had taken his dish-cloth. At one place on this road
we noticed a sediment in some hot water supplied to us ; this the inn-keeper
tried to explain away as ** only a few millet grains." But on being cross-
examined he admitted that he had put the millet in on purpose to disguise the
sediment, or at least to have an explanation ready. He was outdone,
however, by another man who, on being asked for tea, gave us what seemed
to be hot water with some grains and bits of stick in it. The sticks he
described as ** mountain tea." On being asked for millet gruel, he pointed to
the grains, ** This is millet gruel." On being asked for hot water, he again
pointed, ** This is hot water " ; thus keeping one fluid to meet all require-
ments. It was certainly as much like one as another.

This road from Hsi-an to Lan-chou has been described in detail by other
travellers, and consequently requires but little description here. It runs through
Hsien-yang Hsien, Li-ch'Uan Hsien, Ch'ien Chou, Yung-shou Hsien, Pin Chou,
Ch'ang-wu Hsien, and, passing into Kansu, traverses Kan-chou Fu, P'ing-liang
Fu, Ching-ning Chou, and then via Hui-ning and An-ting {vide pp. 58, 59).

63

For the greater part it is lined with rows of lofty trees, limes, elms, and
poplars. The majority of these were planted by General Ma's troops after
they had quelled the Mohammedan rebellion ; hence the road is known as
" Ma's Avenue." The notorious Tung Fu-shang similarly planted with trees
many of the parts neglected by General Ma. Needless to say in a country
so barren as the greater part of Kansu, these trees afford an inestimable boon
to the jaded traveller. There are, of course, some pleasant spots along
this wearisome highroad, such as the eastern slopes of the Yung-yao Pass,
and the country adjoining the Yung-shou Hsien Pass, about four days' journey
from Hsi-an Fu ; but for days together the traveller may see nothing but bare,
brown hills, and dry, stony valleys. The country from Ching-ning Chou to
Lan-chou Fu was suffering from a protracted drought. The natives said
that insufficient rain had fallen for three years. The dust was terrible, and
it was with no little satisfaction that we arrived at the end of our nineteen
days' journey, to find the other members of the expedition, whom we had not
seen for months, comfortably ensconced in a pleasant garden outside the walls
of Lan-chou.

54

PLATE 26.

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CHAPTER VII.

MARCH OF DOUGLAS AND GRANT TO LAN-CHOU— DESCRIPTION OF

LAN-CHOU FU.

'THE other division of the expedition, under Captain Douglas and Mr.

Grant, had left Yen-an Fu on January 30th, and moving by easy stages
and with halts of varying duration, reached Lan-chou on April 6th.

Following the same road as Clark and Sowerby as far south as Fu-chou,
the caravan then turned westward, ascending almost immediately a long
slope which led up to some loess plateaux similar to those encountered by the
others to the east of that town. Ch'ang-ts'un-yi, distant from Fu-chou some
17^ miles, was the first halting place reached after that town was left on
February 5th. The road, owing to frozen snow and steep gradients, was very
bad. Bustard were seen on the plateau, but none were secured.

After resting a day at Ch'ang-ts'un-yi, the march was resumed and
Hai-shui-ssu was reached on February 7th. This place is nearly seventeen
miles from Ch'ang-ts'un-yi and is situated in an open fertile valley at an
altitude of a little over 3000 feet. The journey was accomplished without
difficulty as the road was good. A narrow plateau, reaching an altitude of
3600 feet, was crossed during the day ; but elsewhere the road wound up and
down ravines and valleys, all of which seemed to unite towards the south.
The population of Hai-shui-ssu seemed to be about two hundred and fifty.

On February gth, the border line between Shensi and Kansu was crossed
soon after leaving Hai-shui-ssu. After travelling for twenty miles along a
good road through a well wooded country, the caravan reached T'ai-pei-ch'eng,
a dilapidated village containing scarcely a hundred souls. All along the
road lay ruined and deserted villages — results, it was ascertained, of the
Mohammedan rebellion, and the great famine. Most of the people now in
the district were found to be from Ssuch'uan, and they, but recent
settlers, had not yet effaced the terrible marks of these ravaging influences.
Miao-ts'un was reached on February nth, after a journey through very wild,
heavily-wooded and almost deserted country. The timber was not large,
showing that it had only been allowed to grow from a comparatively recent
date. The distance between this village and T'ai-pei-ch'6ng was, by road-
wheel, seventeen miles. Hazrat Ali shot two roedeer in this country, and
other game was plentiful.

95

The expedition continued its westward march on February 14th, and after
crossing a pass at an altitude of over 5000 feet, and descending into a steadily
widening and very fertile valley, reached the small walled town of Ho-shui
Hsien. The hills on either side of the road were covered with scrub, and but
few villages were seen. The road, since leaving Ch'ang-ts'un-yi, had been
excellent for mule traffic, whilst the country consisted of loess, with here and
there signs of carboniferous bed-rock. There was plenty of water, perennial
streams, now frozen over, flowing at the bottom of each ravine, and in every
valley. This last stage was nineteen miles. The following day Ch'ing-yang
Fu was reached after a journey of over twenty miles through a terraced loess
country, which, however, showed few signs of cultivation, and was but
sparsely populated. There was every evidence that Ch'ing-yang Fu had been
at one time a fine and prosperous city, but its population had fallen victims to
a massacre in the Mohammedan rebellion, and the place had never regained
its former importance, containing now at a liberal estimate not more than
1000 inhabitants. A halt was made here till February 21st, when the journey
westward was resumed. Pai-ma-p'u, a miserable village situated on a plateau,
was reached that night after a march of fourteen miles through poor countr}'.
On the following day Hsi-f6ng-ch^n was reached, and here a halt was made
till February 25th. The distance between this and the last stopping-place
was twenty-one miles along a good cart-road lying over the loess plateau.
Many bustard were seen, and Grant secured one at long range.

On February 25th, the journey was continued still over similar country
till T'ai-pei-ch'^ng was reached, this being the second village of that name
met with in Kansu; it is about sixteen miles from Hsi-f^ng-chdn. Chen-yiian
Hsien, the next halting-place, was reached on February 27th after a journey of
fifteen miles, again over loes§ plateaux, on the western limit of which the
town is situated. It is decidedly more prosperous than any of the places
passed by the exj>edition since leaving Fu-chou in Shensi, and contains a
Protestant Mission Station. Between Ch'ing-yang Fu and Chen-yuan Hsien
runs a cart-road, which, although not very good for carts, is excellent for mule
traffic. From Ch^n-yuan it goes southward to P'ing-liang Fu.

After one day's stay at Ch^n-yuan, the expedition continued its journey
towards Lan-chou. Yang-shu-wan, situated at an altitude of about 5300 feet, was
reached on March ist. The country passed through looked much more
prosperous, and the land was all under cultivation. The road was good, so
that the twenty-one miles between this village and Ch6n-yUan were accom-
plished in good time, the usual loess hills being encountered. Owing to the

56

PLATE 27.

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melting of the recent heavy snows, the Chien-tsai Ho, up the right bank of
which the caravan travelled all day, was slightly in flood, and the current was
rapid, flowing at about six miles an hour.

On March 3rd Liu-chia-hua was reached, a village situated another
eighteen miles up the same valley. The road, though good, was very winding
in its course, whilst the country was prosperous-looking and well cultivated.
Leaving Liu-chia-hua on March 5th, the caravan continued up the valley for
fifteen miles, finally reaching a small village named J6n-sa-ho. From here a
high range of mountains could be discerned stretching away to the south.
The following day a loess pass of some 7600 feet was crossed, and a descent
made into Ku-yiian Chou. This large and prosperous town is situated close
to the hills, and at the commencement of a somewhat extensive plain. Away
to the south can be seen the massive peaks and ridges of the Liu-p'an Shan,
whilst to the north and west the country rises very gradually into loess hills.
The population of this town must be close upon 5000, and it is the distributing
centre of a large area ; its prosperity being due to the large number of
Mohammedans, both in the town itself and in the surrounding district. The
expedition rested here till March i6th, comfortable quarters having been found
in the suburb outside the south gate. The town is about fourteen miles from
Jen-sa-ho and has an altitude of about 6300 feet.

On leaving Ku-yiian, the travellers encountered country which differed
considerably from anything they had yet traversed, either in Shensi or Kansu.
The road for the first few miles lay in a south-westerly direction, slowly
ascending to the foot of a rocky ridge. Crossing this ridge, the caravan
descended into a narrow valley running in a southerly direction between two
other high and rocky ridges. For some miles the road slowly ascended the
valley, which grew steadily narrower, ending finally in a low pass. The sides
of the valley were very precipitous, ascending to the height of some thousand
feet above the road. There was a certain amount of vegetation, but for the
most part the highest slopes were covered with grass only. After crossing the
pass the caravan followed a ravine, which extended in a south-westerly
direction. The sides of this ravine were lower than those of that previously
ascended, whilst rich, red earth took the place of the limestone hitherto
encountered. To the east could be seen a chain of high, rugged and snow-
covered mountains extending in a south-easterly direction. There was now
more vegetation along the roadside, and the slopes of the red-earth hills were
under cultivation. At last the ravine widened out, and a small village situated
within and below the remains of an old garrison town was reached. This was

57

Ch'ang-yi-p'u, about twenty miles from Ku-yiian, and containing perhaps a
score of tumble-down houses. To the north and south ran ridges of high
rounded hills, and eastward the massive peaks of the Liu-p'an Shan rose to an
altitude of 10,000 feet. The country opened out to the west into a wide and
fertile valley, bordered by comparatively low loess hills.

On March i8th the descent was continued down the wide valley to the
west, and after fourteen miles of pleasant, well-cultivated country had been
traversed, Ch'ang-t'ai-p'u, a pretty walled village, was reached. Here the
houses, though small and built mainly of sun-dried bricks, were in good
repair, and the inhabitants looked prosperous. Once more the loess country
had been reached, and only in the watercourses were there any signs of the
rocky country just traversed.

The next stage — a long one of twenty-four miles — brought the travellers
to the large and busy walled-town of Ching-ning Chou. Just before this
town was reached, the valley, which had been followed in its south-westerly
direction from Ch'ang-t'ai-p'u, narrowed down to a deep gorge winding through
a ridge of limestone. The villages passed through during the day were
mostly Mohammedan, and were all prosperous-looking places, whilst the
population of Ching-ning could not be less than 5000. Two days were spent
here and on March 23rd the march to Lan-chou was resumed. At this point
the road hitherto followed joins the great highway from Hsi-an Fu to
Lan-chou Fu, so that the expedition was no longer traversing regions hitherto
unexplored. The road from Ku-yiian Chou to Ching-ning Chou is suitable
for wheeled traffic, and a considerable number of carts were passed. In
places the going was a bit rough, but no heavy gradients exist, and the route
is excellent for mule transport. The country west of Ching-ning consisted
for the most part of high loess mountains, and was very barren, though
everywhere the surface showed signs of actual or recent cultivation. The
natives complained of the want of rain, and were very poverty-stricken.
Immense caiions winding through vast deposits of loess were noticed
frequently. Sometimes the road would follow one of these, and at other
times it would lie over the top or along the ridges.

On the first day after leaving Ching-ning, a pass of about 7500 feet was
crossed, the caravan subsequently finding quarters in a village named
Ching-chia-yi after a march of twenty-three and a half miles. Many villages
were passed during the day's journey, but none were very large or important.
On March 25th Hui-ning Hsien was reached after a hard journey of nearly
twenty-six miles. This town is used as an exile-station, and although of

6S

PLATE 28.

considerable extent is almost in ruins, the population not exceeding 500 all
told. On March 27th Hsi-kung-yi was reached, after a short day's journey of
fifteen miles. The country passed through was entirely of loess, and no bed
rock was seen, though the bottom of a deep canon, up which the road lay,
was noticed to be full of boulders, cobbles, and gravel, all of which had
evidently been brought down by water from high mountains somewhere to
the west.

Soon after leaving. Hsi-kung-yi the caravan ascended the high loess
mountains called Ching-liang Shan, and for some time continued along ridges
of the same. In places, outcrops of rock explained the existence of the
boulders and cobbles noticed on the preceding day. Towards the end of the
day and after a long descent into a wide valley, a large walled town named
An-ting Hsien was reached. This place is situated seventeen miles from
Hsi-kung-yi, and has a population of about 3000. During the day's march
many carts were encountered laden with waterpipe tobacco. Heavy snow was
experienced during the forenoon, rendering the road, which was otherwise
good, very slushy.

On April ist the caravan left An-ting Hsien, and after travelling for
seventeen miles over a good road through the usual loess valleys, put up at a
small place named Ch'6ng-k'ou-yi, the population of which was estimated at
about 200. The inns being very bad, the travellers availed themselves of the
privilege of stopping at the official rest-house. The following day the journey
was continued ; the road gradually ascending till an altitude of 8000 feet was
reached. From this point high mountains could be seen to the south and
south-west. The road then followed the top of the ridge for a distance of
seven miles ; the slopes on either side were very steep, whilst the ravine-
bottom was judged to be a thousand feet, or more, below the road level. The
ridge was composed chiefly of very hard and compact loess, though rock
was noticed occasionally further down the slopes and along the beds of the
ravines. Just before reaching Kan-tsao-tien — a prosperous-looking village
some fourteen miles from Ch'6ng-k'ou-yi — the caravan made a sharp descent
from the high loess ridges into the valley. The road traversed during the day
was, in places, very bad, especially for cart traffic. The slopes on either side
were all under cultivation.

On April 4th, after crossing a low spur of loess, and travelling for some
distance along a wide stream-bed, thickly strewn with cobbles and boulders,
the caravan reached Hsiao-shui-tzti, a little village perched upon a rocky cliff
on the south bank of the Yellow River. The stream, whose course had been

5^

followed most of the day, joins the river close to this village, after forcing its
way through a thick layer of rock. At this point too, the Yellow River itself
cuts deeply through the thick layer of igneous rock — its course being very
tortuous, and the current swift. Immediately on leaving Hsiao-shui-tzii it
turns northwards, continuing its way through a series of much contorted hills
of igneous and water-formed rock. This day's march was found to be twenty-
six-and-half miles.

The following day Lan-chou Fu was reached after a journey of fifteen
miles along dusty roads, lying for the most part over loess and sandstone hills.
Three miles from Lan-chou, the road descends into a wide valley through
which flows the Yellow River. The country here looked very deserted, the
high loess hills on either side of the valley being bare of vegetation, whilst the
valley itself presented the appearance of a sandy waste, thickly covered with
graves. Notwithstanding the desolate appearance of the place, the travellers
were heartily glad to have reached the end of their long overland journey. It
was difficult to find quarters, all the inns being wretchedly small and dirty.
Visits were made to many places, including a beautiful temple situated a little
to the east of the city at Lien-hua-ch'ih (Lotus Flower Pool) ; and eventually
the summer residence of a wealthy native family was engaged. In the
pavilions of its lovely garden ample room was found for all the members of
the expedition, and they settled down to await the arrival of Clark and
Sowerby, with the supplies and extra outfit necessary for the intended
extension of work along the Tibetan border.

The city of Lan-chou Fu is of considerable size and importance. It is
situated on the right (south) bank of the Huang Ho, at the point where the
great high road into Chinese Turkestan crosses that river. Its population has
been estimated at half-a-million, several sections having been built on to the
western wall to take in and protect the buildings forming an overflow outside
the main city. The streets, which at the time of our visit were being
macadamized, are narrow; the houses well-built and very closely packed.
The walls and gate -towers are in excellent repair, though several salients
guarding the western approaches of the city have been allowed to sink into
disrepair. The chief industries carried on are the manufacture of waterpipe
tobacco, for which Lan-chou is famous all over China, and the curing of furs
brought in from the west. Gold and silversmiths and jade-merchants do a
good trade, whilst curio shops are very numerous.

The valley in which Lan-chou is situated is of comparative fertility, due
mainly to the supply of water readily obtainable from the Yellow River. For

90

PLATE 29.

purposes of irrigation the farmers resort to the method prevalent in
Ssuch'uan ; immense wooden wheels with buckets attached are placed so
that the current of the river causes them to revolve ; the water is thus
automatically carried up in the buckets, and being emptied into troughs flows
into canals thus fertilising the thirsty fields, which would otherwise be of
necessity useless. A considerable amount of opium is grown in the valley ;
tobacco, vegetables, and a little wheat forming the rest of the crops produced.
Immediately adjoining the city are some fine orchards, one of which was
within the grounds of our residence. For the rest, the surrounding country —
save for perennial streams along the ravine-bottoms — seems to be utterly
dessicated and sterile ; indeed, Europeans who have been long resident in the
district state that the desert is approaching slowly but surely from the north,
and engulfing the country. Of the truth of this there can be but little doubt,
and were it not for the Yellow River, Lan-chou would certainly cease to exist.
The river, at this point some 300 yards wide and 25 feet deep, was formerly
crossed in summer by means of an extensive but very shaky pontoon, liable
to breakage in the rainy season by any more than usually heavy rush of water.
An iron bridge was in process of construction during our visit, and was
completed at the end of the same summer, so that the old boat-bridge is now
a thing of the past. Great anxiety was felt by Mr. Coltman, the engineer in
charge, as to how the bridge would stand the severe strain of the autumn
floods ; but though the rains, which commenced in July, were the heaviest
that had been experienced in the district for many years, and the river in
consequence rose far above the usual high-water-mark, the well-planned and
strongly-built structure stood the test, and remains a fine example of modern
engineering skill.

We saw the first samples of woollen cloth produced in Lan-chou. More
than thirty years ago, Tso Ching-t'ang, an official of the city, had decided to
start an industry in the manufacture of woollen goods. All the machinery
necessary for a large factory was bought and transported overland from the
sea-coast at great cost, only to be dumped down and allowed to rust on
reaching its destination. Rockhill (author of " The Land of the Lamas ")
speaks of seeing the chimney of the wool-factory at Lan-chou, which was at
that time (1888) abandoned. It is only quite recently that an official, more
enterprising than his predecessors, has engaged European experts, and
completed the building of the factory and the installation of the machinery.
The Belgians employed in this have had their work cut out, but after untold
labour they have succeeded in getting everything into working order. The

61

wool itself is certainly on the spot, and it will be interesting to see whether
the enterprise succeeds, or fails, as all other large financial speculations
undertaken and controlled by the Chinese have hitherto done. Lan-chou Fu,
though throbbing with life and energy, owes its importance, not to any of the
industries already mentioned, but to its geographical position and official rank.
It forms the regular stopping-place and exchange for a vast amount of traffic,
and countless commerce-laden caravans, situated as it is at the point where
the main road from Sinkiang, Western Mongolia, Northern Tibet, and Siberia
enters China proper. The administrative area of Lan-chou is greater than
that of any other Chinese city except. Peking. Its Viceroy controls an area of
over 750,000 square miles, embracing the whole of Sinkiang, as well as Kansu
and Shensi, or Sh6n-kan (as the two provinces in combination are called), and
containing a population of about twenty millions.

The population of Lan-chou Fu is largely made up of Mohammedans,
who are viewed with suspicion by the officials. In theory they are not allowed
to reside within the walls of the city, but only on the north bank of the river.
This regulation, like so many other laws and regulations in China, is
practically a dead letter. Since the quelling of the Mohammedan rebellion in
1878, Sinkiang, or "The New Dominion" as Chinese Turkestan is called, has
been rapidly peopled with settlers from other provinces, and is in consequence
steadily increasing in importance, and in trade with China generally, and with
Siberia.

No place in China offers better opportunity than does Lan-chou of
studying and comparing the various types that go to form the great Celestial
Empire. The heavily-built Mongol rubs shoulders with the wild and savage-
looking Sifan (Tibetan), or the Turco-Mongol from Kashgar ; here a
Chinaman from one of the southern provinces, easily distinguishable by his
short stature, slight figure, and sallow skin ; there a man from. Sstlch'uan,
with characteristic turban surmounting the equally characteristic moon-face.
A Kansu Mohammedan with long curly beard, and clear-cut features, may be
seen haggling with a broad-nosed, dull-faced native of the province ; or a hot-
headed, rowdy carter from Honan, quarrelling over two grains of sorghum
found in a manger, with a placid, but canny Shansi muleteer.

62

PL4TE 30.

CHAPTER VIII.

MURDER OF HAZRAT ALL

VfOVV occurred the unfortunate murder of our surveyor, Hazrat Ali, who was
wantonly killed by the Chinese during the course of his survey duties.
This'outrage, which was committed without the least provocation on the part
of the victim, or of any other member of the expedition, brought our journey
to an untimely end. How bitterly we all regret the loss of one who was ever
a faithful friend and a devoted worker, it is impossible to say.

The sad occurrence is best described by extracts from the diary of
Sowerby, who was the only foreigner travelling with Hazrat Ali at the time :

" I left Lan-chou on June 20th with Hazrat Ali, his servant, Muhammad
Husein, and a small following of Chinese, with half-a-dozen mules, escorted
by two Chinese soldiers.

" Our objective was Min Chou, a town about five days' journey to the
southward, and we expected to be caught up by Clark's party en route.

** Our road skirted a dry watercourse, which passes close to the west gate
of Lan-chou, and at about five miles from the city we met a caravan of
Tibetans. They were a picturesque-looking set of ruffians, some mounted on
camels or shaggy little ponies, whilst others, including all the women of the
party, trudged on foot. The ladies looked as ferocious as the men and were
equally ready to engage us in conversation, which was an easy matter as both
parties were familiar with Chinese.

" All the Tibetans took great interest in our equipment ; saddles and
guns particularly causing much excited comment.

'* One, who appeared to be the leader of the party, was very anxious that
I should present him with my rifle, and, indeed, tried to draw the coveted
weapon from its case. Unfortunately I did not feel disposed to fall in with
his somewhat extravagant demand, though it is possible that, had we not been
so close to Lan-chou, the party might have attempted to help themselves by
force.

68

" Later on we met a wealthy Kashgari, who had been trading in the
south of the province. He was seated in a large cart, evidently not of Chinese
build, to which three horses were harnessed abreast, in Russian fashion.

" We continued to pass numerous carts and strings of camels and mules,
which testified to the popularity of the road as a trade route.

" At Wa-kang-ch'6ng, a large village about ten miles from Lan-chou, the
inhabitants were engaged in the manufacture of rough earthenware vessels,
clay being plentiful in the district and fair coal obtainable in the neighbouring
ravine.

" About thirteen miles from Lan-chou, vegetation became denser and the
watercourse, which had been dry up to now, commenced to hold a streamlet
of water. We wound up the ravine for another two miles and then began a
steep ascent to the summit of the pass (6500 feet), whence we descended a
steep ravine to the village of Ma-chia-k'ou. Here we decided to halt for a day,
as the surveyor wished to visit some of the neighbouring peaks for purposes of
triangulation.

** Although everyone appeared perfectly friendly, I thought it better to
re-iterate my warnings to Hazrat Ali never to work unarmed and always to
take one of the Chinese soldiers with him on his excursions, as a sign that the
party was travelling under official sanction.

** On June 21st, Hazrat Ali started at an early hour to commence his
survey from one of the high peaks about six miles to the east of our camp.

** Unfortunately I was called away on some camp duty and missed seeing
him before he left. I was consequently much annoyed to find later on that
he was not accompanied by one of the escort. His servant assured me, how-
ever, that he had gone out well armed, so that there appeared to be no cause
for anxiety.

** Rain fell heavily during the day, and, as I knew this would interfere
considerably with the progress of the survey, I did not expect Hazrat Ali to
return until towards nightfall, as I knew how conscientiously he always
carried out his day's work.

" As night drew in without his returning, I decided to take out guides to
his assistance, in case he should lose his way in the darkness.

" As our party was on the point of setting out, one of the plane-table
coolies crawled into camp, covered with wounds and with his arm broken.

" The poor fellow informed us that the survey party had been attacked,
without warning or provocation, by a large gang of natives from the villages

64

PLATE 31.

on a plateau about six miles east of our camp. The man himself had been
severely assaulted and robbed of his watch, but had made good his escape.
He knew nothing of the fate of the surveyor or of the other plane-table coolie.
His assailants had informed him that they intended to make an immediate
attack on our camp at Ma-chia-k'ou, in order to kill all the foreigners. On
hearing this, the servants became panic-stricken, and vainly implored me to
return forthwith to Lan-chou. The night was now pitch dark and the guides
flatly refused to assist me in searching for traces of the surveyor, and without
their aid it was impossible for me to find Hazrat Ali, as I knew nothing of the
neighbourhood.

"I therefore sent back a mafoo (groom) towards Lan-chou with a letter to
Clark, urging him to obtain search-parties from the officials to look for the
missing man.

" Meantime I prepared against the threatened attack on our camp by
distributing all available firearms amongst my party. I was now further
disquieted to find that Hazrat Ah, in spite of my express injunctions, had left
his weapons behind, and had not even a revolver with him.

" Our defensive preparations became known to the villagers of Ma-chia-
k'ou and they probably warned our intending assailants, for although at about
2 a.m. we heard a considerable beating of drums, the noise died away and we
were not molested during the night.

** As soon as it was light enough to see, I collected a search-party to beat
the ground to the east of our camp, and at the same time sent back the mules
and baggage to Lan-chou.

" Just as our search-party was starting, the second survey-coolie arrived in
camp, covered with blood and showing signs of severe ill-usage. He had
contrived to escape whilst the mob were pursuing Hazrat Ali, but of the
latter's fate he knew nothing. After attending to the wounded man, I set out
accompanied by Muhammad Husein and three servants. The official escort
dechned to come with us, and returned to Lan-chou with the baggage. We
started to ascend the hills to the east, but had not gone far when we we^e
overtaken by the mafoo, bringing Clark's reply to my letter of overnight. I
was relieved to learn that the officials had promised every assistance in
searching for Hazrat Ali, and that soldiers were probably even then on their
way.

" After a march of some miles through a broken and difficult country,
much intersected by precipitous ravines, we came upon traces of Hazrat Ali —
easily distinguishable by his hob-nailed boots. There were also footprints of a

B 65

crowd of Chinese, evidently bent on his pursuit. The tracks showed that the
surveyor had been headed off in more than one direction, but had finally made
his way to the end of a deep ravine, where all signs of him were lost, though
there were the marks of a crowd of Chinese at this spot. From these indica-
tions I concluded that the unfortunate man had been captured, and had
probably been taken to one of the neighbouring villages. I therefore decided
to make for Wa-kang-ch'^ng, a distant village on the high plateau where
Hazrat Ali had been first attacked, to see if any traces of the surveyor could
be found there, and also to effect a possible junction with the promised search-
party.

" En route we arrived at a village, all the able-bodied inhabitants of
which were absent, and were informed by some old men and women that they
had heard rumours of the murder of a foreigner but were ignorant of any details.

" As darkness was now coming on we headed for Wa-kang-ch'6ng, which
was reached about ii p.m. Here we learned that Clark's party had passed
through about five hours before and were now at Ma-chia-k'ou. I found a
lady-missionary in the village, and, in view of the disturbed state of the
vicinity, told off Muhammad Husein and one of my servants to escort her to
Lan-chou. I myself with one servant hurried to Ma-chia-k'ou, only to find on
arrival that Clark's party had passed through an hour before. By pushing on
rapidly, I managed to catch them up about 4 a.m. Clark informed me that in
spite of strong representations to the officials, the promised search-party had
never been sent, and that, fearing for the surveyor's safety, he had been
obliged to ask the four available Europeans to push off with him at once in
relief. Clark, before leaving Lan-chou, had informed the officials of his
intentions, but they acted in the usual dilatory manner and afforded him no
assistance."

The party, now united once more, determined to make a thorough search
through the neighbouring villages, and at the first one entered found several
Ya-inen runners comfortably smoking in one of the huts, whilst their horses
were tethered outside. When questioned, they said they had been sent out to
investigate the affair but had as yet discovered nothing. This was hardly
surprising, as, except for themselves, the village was absolutely deserted !
These loafers having flatly declined to assist us in the search, we visited
several of the neighbouring villages, all of which we found deserted except for
the women and children, who disclaimed any knowledge of the affair.

We now came to a tableland, intersected by deep ravines, and on several
commanding positions we observed parties of men collecting. With a view to

6a

extending our inquiries as widely as possible, the party was now split up, each
of us making for a different isolated group of men.

Emboldened by the fact that they had only a single man to deal with, the
natives in some cases assumed the offensive, and it was unfortunately neces-
sary to have recourse to firearms in self-defence. Two of our party received
injuries in this unfortunate affair, whilst one native was killed and two
wounded. The use of force was much regretted by us all, but the attitude of
the natives was extremely threatening and our revolvers were only used as a
last resource.

On reassembling, two of the party brought in apparently reliable reports
that Hazrat Ali had been murdered, but no information was forthcoming as to
where his body might be found.

The whole position was now so serious that it became imperative to
telegraph at once from Lan-chou a full report to the British and American
Ministers at Peking. Whilst awaiting their instructions, the leader of the
expedition made repeated representations, in person, to the local authorities,
the remainder of the party continuing to prosecute inquiries in the
neighbourhood of the tragedy. Warned by recent experience, they kept
together, a course which, though practically dictated by circumstances, had
the disadvantage of delaying the rate of search. But more clearly, almost
hour by hour, the sickening conviction was borne in upon us that hope was
slipping away, and that we must prepare our minds to accept the worst. The
story told by the natives, as it began to disentangle and shape itself — or be
shaped — was that the surveyor had been alarmed by a crowd of peasants
chasing a runaway cow, that he had thought the demonstration directed
against himself, that he had tried to escape from his imaginary danger and
had fallen over a precipice. All the versions agreed in these two points : that
he was dead, and that his body was irrecoverable.

At Lan-chou the officials received Mr. Clark with effusive civility and
every protestation of friendliness, coupled indeed with edifying homilies on the
virtues of patience, and with these for some time he had to be content ; for
although every persuasion was tried to arouse them to action, it did not appear
that they had any intention whatever of taking practical steps in the affair.
However, after a little, it became evident that they had in reality been engaged
in satisfying themselves, through the reliable channels of information at their
disposal, that Hazrat Ali had in truth met his death. This heart-breaking
confirmation of our fears carried with it but one consolation, and that of a

67

poor sort ; he was at least no longer in the hands, or at the mercy, of Chinese
captors.

Sympathy, of an official sort, was freely proffered ; * It had been an acci-
dent, no doubt, and most regrettable ; but one of their own countrymen had
been killed as well, making one each side, so that we were now quits.' It was
in vain that Mr. Clark appealed for such redress as was possible and for
punishment of the guilty parties ; the formula of reply was always the same :
* An accident no doubt, and most regrettable,' and concluding invariably with
the cold-blooded balancing of human lives. It was just one of those situations
where he who cares least comes off best ; and the man, who had lost not only
a faithful fellow- worker but a personal friend, was at great disadvantage in
face of hide-bound officials, who could treat the fate of their own countryman
with the bland unconcern of chess players discussing the sacrifice of a gambit-
pawn. That they were not altogether so easy in mind as they would have
had it believed, was evident, and they would have given much to be able to
produce Hazrat Ali alive ; for, after all, some very searching interrogatories
were bound to come from Peking. That they were a little doubtful about the
truth of its being an accident was indicated, perhaps, by a tendency to post-
date the surveyor's death till after the shooting of the Chinaman ; but this
was not very clear, and discussion through interpreters may easily lead to
misunderstanding. Eventually it became quite obvious that, if any sort of
reparation was to be obtained, this would only be forthcoming at the Capital.
However, before there had been time to decide on a course of action, the
replies to Mr. Clark's telegrams arrived from the Ministers. These, whilst
promising full enquiry, strongly counselled — in fact, allowing for diplomatic
forms, peremptorily demanded — the return of the expedition. There was, of
course, no alternative but to comply.

It should be mentioned that on obtaining trustworthy official confirmation
of the surveyor's death, Mr. Clark had at once withdrawn the search-party to
Lan-chou, as no further good could be done, and the risk of bloodshed was
ever present. In spite of the fact that the entire party were now concentrated
in Lan-chou, it would have been inconvenient for the whole expedition to start
at once on its long march, and the actual details of withdrawal required some
little consideration. Mr. Clark's presence in Peking was urgently necessary,
and Captain Douglas, as a British officer, had to comply with the Ambassador's
instructions at the earliest possible moment ; but at the same time the recent
tragedy had opened our eyes to the risks run by a small party travelling in
Kansu. However, after due consideration, it was decided that, well-armed

68

PLATE 32.

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and well-mounted, the little body would run no unjustifiable risk of attack;
and accordingly Clark and Douglas started on July 2nd, and travelling via
Hsi-an Fu and Ho-nan Fu reached Peking by the end of the month. Grant
and Sowerby, after a fortnight spent in getting matters ship-shape for the
return journey, started for the capital via Ch'ing-yang, Yen-an, and T'ai-yiian
on July 15th.

Thus the sad occurrence described above forced us to retrace our steps
just as we had reached the threshold of what promised to be the most
interesting part of our travels. The death of Hazrat Ali was a deep loss to
the whole party, and a real blow to everyone of us. Besides being a first
class surveyor, he was a faithful and loyal friend, cheerful under all circum-
stances, and had endeared himself to his comrades of the expedition.

It is regrettable that, although every sort of pressure Was brought to bear
upon the Chinese Foreign Office, no reparation has ever been made for this
deliberate murder of a British subject.

CHAPTER IX.

RETURN MARCH OF GRANT AND SOWERBY FROM LAN-CHOU TO t'AI-YUAN.

LJAVING disposed of as much of the ammunition, photographic materials,
and provisions as the European community in Lan-chou could take,
Grant and Sowerby, with a train of fifty heavily-laden mules, left the city on
July 15th. Their instructions were to follow the road leading through Ching-
ning Chou, Ku-yiian Chou, and Ch'ing-yang Fu to Yen-an Fu, and thence
proceed via Sui-t6 Chou and Fen-chou Fu to T'ai-yiian Fu. En route they
were to take astronomical observations for latitude and time at the following
places : Ching-ning, Ku-yuan, Ch'ing-yang, Yen-an, and Fen-chou.

In addition, meteorological observations were taken twice daily, three
aneroid barometers, checked from time to time by the mercurial barometer,
being used. Boihng-point readings were also taken, and the humidity of the
air tested with wet and dry bulb thermometers.

A good deal of attention was devoted to photography. Grant made some
very successful attempts at photographing small living animals, and the results
are given in the chapters dealing with the biographical work of the expedition.
A large number of quarter-plate pictures of Chinese countrywomen were taken
with the handy Reflex camera, in the use of which Grant became an expert ;
and a unique collection of portraits were obtained. The utmost ingenuity was
necessary in dealing with the fair sitters. Far less trouble was experienced in
dealing with the case of Sowerby's nervous little animals, for these were
usually tied by a string, and willy-nilly had to come into the picture. The
ladies, on the other hand, at the slightest sign of an attempt to snap them,
would seek their homes, whence nothing could dislodge them. Anything
striking in the way of feminine head-gear was sought after most eagerly ; whilst
scenery and peculiarities in geological formation were not neglected.

Sowerby kept a sharp look-out for anything of biological interest : snakes,
frogs, and lizards all finding their way into his alcohol tanks ; and butterflies
being eagerly chased and captured to be packed flat in specially made envelopes.
In one place a large collection of Mammals was made, containing three
new species. But all these will be dealt with in their right place, and it is best
to return to the commencement of the journey, taking events in their proper
sequence.

70

PLATE 33.

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For the first few miles of the road we had the company of Messrs. Coltman
and Dello, two Europeans resident in Lan-chou, who came to speed us on our
way. The expedition moved eastward until it reached a small place named
Hsiao-shui-tzu, situated on the right bank of the Yellow River, which here
cuts through thick strata of igneous rock. This was the last we saw for many
days of that mighty river, which, having its birth in the eternal snows of the
Tibetan highlands, flows through Western Kansu, divides the Ordos from the
rest of Mongolia, forms the boundary between the provinces of Shansi and
Shensi, and after draining Northern Honan, Southern Chihli, and the Shantung
peninsula, ultimately pours its water into the Gulf of Pei-chih-li.

For the first thirty miles there was ample evidence of heavy rains ; in
places the old roads over the loess were completely cut away, new routes
having been hastily chosen by recent travellers. Notwithstanding the
abundance of water since the middle of June, the crops for the first five days
of the journey were in a very poor condition. In many places, instead of the
fields of ripening wheat or tall millet, bare, yellow, sun-baked loess alone was
visible. From time to time we passed the sawed-up remains of telegraph
poles ; and in one place came upon the scene of further depredations com-
mitted but a few hours earlier. Poles recently pulled down and stripped of
their wire lay about, whilst the fresh tracks of the perpetrators of this mischief
must have led to inevitable discovery and arrest in any district adequately
policed ; however, here it meant nothing but that another fifteen miles of line
had been rendered useless.

On July 23rd we reached Ching-ning Chou, the first large town since
leaving Lan-chou. This town is at the junction of the two roads eastwards ;
the one taken by our party leading away to the north-east, that taken by
Clark and Douglas leading in a slightly southerly direction. Some successful
astronomical observations were made, and Sowerby secured a new polecat, the
pet of a market-gardener, from whom it was bought. The little animal was
very tame, and submitted with good grace to being photographed.

On July 24th the expedition left Ching-ning, and after passing through a
deep gorge penetrating a range to the north of the city, entered a broad and
fertile valley, where the rich crops of cereals afforded a pleasing contrast after
the meagre productions of the famine-stricken wilds west of Ching-ning.
There was no sign of opium, and this was partly explained by the fact that the
inhabitants of the valley were all Mohammedan. Indeed, on this journey it
was noticed that, wherever the ordinary Chinese tilled the soil, the best land
was devoted usually to the cultivation of the poppy ; whereas the Mohammedans

71

used all their land for cereals, hemp, and other useful products. The result
was a marked difference in the prosperity of the two classes, Buddhist and
Moslem ; the former showed signs of much want and degradation, whilst the
latter were comparatively prosperous and healthy-looking people, their homes
cleaner and better appointed, their faces less haggard and less careworn. The
scenery, too, became more beautiful at every step. In place of bare yellow
loess mountains — only pleasing towards the end of the day when the soft
lights of evening clothe them in delicate shades of mauve and blue — there now
spread out on either hand broad fields and lofty slopes resplendent in rich
coats of verdure. Hurrying rivulets and sparkling brooks took the place of
yellow sluggish streams, so alkaline as to be useless for the Watering of sheep.
We put up that night at a pretty little village named Ch'ang-t'ai-p'u.
This consists of two sections, each surrounded by a high and crenellated
wall. The larger boasts of two gates and a moat, and one long broad street
running from gate to gate with the houses on each side symmetrically arranged.
The smaller section was perched upon some high ground overlooking the
larger, which in other ways it closely resembled. As a result of the symmetry,
so carefully adhered to by the designer, the village presented a very pleasing
picture, especially when viewed from the eastern gate. That night another
heavy deluge rendered the road unfit for travel. For several hours the rain
came down in sheets, and a fall of nearly ij' was recorded. Sowerby took
advantage of the delay thus afforded to persuade the natives of the village to
go out into the surrounding country and dig up small quadrupeds, for which
he paid them sums varying from five to fifteen cents, (ijd. to 3|d.). By this
method a large and valuable collection was obtained.

After leaving Ch'ang-t'ai-p'u, we continued up the valley to the foot of a
high mountain chain, and encamped in a beautiful spot close to a small village
named Ch'ang-yi-p'u. An excursion into the mountains was undertaken by
the two Europeans ; but, though some deer were seen, little in the way of
specimens for the collection could be secured.

From Ch'ang-yi-p'u the road turns northward, skirting the high mountains
till it reaches a conveniently low pass, when it again turns east. Following
this route we reached the large walled town of Ku-yuan Chou, where
astronomical observations were again taken. Close to Ku-yiian lie the remains
of Tung Fu-shang, the famous Kansu general, whose lawless troops came to
the aid of the Empress Dowager in the coup d'etat of 1897, and took their share
in the Boxer atrocities of 1900. It is no uncommon thing in Kansu to see
substantial, well-appointed residences, which have been recently erected by

72

PLATE 34.

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followers of Tung Fu-shang, who '' made their fortunes In the East." The
undisciplined hordes looted far more from the natives of Chihli than they did
from Europeans. During the troublous times when all communication
between the Capital and the outer world was cut off, unspeakable scenes of
horror were enacted in the interior, besides the siege of the Legations in
Peking and the massacres of missionaries in Shansi. The brutal soldiery,
called in from the wilds, indulged themselves in every form of pillage and
rapine at the expense of their countrymen ; the proceeds of which they carried
back to their homes in Kansu.

From Ku-yiian Chou to Chen-yiian Hsien, the next walled town, the
country seemed comparatively prosperous. For Kansu, the crops were good,
and the people seemed less poverty-stricken ; in some places the farmers were
already harvesting. The road lay along broad valleys running through more
or less hilly country. At Chen-yiian Hsien the party were hospitably enter-
tained by Miss Petersen, a Swedish missionary, who, with another lady, lived
alone in this out-of-the-way place. Miss Petersen had a school of some twenty
or thirty girls, who, much to their delight, were photographed by Mr. Grant.
Pages of eulogy would not do justice to the heroism and devotion of such
women as Miss Petersen and her colleague, whose lives are spent in patient,
unremitting toil, far from all their loved ones, and surrounded by a dirty
thankless people, to whom they have consecrated their lives.

On leaving Chen-yiian, the party ascended a long slope and came out upon
a broad loess plateau, exactly similar to the one met with two days' journey south
of Yen-an Fu, which has been described in chapter v. The road continued over
this sort of country for two and a half days. From time to time steep and
difficult descents were made into broad valleys, only to be followed by equally
bad ascents. At last, at mid-day on August 8th, the plateaux were left behind,
and, winding for the rest of the day along valleys and gullies, the expedition
reached Ch'ing-yang Fu late in the afternoon. In this district were many
Ssiich'uanese settlers, and their well-tended fields of flourishing crops formed
a significant contrast to the bare and neglected land owned by the lazy, opium-
smoking men of Kansu. These immigrants were in all respects similar to those
met by Clark and Sowerby in January, travelling through the bitterest cold
and snow, badly clad and with bare feet, in search of land whereon to settle.
Here they had settled, and the same thrift and perseverance which had carried
them through the privations of that terrible winter journey, were now earning
the reward of plentiful harvests in a land whose natives were starving for
lack of rain 1

73

About half-way between Chdn-yiian and Ch'ing-yang we came upon a
most remarkable cave-village, evidently long deserted. All the dwellings had
been hewn out of the solid sandstone cliff forming one side of a broad valley.
There was now not a scrap of woodwork left, whilst rank foliage had covered
the courts, and in some cases great masses of rock had fallen away, leaving
the higher caves inaccessible. The rooms, cubical in shape, were not large,
but showed traces of kajtgs and broken stone mangers. The scene was
suggestive of the Stone Age, and this impression was enhanced when two
children, naked and unkempt, ran out of one of the caves, attracted no doubt
by the strange voices. These little troglodytes were not in the least
embarrassed at the invasion of their sanctum, but eagerly took the biscuits
and cake offered them. They looked in need of better nourishment. So
thoroughly did the spot conjure up visions of a remote past, that we decided
to rest awhile and enjoy the illusion to the full. But alas ! the inevitable
staring crowd soon collected — not very large, but none the less annoying — and
the last vestige of enchantment was dispelled when someone volunteered the
information that the cave-village had only been deserted some thirty years.
Whereupon the disgusted travellers mounted their ponies and rode away ;
not, however, before some photographs had been taken. It may be added that
the wretch who had destroyed our day-dreams about the cave-village ascribed
its desertion to the massacres that took place throughout the country during
the Mohammedan rebellion. On the opposite side of the valley was a temple,
wherein were some large caves not unlike those of the Sung dynasty temples
at Yen-an Fu. They were said to date from the same period as those at
Yen-an Fu, but were in a much better state of preservation, although in this
case the sculptures were not so fine, nor were the walls so completely covered
with images.

After arrival at Ch'ing-yang Fu it was necessary to make astronomical
observations, and two days elapsed before a suitable set could be obtained.
During our short sojourn in the city we received several visits from Father
Calbrecht, a Roman Catholic missionary stationed there. Conversation had
to be carried on in Chinese, this being the only language equally familiar to
both parties. Ch'ing-yang Fu, a city of considerable dimensions, showed
none of the prosperity that might have been expected. The greater part of
the buildings enclosed within the high strong walls were in ruins ; the broad
streets in many places overgrown with grass and weeds ; the temples and
official residences in sad disrepair ; the inhabitants few and poverty-stricken.
The city, once populous and wealthy, formed one of the chief strongholds of

74

PLATE 35.

the rebels in the terrible Mohammedan rising that devastated the country in
the ' sixties.' It then sustained a long and severe siege, which ended in the
massacre of its wretched inhabitants, and from which it has never recovered.
At the present time there was not even a blacksmith's forge within its walls,
so that several of the ponies and mules of the expedition which had cast shoes
were forced to continue their journey as far as Yen-anFu without being re-shod.

From Ch'ing-yang eastward for some days the scenery was exquisite. The
long-abandoned loess hills were overgrown with vegetation almost tropical in
its luxuriance, and only down the valleys was any cultivation noticed. There
were long stretches of uninhabited country, in which wild life of every kind
was abundant. Many kinds of game-birds were to be seen in the valleys and
along the streams, including pheasant, partridge, snipe, and several varieties
of duck, whilst roedeer in great numbers wandered over the hills. Everywhere
the tracks of wild pig were visible, and in places wolf and leopard spoor were
noticed.

Along the streams were to be seen two kinds of kingfisher, their radiant
colours flashing in the sunlight, as they dived after minnows in the limpid
waters, or darted like living gems along the rocky banks. Over these water-
courses, too, hung countless dragon-flies of every description. Big pale
fellows, with wonderful translucent eyes, hovered high in the air, darting
down, ever and anon, to devour one of their smaller relations. Skimming
over the rippling surface of the water Were others of a slaty blue colour. Here
a streak of vivid crimson marked the passage of the beautiful male of yet
another species ; and there, settled upon a rock — her wings outspread to get
the full benefit of the sun's warm rays — sat his little brown mate. There was,
in addition, another most striking variety, with shining body, broad wings, and
long tapering tail, all ordinarily jet black, but now scintillating with a
thousand shades of blue, green, and gold as they caught and reflected the
sunlight at various angles. Of this species there was a decided predominance ;
and at times they collected in swarms over the reeds and rushes on which
they sought to settle. Their flight resembled that of the butterfly in its
uncertain fluttering course, rather than the graceful evolutions, lightning
dashes, and motionless poisings of other dragon-flies. Amongst them were
pale brown specimens which lacked the irridescent colours of the darker forms.
The insect life was by no means confined to the stream and the dragon-flies.
Over hill and dale floated gorgeous butterflies of every hue. Sometimes round
a single clump of flowers a dozen different species might be counted. Down
one ravine the graceful Swallowtail would abound, whilst on the adjacent hill

73

Red Admirals or Painted Ladies would predominate. In the streams were
small minnow-like fish, large green frogs, and funny little crabs, which hid
beneath the rocks and stones. The natives said that otters were to be found
in this district, and Grant saw one creeping through the tall grass on the bank
of a large stream. The party enjoyed some good deer-stalking at a place
named Miao-ts'un, which was situated right in the heart of this charming
sylvan country, and where we stayed a day for the purpose.

The following is an extract from Sowerby's diary for August 15th : —

" This morning we were off by 7 o'clock. A little way down the valley I
put up a roedeer. The road to-day has led through beautiful country. Some-
times we would be travelling along the sides of the clear stream where
kingfishers could be seen and butterflies and flowers were abundant. At other
times we would be skirting the base of the hills. On either side the slopes
were wooded, but more especially on the southern side. Occasionally we
would pass a farmstead built in the loess on the northern side of the valley
(i.e., facing south). The valley bottom was filled for the most part with
magnificent fields of hemp and millet and occasionally buckwheat. Numerous
flocks of sheep and herds of red cattle could be seen grazing along the slopes.
We caught some nice flies during the day. Butterflies, both common and
rare, were very numerous. In the afternoon I rode on ahead to select a
camping-ground, and put up two more deer not far from here. We have
pitched camp on a grassy stretch close to the village of T'ai-pei-ch'6ng. I
shot a duck this evening. I found a beautiful snake down by the water's
edge. It is very long and extremely thin. Of a brown colour, it has a white
stripe down the middle of the back, with dark mottlings. The natives say
there are otters here. I found some crabs in the river higher up."

The following day the border-line between Kansu and Shensi was crossed.
The caravan camped that night at a large village named Hai-shui-ssia, situated
in a picturesque valley, just at the point where it narrows down to a few
hundred feet. A peculiar spur of rock rises high beside the village, and on its
crest is built a pretty temple. On the road between this place and Fu Chou,
two days further east, numerous large flocks of sheep and goats were passed.
These poor animals were on their way to Shansi, and had already come a
great distance. Before reaching Fu Chou we crossed another large loess
plateau, from which we descended into the broad valley wherein that town is
situated. There were no suitable inns, and we pitched our camp in an open
space before a large temple.

For the three following days our journey was in a northerly direction,

76

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heavy rains being experienced, which rendered the roads very bad. The latter,
being cut in the loess, became very slippery and treacherous. So bad w^as the
weather that we were forced to make a halt of one day at Kan-ch'iian Hsien
("The dry fountain town"). In the Lo Shui, which flows down the valley,
numerous mud-turtles were seen, and the party indulged in the (to them)
novel sport of turtle-shooting. Sowerby, of course, claimed the bag for
scientific purposes, and the ugly creatures were carefully preserved in alcohol.

On the third day after leaving Fu Chou we entered the fine game
preserves where deer were shot the previous winter, and we decided to camp
there that night and try our luck. We were amply rewarded for our pains,
each securing two roedeer that evening, while Sowerby shot a magnificent
wild boar next morning, an account of which is given in the chapter on the
general biological work of the expedition (Chapter X.).

On August 22nd Yen-an Fu was reached, and astronomical observations
were taken. Next day we ascended a peak some distance south of Yen-an Fu,
where we made solar observations for latitude. The temperature on this peak
was now about 90° Fahr. in the shade — a striking contrast to that experienced
in January, when the party visited the same peak for similar purposes. The
thermometer then registered — 1° Fahr. at 10 a.m.

On August 25th we left Yen-an Fu and travelled northward to Sui-td
Chou. Nothing worthy of mention occurred on this part of the road, which
has been dealt with already, except that one of the mules died from the
excessive heat. Travelling up the deep loess ravines the caravan was cut off
entirely from any cooling breezes, and the heat became insupportable. It is
noteworthy that in this same district the travellers had suffered most severely
from cold during the previous winter, when the temperature fell to
—6° Fahr.

After leaving Sui-t^ Chou the party turned eastward once more till the
Yellow River was reached two days later at a place named K'ang-chia-t'a.
The crossing was effected once more in safety, and all rejoiced at setting foot
again on Shansi soil. The road now lay along the rocky boulder-strewn
valleys so characteristic of Shansi. The first large town passed was a busy,
evil-smelling place named Liu-lin-chen. This town should have been called
" the city of flies," for nowhere in all our travels had we seen such swarms of
these noisome insects. The food on the street stalls was literally buried
beneath black masses, which, when disturbed, flew up in dense clouds— the
air filled with the hum of myriad wings. They swarmed on the mules and on
the naked backs of the natives, who, however, did not seem to mind them in

77

the least ! They tormented the Europeans beyond endurance, so that it was
with considerable relief that we quitted the place on September 3rd.

The arable land along the valleys was devoted with great success to the
cultivation of millet, sorghum, beans, tobacco, indigo, cotton, castor-oil seed,
melons, and pumpkins, rich crops of which Were seen on either side of the
road. Yung-ning Chou, a large but dilapidated town with but a small
population, was reached on the evening of the 3rd, and the following night the
travellers put up at a small place named Wu-ch'6ng, situated in the midst
of high rocky mountains known to be full of game. Time, however, could not
be spared for a shooting trip, and, on September 5th, F6n-chou Fu, a large and
populous city on the T'ai-yiian plain, was reached. Here astronomical
observations were again taken, and we continued our march north-eastward
towards T'ai-yiian Fu. The crops in this plain seemed to be very rich indeed,
consisting chiefly of millet, sorghum, and beans. Part of the country between
F6n-chou and T'ai-yuan is famous as being the finest grape-producing district
in North China, and we were able to indulge in the luscious fruit at a
halfpenny per pound !

T'ai-yiian Fu was reached on September 8th, and here the ponies and
mules were sold and the expedition came to an end, the party proceeding by
rail from T'ai-yiian to Peking.

78

PLATE 36.

'■*'«^~'

CHAPTER X.

BIOLOGICAL WORK — BY A. DE C. SOWERBY.

nPHE narrative of the expedition having been set forth in the preceding
pages, this chapter takes the form of a general description of the
biological work, which was entrusted to me. The specimens which I collected
were presented by Mr. Clark to the United States National Museum. Captain
Douglas made an interesting collection of insects, which were presented to
the British Museum. As our route has already been described, it is needless
for me to do more than mention the names of places from which specimens
were taken.

My outfit for the work was very simple and somewhat incomplete.
Except for a few traps and instruments, which I already had, I was obliged
to get all my requisites locally. The chief trouble was the lack of a good
supply of traps, especially those for large animals. The main object of my
work was the collecting of mammals. Birds were taken whenever interesting
species were seen, and I was not too busy with mammals to prepare
them. Reptiles, batrachians and fishes were caught whenever met with, and
were preserved in alcohol. Captain Douglas confined his attention chiefly to
blood-sucking and parasitical insects, such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, but
he also collected a few beetles, spiders, and flies. I made a large collection of
butterflies and dragonflies towards the end of our expedition in Eastern Kansu
and Central Shensi.

Before going into further details of the present work, it might be well to
say something about that already done in the same districts. In connection
with the Duke of Bedford's Exploration of Eastern Asia in the early part of
igo8, Mr. ^ftilcolm P. Anderson and the writer had already made collections of
mammals in Shensi, at Yen-an Fu and Yii-Hn Fu. We also collected in the
mountains of Shansi, north-west of T'ai-yuan Fu. Mr. Anderson visited the
Chiao-ch'^ng Shan district towards the latter part of 1907. From these

79

collections the following new species and sub-species were described by Mr.
Oldfield Thomas, F.R.S., in papers read before the Zoological Society of
London : —

In Shansi.

I.

2.

3-
4-
5*
6.

9-

10.

Meriones auceps
Cricetulus andersoni
Craseomys shanseius
Capreolus bedfordi ...
Ochotona bedfordi ...
Ochotona sorella
Eutamias asiaiicus intercessor
Microtus inez
Microtus johamus ...
Cricetulus triton incanus

At T'ai-yiian Fu.^

At Ning-wu Fu.

At K'e-lan Chou.

In Shensi.

1. Erinaceus miodon ... ... ... At Yii-lin Fu.

2. Eutamias asiaticus ordinalis ... ... „

3. Cricetulus bedfordiz ... ... ... „

4. Dipus sowerbyi ... ... ... ,,

5. Lepus swinhoei subluteus ... ... In South Ordos Desert.

6. Mus confucianus luticolor ... ... At Yen-an Fu.

Previous to these explorations the mammalogy of Shansi, Shensi, and the
Ordos Desert had not been touched. Many of the mammals mentioned in
the following pages have been described from other parts of China.

For scientific descriptions of the various species of mammals mentioned
in this chapter, I must refer the reader to the following sources : —

1. Recherches sur les Mammif^res, par M. Milne Edwards.

2. Papers by Mr. Oldfield Thomas, F.R.S., F.Z.S., published in the

Proceedings of the Zoological Society from time to time during the
years 1907 to 1909.

3. Descriptions by Mr. Gerritt S. Miller, of the United States National

Museum, of five new species and sub-species discovered on the
present expedition. These descriptions, which have already been

• The localiites here cited are those of the type-specimen only. Many of the species and sub-sjwcies were
subsequently captured elsewhere, and some occur both in Shansi and Shensi. (See Proc. Zool. Soc, 1908, pp. 635-646, 963-
983 ; also Ann. Mag Nat. Hist. (8), II., 19c*.

A specie'; of Myospalax collected by Messrs. Anderson and Sowerby at Ning-wu Fu and identified in 1908 as M.
/ontanien, Mr. Thomas has recently discovered to be new and described as M./ontanus (Ann. Ma^. Nat. Hist. Jan., 1912,
P- 93)<

80

PLATE 37.

c

o

H

be
c
es

published by the Smithsonian Institution, have been embodied in a
detailed report on the mammals collected by me, and they appear in
Appendix II.

I must direct the readers' attention to a paper by Paul Matschie, " Ueber
Chinesische Saugethiere besonders aus den Sammlungen des Herr Wilhelm
Filchner," containing many interesting photographs of the skulls of certain
Chinese mammals.

The birds of China are undoubtedly much better known than the
mammals. Nevertheless, there seems to be no record of any work hitherto
done in the districts traversed by our expedition. Mr. Anderson and I
collected a few birds on the expedition referred to above, but no new species
were discovered. A very complete account of the birds of China has been
written by Armand David and E. Oustalet, and published under the title of
*' Les Oiseaux de la Chine."

As far as I know, the only reptiles, batrachians, and fishes collected
hitherto in these districts were those obtained by Mr. Anderson and myself.
Here again there is nothing new to report, the few species secured having
been recorded from other parts of Asia. The number of new species of ticks,
spiders, and fleas discovered on the present expedition shows that in this
branch of zoology little had previously been done.

On our leaving T'ai-yiian Fu, I began my work at once. A single
woodmouse {Apodemus speciosus) trapped in the mountains immediately west
of T'ai-yiian Fu, and a few chipmunks (Eutamias asiaticus senescens) shot en
route were the only specimens secured till we reached the Chiao-ch'6ng Shan
district. This country has already been described as consisting of high,
rugged and heavily forested mountains. It is excellent from the collector's
point of view, and during our stay a good collection of rodents was made.
I soon had out a long line of traps, which were visited daily. The woodmouse
was again secured, besides Anderson's hamster {Cricetulus anaersoni) and two
species of voles {Craseomys shameius and Microtus puUus). The last has been
described as a new species by Mr. Miller; while Craseomys shanseius and
Cricetulus andersoni were first discovered by Mr. Anderson in this district.
The woodmouse and Anderson's hamster were common almost everywhere.
Craseomys shanseius was found in or near the heavy forests, which commenced
at an altitude of about 8000 feet. One specimen was secured on the summit
of Mo-^rh Shan, the highest peak in the district. Microtus pullus is closely
related to M. johannus, a species first found by me in the K'6-lan Shan, about
sixty miles north of the present locality. Both species are found on open hill

P 81

sides, where their burrows are made conspicuous by the quantity of new earth
thrown up at the mouths. A singfle specimen of the molerat {Myospalax
census) was bought from a native (Plate 48). This specimen presents some
peculiarities of its own, and, further, is the only one of the species hitherto
recorded from Shansi. The type locality of this species is in Kansu.

I noticed evidences of the existence of some form of pika, a small rabbit-
like rodent, on the rocky summit of Mo-6rh Shan ; but although I climbed this
peak three times, in my endeavour to secure specimens, I failed to do so.
I have always found members of this genus (Ochotona) most difficult to trap.
Some more chipmunks were shot in the mountains and valleys. The only
other mammal secured in the district was a much decomposed shrew (probably
Crocidura coreas). The specimen was too far gone to identify properly.

Other mammals seen in the district were the roedeer {Capreolus bedfordi),
the wild pig {Sus moupinensis) , the wolf {Canis lupus), the fox {Vulpes vulpes),
and the hare (Lepus swinhoei subluteus). The country is known to contain musk-
deer, and many musk-hunters live in the district. Leopards have frequently
been shot in these mountains, and the natives say that tigers also exist.

There are quite a number of birds in the vicinity. Those noticed were
eagles, vultures, hawks, nutcrackers, timelines, accentors, woodpeckers, tits,
and finches. I was too busy with the mammals to spend time on these. We
found pheasants and partridges very common, while I noticed the feathers of
the Manchurian eared pheasant lying about. The season was too far advanced
for collecting reptiles, but Captain Douglas secured a few flies and spiders.

The forests consisted mainly of spruce, larch, and pine, whilst some of
the slopes and ravines were thickly overgrown with scrub-oak, birch, and
hazel. Close to the summit of Mo-6rh Shan I found some red-currant bushes,
with the half-dried fruit still hanging. In the valleys there were a very thorny
variety of gooseberry and also some raspberry canes. Along the banks of the
streams, numerous late flowering herbs were noticed, including several varieties
of anemones and gentians. Some of the unwooded slopes were covered with low
bushes of a thorny leguminus shrub, whilst elsewhere rich grass was abundant.

On the journey between this rich and fertile district, and the sandy
country round Yii-lin Fu, in North Shensi, very little collecting was done. I
shot a few more chipmunks, and also secured a few specimens of a small
species of frog. The latter were found in the little streams, which ran along
the ravine-bottoms in the loess country near the Yellow River. At one place
a magnificent golden eagle was shot, and some ibis-billed curlews were
secured near the Chiao-ch'dng Shan.

82

In company with Mr. Cobb, I left the main expedition at Kan-tsao-k'ou
and hurried on to Yii-lin Fu, reaching that place on October 26th. Knowing
from previous experience that trapping would be useless in this sandy region,
I at once set the natives to work digging up specimens ; and a comparatively
good collection was thus made. The lateness of the season, however,
interfered considerably with my work : many species of small mammals were
already hibernating, and in this way we missed the Ordos hedgehog
{Erinaceus miodon), and the common suslik or ground-squirrel {Citellus
mongolicus), (Plate 51). The first specimens brought in were some little sand-
hamsters {Phodopus bedfordias), (Plate 49). This species was first secured in
this district in the spring of the same year by Mr. Anderson and myself. It
was placed in the genus Cricetulus by Mr. Thomas, and named after Her Grace
the Duchess of Bedford. Mr. Miller has, however, since made for this
species a new genus, Phodopus, based upon some unique peculiarities in the
foot of this little creature. A large series of specimens of this little rodent
was obtained, and a photograph was secured as well.

A single specimen of Cricetulus griseus was collected. This hamster
closely resembles Anderson's hamster in shape, size and appearance. It
differs, however, in being of a lighter, more buffy colour, and also in having a
black line down the middle of the back. The tail is considerably shorter, and
the feet are more hairy in C. griseus than in C. andersoni. The latter is an
inhabitant of the hilly or mountainous districts of Shansi, Shensi, and at least
the eastern part of Kansu. C. griseus, on the other hand, is usually met with
on the grassy or sandy plains on the borders of Mongolia. Both species differ
greatly in appearance from Phodopus bedfordias, though all three forms are
characterised by the possession of large cheek-pouches opening into the
mouth.

A good series of the three-toed jerboa {Dipus sowerbyi) was secured, (Plate
50). This jerboa, the only three-toed species hitherto recorded from China,
was discovered by me in this region on my previous visit. A purely sand -loving
animal, this jerboa inhabits the dunes which exist in, and on the borders of,
the Ordos Desert. Like those of the sand hamster, its burrows are almost
impossible to find. It is a question whether this species fills up the mouth of
its burrows purposely, as do the American Dipodidas, or whether this is done
naturally by the loose sand. It was too late in the year for me to investigate
this problem, as the jerboa was hibernating. On my previous visit I often
saw the tracks of this lively little creature in the sand. From these I
gathered that the animal is capable of jumping eight feet. Two living

83

specimens which were placed in a jar some three feet deep jumped out without
touching the sides. When asleep, they lie on their sides for the better
accommodation of their long hind legs. If proceeding slowly, they hop rabbit-
fashion on all four feet. It is only when progressing at some speed that they
use their hind legs alone. When hopping, one foot precedes the other, instead
of both being kept together. Many of the specimens caught were torpid, but
they soon became active in a warm room. Their bodies were loaded with
thick layers of fat.

Some molerats belonging to the Shensi species, Myospalax census, were
brought in (Plate 48). This rodent is an extremely interesting animal: it
combines, as the name suggests, the attributes of the mole and the rat. The
different species vary in si^e, the present one being roughly about seven inches
long, not including the tail. In appearance the molerat also bears some
resemblance to the American pocket gopher. It is covered with a soft, grey
fur. The fore feet are large, being armed with powerful claws for burrowing.
The tail is short, and, like the feet, of a pink colour. Both are naked, except
for a few stray hairs. The head is flattened above and resembles a spade in
shape ; it is used for shovelling loose earth, when the powerful muscles of the
neck are brought into play with great effect. The eyes are small and almost
hidden, whilst the ear is little more than a small round hole. The jaws are
armed with thick and powerful incisor teeth, which suggest that the animal
feeds on roots. The molerat seldom comes above ground, but that it does so
occasionally may be gathered from the fact that I have found its remains in
owl pellets. The Chinese peasants declare that by watching the mouth of a
molerat's burrow they can foretell the weather. The burrows, they say, are
left open when fine weather may be expected, and closed before the advent of
rain.

A single mole {Scaptochirus gilliesei) was bought from a native. This mole
resembles the Peking species, but is much smaller. At that time it
was unknown to science, but it was described from a specimen from south
Shensi by Mr. Thomas, before my specimen could be identified as belonging
to a new species.

Two skins of a new and interesting polecat {Vormela negans) were secured.
Resembling the common polecat in shape, this species is characterised by a
peculiarly marked and brightly coloured pelt. The face is black and white,
whilst the throat, legs and belly are of a shiny black. The nape of the neck
is of a pale cream colour, which becomes a bright yellow on the back shading
into a rich orange on the sides, and towards the base of the tail. From the

84

PLATE '38.

es

C

>

shoulders backwards there are spots and mottlings of a deep brown colour.
In this respect it differs from the western form, Vormela peregusna. In this
species the ground colour is brown, while the mottlings are of yellow. For
this reason Mr. Miller gave this new species the specific name of negans. The
Chinese call this animal Ma-nai-ho. I could not get the meaning of the first
two words, local authorities disagreeing as to the proper characters to apply.
All were agreed that the last syllable ho is that for monkey. This, doubtless,
indicates a semi-arboreal life at least. Yii-lin Fu marks, as far as is at
present known, the extreme eastern limit of the range of vormela.

A couple of specimens of Meriones auceps were trapped by me amongst
the sand-hills. This beautiful gerbil was first described by Mr. Thomas from
specimens taken by Mr. Anderson in T'ai-yuan Fu. Another form also exists
in the Ordos Desert and other parts of Mongolia, and is known as M.
unguiculatus. The two species differ in colour and skull measurements, and
also in their habits. M. auceps is strictly nocturnal, while M. unguiculatus is as
purely diurnal. During my previous travels in the Ordos, I saw great
numbers of the latter animal playing about the mouths of their burrows.
These gerbils do not hibernate, and may be trapped even in the coldest
weather.

The pale desert chipmunk {Eutamias asiaficus ordinalis), originally
described from this locality, was secured. In size and form this chipmunk
does not differ from the ordinary North China form, but it is paler and
decidedly more yellow in colour.

Foxes, wolves, badgers, and wild cats I knew to be in the district, but
none were secured. Some antelopes were seen by two members of the
expedition. The skins of these animals were very common in the fur shops
in the city. The poor people use them in the manufacture of clothes. Not
many species of birds were seen, but a heron, an eagle-owl, a woodpecker, and
some pheasants were secured.

On the sandy flats of the river there were large flocks of cranes, mallards,
teal, and ruddy sheldrake. The last would allow of a close approach, so that
an opportunity of tasting their coarse and oily flesh was afforded. A few
small flocks of geese were seen on our arrival, but a few days later these had
gone south. Black storks were also seen during the first part of our stay in
the district. Magpies, crows, kites, pigeons, shrikes, and larks were the only
land birds remaining as the severe North China winter closed down upon us.

Before the streams which feed the river at this point froze over, I secured
some specimens of fish and frogs. In all there were some five species, four of

65

the former and one of the latter. Some little sand-inhabiting lizards (Phryno-
cephalus frontalis) were secured, and also two varieties of non-poisonous snakes.
These were Tropidonotus tigrims, a green water snake, and Coluber dione, a
brown species which inhabits the sand-hills and loess country.

Some interesting insects were also secured, amongst others being a new
flea and a new tick, both from one of the molerats. There was very little to
record in the way of plant life. Elms and willows were the only trees noticed,
while small patches of a sort of sage bush were scattered over the sand dunes.
I found one sprig of parsley, whilst a very coarse and straggly grass existed in
some parts.

Yen-an Fu was the next place where I made collections. Between Yii-lin
Fu and this city the country was very desolate and void of animal life. Not far
from Yii-lin Fu a flock of bustards was observed. Elsewhere the common
rock dove and stock dove were seen in large flocks. A few coveys of partridges
were also noticed, whilst here and there a lonely golden eagle would be
sighted. In the ravine bottoms some dippers were visible, and one was
secured. A specimen of the peculiar wagtail-like bird called Henicurus sinensis
was obtained at Shih-ts'ui-yi.

The only mammals seen were two David's squirrels (Plate 49), both of
which were secured, and a few hares. The latter were not observed till we
were in the valley of the Yen Shui, close to Yen-an Fu. Here pheasants
were very plentiful.

At Yen-an Fu I again took to trapping with good results. I soon secured
some more specimens of Cricetulus andersoni and Meriones auceps, both of which
species were very common in the locality. Besides these I caught some
specimens of the sulphur-bellied rat {Mus or Bpimys confucianus luticohr), which was
described from the locality. This rat seems to be a purely rock-inhabiting
species, and is caught in the same places as David's squirrel. It somewhat
resembles the common brown rat, but is not quite so large, is of a conspicuous
tawny tinge, and has much longer ears and tail. The latter is white towards
the end, and on the under surface. The fur of the belly varies from a rich
cream to a pale sulphur-yellow. The latter colour soon fades, however,
in preserved specimens. This new subspecies was first discovered by me
earlier in the same year.

A field mouse (Apodemus agrarius pallidior) was also trapped. This mouse
has a dark stripe down the middle of the back. It is usually to be caught in
open bushy fields, either in the valleys or upon the hill-tops. Two or three
specimens can usually be trapped at the same hole.

M

The large grey hamster (Cricetuius tritori) was caught. This rat resembles
C. andersoni in colour, but is considerably larger. It is a pugnacious and
predatory animal, storing up large quantities of beans and millet in its deep
burrows. Many of the poor people dig up these stores of grain in the
districts where this rat is abundant. In Shansi a still larger form, C. triton
incanus, is found. It is particularly abundant on the T'ai-yiian plain.

I secured a couple of good specimens of the local hare {Lepus swinhoei
subluteus), which was first described from a specimen shot by me in the Ordos
Desert. This hare is considerably paler than its cousin {Lepus swinhoei) from
the Shantung Peninsula.

I tried trapping for wolves and foxes, but without success. The only
traps I had were some native-made ones from Yu-lin Fu. These were
excessively clumsy and difficult to conceal.

Not being very well satisfied with the country immediately around Yen-an
Fu I decided to go further afield. Taking a few stores and necessaries with
me, I visited a valley about twelve miles south of the city, putting up at a
small inn. The country here was much more to my liking, and I was able to
secure a few more species. Roedeer were plentiful, and I soon managed to
shoot a good specimen. Mr. Grant also secured one, and later on some more
were shot in the same locality. The North China roedeer differs from the
European forms in being larger, with a much yellower coat. This tendency
to yellow in the fauna of Shansi, Shensi, and Kansu, is doubtless due to the
uniform yellowness of the loess country which composes the greater part of
the three provinces. The roedeer is extremely common in suitable country,
and not much hunted by the natives.

My traps here yielded poorly, a result no doubt of the excessive cold. I
secured a specimen of the pika {Ochotona bedfordi). It was at Yen-an Fu that
I first discovered this interesting species, which was subsequently described as
new from specimens obtained in Shansi at Ning-wu Fu. The burrows of
these pikas are usually deep and intricate, and are situated where the thorn
scrub grows thickest, or up the sides of the deep loess gullies. I did not see
any stores of hay like those made by the Siberian and American species,
neither did I hear any sound from these interesting little creatures. They live
in little communities like rabbits, the ground surrounding their burrows being
covered with a network of little paths.

A single specimen of the little vole Microfus inez, was trapped in one of
the ravines. This interesting little vole was discovered by Mr. Anderson in
the mountains near K'^-lan Chou, North Shansi. This is, as far as I know, the

87

only vole hitherto recorded in North Shensi. It differs from the
other voles already mentioned in being smaller and of a rich reddish brown
colour. It is trapped usually amongst the dead leaves, or on mossy banks at
the bottom of loess ravines in well vegetated country. Some more wood-mice
and David's squirrels were also secured here, besides a fine specimen of the
hare. David's squirrel {Sciurotamias dauidianus) , (Plate 49), is a rock-inhabiting
species. It is about the size of the common European red squirrel. Its fur is
of a dull earth-brown colour above and creamy beneath. The ears are not
tufted, though the tail is very bushy. Like the chipmunk it possesses cheek
pouches. It also resembles the chipmunk in its habits and mode of life,
except that it does not hibernate. This squirrel enjoys a very wide range
being recorded from the mountains near Peking, from various places in
Shansi, Shensi and Kansu and also from Ssuch'uan.

Birds were more plentiful in this district. Some specimens of the
beautiful blue magpie {Urocissa sinensis) were secured and Azure -winged
magpies {Cyanopolius cyanus) were also plentiful, springing my traps and
making themselves generally disagreeable. A pretty timeline {Pomatorhinus
gravivox) was also very common. The country was teeming with pheasants
and I saw the tracks of wild pigs, wolves and leopards.

This country had not been under cultivation since the great famine of
1877-79 when parts of North China were terribly depopulated. As a result in
this and many other localities the mountains, hills and valleys have become
scrub-covered and even well wooded. Good cover for game and wild animals
of all kinds is thus afforded. It is possible that many species owe their
existence in North China to-day to these periodical famines, which check the
ever increasing human population. Where conditions are favourable to
cultivation in North China, it is extremely difficult for the naturalist to find
suitable collecting grounds. Every foot of land is utilised. It is only in such
spots as these whence man has been driven out, and which have lain fallow
for a generation or so, or in places like the Chiao-ch'6ng Shan, precipitous,
rocky and cold, that one finds animals at all plentiful.

After a week's stay in this country I returned to Yen-an Fu. Here I
secured a nice specimen of the spotted wild-cat {Felis chinensis) and another
of the large marten {Martes flavigula borealis). Both of these animals were
said to be fairly common in the district though very hard to secure.

Nothing in the way of reptiles, batrachians or fishes was secured, but a
new and interesting flea was taken from one of the roedeer. The female of
this flea was found in large numbers in the nostrils of the deer. The insects were

88

PLATE 39.

much swollen, and were at first taken for maggots. Detailed descriptions of
this and two other fleas discovered appear elsewhere* in this volume. On
the same deer a new species of tick was also secured.

This completed the zoological work done in this district.

Mr. Clark and I left Yen-an Fu on January 28th, 1909, on our way south
to Hsi-an Fu. The journey was accomplished as rapidly as possible, so that
no collecting could be done. About five days journey south of Yen-an Fu we
passed through a belt of uncultivated country, also a result of the famine.
Here again game was abundant. Roedeer were seen close to the road, and a
wild boar was chased across in front of our mule-train by a hunter and his
dogs. Pheasants were so numerous that we amused ourselves by taking shots
at them with our revolvers as we rode along.

As we neared Hsi-an Fu we came down upon some great loess steps.
Here we saw large flocks of bustards. I managed to secure one of these
handsome birds with a rifle shot. It weighed 16 lbs. At last we reached the
great Hsi-an Fu plain and shortly found ourselves in a veritable fowler's
paradise. The banks and flats of the rivers we crossed were black with wild
fowl, while great flocks of geese were seen feeding on the fields of early wheat.
They were easily shot from horseback. Here and there were small flocks of
stately cranes, whilst in the irrigation canals and marshy rice fields were
feeding numbers of Chinese ibises {Nipponia nippori), pink, white, or grey.

We spent two days in Hsi-an Fu, and then went to a small town called
Lin-t'ung, where there are some famous hot springs. Here Mr. Clark left
me, hurrying on eastward to Ho-nan Fu in Honan, and thence to
Shanghai. I spent a few^days trappmg round Lin-t'ung but secured nothing
more than a specimen of the common mouse {Mus wagneri mongolium). On
the plain I shot geese, duck, hare, snipe, and bustard. In the course of a
single morning's shooting I was able to make the respectable bag of five
geese, three mallard, a fifteen pound bustard, and a hare.

I next tried a place at the foot of the high mountains about fifteen miles
due south of Hsi-an Fu, finding quarters in a temple in a little village
named Liu-ts'un, at the mouth of a long ravine, and began trapping again,
this time with more success. The sulphur-bellied rat, the field-mouse, the
wood-mouse, and David's squirrel, were the only rodents secured.

Two minks {Lutreola sibirica) were caught in the temple, after repeatedly
stealing game from my larder. These animals displayed the utmost ferocity
when caught. I have never witnessed such fury incarnate even in much
larger animals of more sinister repute.

♦ Appendix IV.
88

Just before I left the locality the old priest of the temple showed me the
horns of a goral {Urotragus galeanus), and told me that this animal was to be
found on a high peak some five miles away. I could not leave without
making an effort to secure a specimen, so decided to postpone my departure
and visit the peak in question. I was successful in my hunt. Taking a
native with me to carry my shot-gun, in case some small animal presented
itself, I went up the ravine, and after a hard climb reached the summit of the
peak, where, perched at an altitude of about 4000 ft. we found a quaint
Buddhist temple. The top of the peak was conical in shape, and covered
with cypress and other conifers. A long and steep flight of stone steps led
up to the temple. The priests told me that there were several gorals living
on the peak free from persecution ; they themselves as Buddhists, not being
allowed to take life. However, they had no objection to my killing these
animals, which habitually fed upon the little patches of wheat and maize
kept by the priests half-way down the mountain slope.

In a scramble through the woods round the sides of the peak we soon
put up a handsome goral, which bounded up the steep slope with wonderful
agility, and made its escape round the top of the peak. Its tracks after
rounding the peak vanished over the edge of a precipitous peak, which fell
away almost perpendicularly for hundreds of feet. Carefully I climbed down
making use of the little cypress trees that sprang from the cracks in the rocks.
When about half way down I heard something scrambling above and to the
left of my position. I looked up and once more caught sight of the goral
climbing towards the top of the precipice. Balancing myself with one foot
on a ledge, the other on the trunk of cypress, empty space beneath me, I
took a rapid aim, and fired just as he gained the top of the cliff. I missed,
but the animal passed within twenty yards of my bearer, who was lying
exhausted from the severity of the climb and chase. He heard my shot, and
looking up saw the goral. He let drive with a dose of buckshot, killing the
animal on the spot.

The goral, of which there are many species, is a goat-like animal that

inhabits, in China, the highest and rockiest mountain-ranges of the central

and western provinces. It is a daring cHmber, bounding up precipitous

cliffs that a man would hesitate to attempt. The present species differs

but little from the Yang-tzii form. In appearance this goral is something

between a goat and an antelope. It has thick heavy legs, with large hoofs,

a slight crest down the neck, and small, sharply sloping, and very pointed

horns. It is of a dark-grey colour, with cream-coloured legs, and a creamy

patch on the throat.

90

PLATE 40.

m

Manchu Lady.

V :V:

There were some interesting birds in the vicinity. I collected some
prettily coloured timelines, including a large dusky one named Dryonastes
perspicillatus. A beautiful Chinese representative of the common jay (Garrulus
sinensis) was also secured, besides the graceful blue magpie {Urocissa sinensis),
the tiny wren {Anorthura fumigata), the green woodpecker (Gecinus canus), and
the redstart {Phoenicurus auroreus). The beautiful sweet-voiced wall-creeper
{Tichodroma muralis) was also seen, but I failed to secure a specimen. The
golden eagle, pheasant, and partridge were again met with.

In the mountain-stream that flowed down the ravine I caught an
interesting freshwater crab {Fotamon sp.) and some small fish too young to
identify. In the ravine were numerous varieties of ferns, mosses, and rock
plants, while here and there in sheltered nooks were small clumps of dwarf-
bamboo.

After leaving this locality my collecting work was discontinued till the
beginning of May. I hastened to Ho-nan Fu , where I received word to go to
Hankow to meet Mr. Clark. On the road between Hsi-an Fu and Ho-nan
Fu I saw great numbers of geese and ducks. At Ho-nan Fu I was told of
great forests in the mountains a few miles southward where, the natives said,
flying squirrels, monkeys, and bears were abundant.

Mr. Clark and I returned from Hankow with all speed, and early in May
left Hsi-an Fu for Lan-chou Fu. Along the road I shot some ground
squirrels {Citellus mongolicus), (Plate 51), and a single chipmunk, which resembled
that from Yii-lin Fu in the pale colour of its pelt. Travelling at the rate we
were, there was no opportunity of trapping. Such specimens as were
obtained were shot near the road.

As the greater part of the country in Kansu was suffering from a protracted
drought, there was little to be seen, hares, squirrels, chipmunks, foxes, and
some roedeer being the only mammals noticed. Pheasants, partridges, snipe,
and a few small waders were seen from time to time.

We reached Lan-chou Fu, in Kansu, on May 24th. While here I tried
to induce the natives to bring in specimens, but without success. Five
specimens of Citellus mongolicus were the only things obtained. The country
had been suffering from a severe drought for three years, and no doubt this
had much to 'do with the scarcity of animal life.

About the middle of June I went south to some mountains where
conditions were a little better. Though I trapped and shot on several
days, the only specimen secured was one of Apodemus speciosus. I might here
draw attention to the great range of this species. On the present expedition

91

it was the most easterly species obtained, as well as the most westerly. It
was trapped at Liu-ts'un, our most southerly point, and also in the Chiao-
ch'eng Shan, almost our most northerly point. It is recorded from Ning-wu
Fu, in North Shansi, and from the Imperial tombs, sixty miles east of Peking,
in Chihli. Whilst in the country south of Lan-chou I saw a large wolf one
morning, and in our daily excursions we came across fresh tracks of pigs and
musk-deer. There were quite a number of pheasants, but little else.

The reasons for the termination of the expedition at Lan-chou have
already been mentioned. I was forced to return to that city, and my work
ceased till, on July 15th, Grant and I started on our homeward journey with
the main division of the expedition. We travelled almost continuously till we
reached T'ai-yiian Fu on September 8th, with a few short halts en route to
take astronomical observations, or when we were held up by rains. We took
the unfrequented route which runs in an easterly direction from Lan-chou,
collecting what material we could along the road. For the first few days our
path lay through utterly barren and sun-scorched mountains, so that a few
ground-squirrels only were seen. At Ching-ning Chou, where we stayed two
days, I secured two specimens of an interesting eastern polecat (Musfela larvata),
(Plate 51), which is superficially like the European animal, but with larger
teeth. A new pika {Ochoiona amectens), (Plate 52), was shot close to this place
by one of our men. This species is similar to Ochotona bedfordi, but is smaller
and with differences in the skull. Several chipmunks {Eutamias asiaticus
semscens), (Plate 48), were also obtained. The type of this chipmunk was
described from specimens from near Peking by Mr. G. S. Miller, and like
Apodemus speciosus, it seems to enjoy a very wide range.

On July 25th we left Ching-ning Chou and reached a small place to the
north-east called Chang-t'ai-pu. That night rain fell in such torrents that we
were unable to proceed next day. Accordingly I enHsted the villagers into my
service, sending them out to catch or dig up specimens. All that day and
the next I was inundated with specimens, the following species being well
represented: — Myospalax census, Allactaga mongoUca longior (new to science,
Plate 52), Eutamias asiaticus senescens and Ochotona annectens (new to science,
Plate 52). A single specimen of Cricetulus anaersoni a.nd another polecat were
also amongst the animals brought in. I refused to take any more specimens
of Citellus, having my hands full of more important material.

The " allactaga " which has been described by Mr. Miller as a new
form is a species of jerboa. It differs from Dipus sowerbyi in having five toes
on the hind foot instead of only three, while its ears are considerably longer,

92

In colour it is greyer than the three-toed jerboa, and it is a larger animal.
The " allactaga " is not so essentially a sand-inhabiting animal as the jerboa.
The present species differs from Allactaga mongolica in having appreciably longer
ears, longer feet, and a slightly different skull.

After leaving this locality, bats v^^ere seen for the first time on the expedi-
tions, and between here and Yen-an Fu in Shensi several specimens of a
large brown bat (Eptesicus serotinus pallens) and a single specimen of a very small
bat {Pipistrellus sp.) were shot. The large bat has been described by Mr. Miller
as a new subspecies.

From Ching-ning Chou eastward the country was much more favourable
for collecting. There were plenty of vegetation and water so that we were
able to do good work considering the rate at which we were travelling. Grant
and I devoted our attention to entomology as we travelled, and made large
collections of butterflies and dragon-flies. Frogs were also secured from the
streams, besides some more fresh -water crabs and some snakes. Two varieties
of kingfisher were shot. One was a large handsome bird named Halycon
pileatus and the other a small brilliant little fellow named Alcedo ispida. This
species resembles the British form but is smaller.

We saw more roedeer; and specimens, in their red summer pelts, were
obtained.

Two day's journey south of Yen-an Fu a mud turtle {Tnonyx sinensis),
(Plate 54), was shot. As we travelled along beside the river we saw great
numbers of these ugly creatures basking in the sun on the mud flats. On our
approach they made for the water and were lost to view before we were in
shot-gun range. Looking at them through a powerful pair of field-glasses,
we could see every head pointed in our direction.

On August the 21st we reached the spot, south of Yen-an Fu, where I had
collected the previous winter. Here some more roedeer were obtained and I
was fortunate enough to put up and shoot a large wild boar {Sus moupinensis) .
(Plate 53). Rising early in the morning I made my way up a long loess ridge
where I had seen pig-rootings the previous evenings. I was accompanied by
a native and we tramped a long way without seeing anything. Just as I was
about to return to camp, there was a hoarse roar in some dense scrub on the
left, and a huge pig broke cover and scampered off tossing his head in a
vindictive manner. I caught a glimpse of his wicked little eye glaring at us as
he tore his way through the dense scrub. I tried to draw a bead on him, but
his course was too erratic and the abrupt way in which he had appeared upon
the scene had somewhat disconcerted me. Presently however he stopped to

93

listen and I could see his round back showing above the tall gently waving
grass. Aiming low I fired, hitting the pig, as I afterwards found, in the flank,
More grunts followed and he plunged away apparently unhurt. We followed
in hot pursuit and presently the native spied our quarry standing in the shade
of some young poplars about 200 yards away. Taking careful aim I fired and
when the smoke cleared away we saw the boar spinning round like a terrier
after his tail. As I rushed up he plunged about wildly, but I managed to put
a bullet into his shoulder as he vanished into a small ravine, from which now
began to issue a deafening noise. The ravine opened abruptly into a hugh
chasm the sides of which were perpendicular for about 200 ft. Towards this
chasm the badly wounded animal struggled, and reaching the edge rolled over.
He would have disappeared into a deep water tunnel yawning below, but for
some stout birches which caught and held him. From my position above the
madly struggling brute I fired a final shot into his chest, and soon he lay quiet.
A long tramp back to camp for breakfast and to secure men to help me carry
home my prize was necessary, (Plate 47). The day was far spent before we
finally laid the huge animal on the grass outside the tent. He looked very
peculiar in his short summer coat. He was a fine specimen measuring 6 ft.
2 in. from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail, and weighed 240 catties.
One catty is supposed to be equal to a pound and a third, which would bring
the weight of the pig up to 320 lbs. But I have since had reason to doubt the
accuracy of the native scales used, and believe that the weight above stated
is somewhat over the mark.

The range of the wild pig in North China is considerable. It is very
plentiful in the mountains of Shansi, where of late years it has been hunted
by European residents. Nothing very striking in the way of records have
been obtained, however, 350 lbs. being probably the outside weight of the
largest animal shot up-to-date. The largest tusk that I have seen measured
9^ inches along the curve and i inch in thickness. The average length of
tusks secured in Shansi up to the present would be about 8 inches. The
nocturnal and destructive habits of this pig agree with those of the European
and Indian species, to which it is closely related. It does great damage to
crops, and we frequently saw little booths beside the fields, wherein the
farmers kept watch against this troublesome pest. Sus moupinensis was first
discovered by the indefatiguable P^re David, in the principality of Moupin in
Eastern Thibet, from whence it derives its name. It is of some economic
value. The flesh of a good fat female will fetch a fair price, but that of the
male is coarse and of a strong flavour. The thick hide is used in the

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PLATE 41.

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manufacture of large drums, and also of the better class of saddles. The
guns used by native hunters are so inferior that little is done in the way of
hunting this formidable beast, which when only slightly wounded seriously
menaces the life of its assailant. It seldom attacks unless provoked, but I
have more than once heard of a pig charging some harmless woodcutter and
inflicting serious wounds. I have frequently come across pigs' nests in the
form of great heaps of dried branches piled over a pit in the ground. In this
the sow produces her large litter of prettily striped young.

With a few odd roedeer skulls and a fine specimen of David's squirrel
the collection was completed. The country between Yen-an Fu and
T'ai-yiian Fu in Shansi presented no facilities for collecting. In all some 250
mammals were taken representing thirty-four species and sub-species, of
which five have been described as new by Mr. Miller in the appended paper.
(Appendix ii.). Several species in the collection, though possessing peculiari-
ties, were so poorly represented that it was not deemed advisable to describe
them as new.

95

CHAPTER XL

BIRDS OF NORTH CHINA — BY A. DE C. SOWERBY.

T^HE provinces of Shansi, Shensi, and Kansu through which the expedition

passed are comparatively rich in feathered inhabitants, though there
seems to be little, if any, likelihood of new discoveries being made in this line.
Birds being easily collected owing to their diurnal habits and conspicuousness,
are naturally the first to be studied by naturalists in a new country. For
these reasons, it was decided that I should devote my energies more especially
to mammals.

As, however, there are many interesting features attached to the study of
birds in a new country, especially during the migratory seasons, a chapter
dealing with those noticed on the expeditions may not be out of place in this
volume.

Space will not permit of a very detailed treatment of the subject, and I
shall do little more than give the names of the birds, mention their haunts and
breeding-places, and describe the general appearance of the more remarkable
species.

In North China, as in all other north temperate regions, birds belonging
to the great order of Passeres (perching birds) predominate. Crows, larks,
finches, wagtails, flycatchers, or thrushes are met at every turn. Let us take
the family Corvidse (crows) as a starting point. During some years of travel
in the six northern provinces of China, I have noted some twelve species
belonging to this family. The raven [Corvus corax), carrion crow {Corvus corone),
white necked crow {Corvus torquatus), black crow [Corvus sinensis), Chinese
jackdaw {Coloeus dauuricus), rook {Frugilegus pastinator), and chough [Graculus
graculus), are common everywhere. Closely related to the black and white
Chinese jackdaw (Cb/o^w5 dauuricus), is an entirely black variety [Coloeus neglectus)
which is somewhat rare in the north. It may sometimes be seen in company
with the former.

In some provinces, the raven acts as scavenger in towns and villages, but
usually it prefers the high mountainous districts or remote desert regions.
Amongst the Chinese who live on the borders of the Ordos Desert and out in
north-western Kansu, this evil-looking bird goes by the name of "The Mongol's
Coffin," That it deserves this name may be gathered from the fact that the

96

PLATE 42.

Mongols do not bury their dead, but drag them out into the desert, where they
leave them to be devoured by the fowls of the air or the beasts of the field.

The pretty little Chinese jackdaw, whose clean white collar and breast
and shiny black head, back, wings and tail give it a neat, clerical appearance,
often associates in large flocks with the handsome red-billed chough. They
frequent the same localities and both build their nests in crevices and holes in
high loess or rocky cliffs.

The white-necked crow is never seen in mountainous regions, and even on
the fertile plains is not over abundant. It is a very solitary bird, and is
seldom seen except singly. Its near cousins, the carrion crow and the black
crow, are on the other hand more common and gregarious, being found in
flocks wherever there is a chance of obtaining sustenance.

The common magpie {Pica caudata) and the azure-winged magpie
{Cyanopolius cyams), a beautiful little pie with delicate mauve-grey body, white
throat, black head and azure blue wings and tail, seldom fail to appear in every
locality. The graceful blue magpie {Urocissa sinensis), not unlike the last
mentioned species but larger, with crimson beak and legs, more blue and
purple on the body, and proportionately longer tail, is less widely distributed.
It is found only in central and southern Shensi, southern Shansi and parts of
Kansu.

In the mountains of Shansi and in southern Shensi, a handsome jay
(Garrulus sinensis) is found, while in the pine forests of Shansi and Kansu the
noisy nutcracker {Nucifraga caryocatactes) sends forth its rollicking, laughter-like
call. All these species nest in the country, but some only are partially
migratory. This is noticeable chiefly in the case of the rooks, which at the
approach of winter, leave the northern parts of the provinces, where they
build their nests in the trees of the towns, and villages, accepting the
protection of man. They fly to the warmer plains of the south or to the flat
coastal regions of Chihli.

Finches in vast numbers cross these provinces during the migratory
seasons, nesting in the remote mountainous regions of the north and west.
Few if any remain to breed on the plains. Amongst the most noticeable of
these are the crossbill {Loxia curuirostra) , hawfinch {Coccothraustes j'aponicus),
Chinese goldfinch {Ligurinus hawarahiba), brambling [Fringilla montifringilla) ,
rosefinch {Carpodacus roseus), and a beautiful scarlet-tinted finch named
Propasser pulcherrimus.

Three species of bunting, Emberiza ciopsis, E. rustica and E. elegans might
also be added to this group, but they are non-migratory, nesting in the

G 97

mountains and wintering in the foothills and on the plains. The Chinese
capture these finches with the aid of bird-lime made from hempseed oil. In
the spring: and autumn the bird-catcher repairs to some wooded, hilly district,
and having made his preparations, he takes up his position on the top of some
nd^e. He is armed with several long: rods, on the ends of which are fastened
branching: twig:s, carefully smeared with bird-lime. Several call-birds in cag:es
are hung: in the leafy parts of some suitable youn^ pine, and the rods are placed
in such a position that the twig:s stick out just above the higfhest branch of each
respective tree. The protruding: twig: offers a tempting: perch for any passing
finch and many a wretched bird thus falls into the ruthless hands of the snarer,
who has been quietly waiting: a few yards distant. The birds are sold according
to their value as songsters or trick birds. Crossbills, hawfinches, and bram-
blings are readily trained to do various tricks, whilst the Chinese goldfinch
and the rosefinch are valued for their vocal powers.

A large and handsome grosbeak, named Eophom melanura, is also caught
during the migrations and is especially valued by the Chinese as a trick bird.
This bird is of a dull grey colour with shiny black head, wings and tail. It
possesses a large very thick and strong beak of a bright yellow colour. We
saw many larks, the exact names of which I was not able to ascertain.

Soft-billed birds are very numerous. These are found throughout the
summer, but most of them migrate to the south in winter.

The first to appear in the spring are the starling (Stemus sinensis), and the
redstarts {Phcsnicurus auroreus and Ruticilla rufiventns). These are shortly
followed by great numbers of other species, which scatter over the country,
taking up their abodes where conditions are most congenial to their modes of
life. Thus we find a variety of wheatear (Saxicola mono) repairing to the
desert areas, such as exist in and on the borders of Mongolia. Here it shares
the burrows of the ground-squirrel (Citellus), and brings up a lively brood of
from four to six hungry squawking fledglings.

The pied wagtail (Motacilla alboides) finds a suitable nesting-place in the
bushes that line the ravines and gorges of the mountains, whilst a beautiful
yellow-headed variety (M citreoUdes) , after swarming along the rivers and over
the marshes during the spring, travels north to the rich Siberian plains.

A third very common wagtail {M. alba) seems to find suitable nesting
places everywhere, and many may be seen from March till October.

The redstarts resort to old temples and disused buildings, making their
nests in suitable holes in the masonry. The black redstart {Ruticilla rufiuentris)
is much rarer than the other species and nests in out-of-the-way ravines,
either of loess or rock.

Many kinds of warblers pass through the country, the most noticeable of
which are the ruby-throated warbler {Erythacus calliope) and the blue-throated
warbler {Erythacus caeruleculus).

The little green wren or Silver-eye {Zosterops erythropleura) is very common
during the summer, while in the spring the pipit [Anthus spinoletta) abounds on
the plains and in the valleys, especially where marshy ground exists.

The nuthatch {Sitta amurensis) keeps mainly to the pine forests of the
mountains, where it scrambles like a woodpecker up and down the great tree-
trunks, or hangs upside down from the cones. Tits are very common in the
same districts, the chief of these being the tomtit {Parus minor), the coletit
{P. hensom), the bluetit [P. uemstulus), the crested tit {Lophophanes dichrous), and
the long- tailed titmouse {Acredula glaucogularis) . The foregoing species,
together with the larks, timeline birds and hedgesparrows, are non-migratory.

The timelines are thrush-like birds, all more or less gifted with song, and
many a sweet note rising above the countless pleasant sounds of the wilderness
may be attributed to these birds. The commonest member of this family is a
graceful though sombre-coloured bird called Pterorhinus davidi, sometimes known
as the " seven sisters bird." This peculiar name is derived from the fact that
birds of this species are frequently found in little groups of five, six or seven
playing about in the underbrush.

A much smaller species, with proportionately longer tail, goes by the
name of Rhopophilus pekinensis, and, like the foregoing species, is very common in
the mountains of the north, where it builds a compact, deep nest in the low
bushes of the valleys.

Pomatorhinus graiAvox, a very handsome species, is found in wooded districts,
further south. It has a particularly sweet song. In the mountains south of
Hsi-an Fu in Shensi, I came across two other species, one of which, called
Dryonastes perspicillatus, is a large dusky coloured bird. The other, Trochalopteron
prjeualsh'i, resembles Pterorhinus dauidi in size and form but is characterised by
having the wing and tail feathers of a peculiar metallic lustre which show either
a brassy yellow or steely blue colour according to the way the light falls on them.

Two species of thrush, namely Turdus ruficollis and T. naumanni are winter
visitors only. Both are characterised by having reddy brown tails and breasts,
but the breast of the latter is spotted with black. Their heads, backs and
wings are of a grey-brown, whilst their bellies and rumps are white. These
birds are seen throughout the winter in large flocks. During the spring,
however, ere they betake themselves northward, they split up into smaller
groups of three and four.

A third species, the beautiful rock thrush {Moniicola erythrogastra) inhabits
the deep loess gullies during the summer. The head, back and wings of this
bird are of a light slaty blue colour, while the tail and breast are of a deep
brick-red.

The dipper, an entirely brown species named Cinclus pallasi, is very common
along the clear streams that flow at the bottom of every ravine in the loess
country of Northern Shensi, which locahties it shares with the pretty Httle
brown wren {Anorthura fumigata) and a large wagtail named Henicurus sinensis.
This handsome bird is pied somewhat after the fashion of the pied wagtail but
is larger and has a long widely-forked black tail, and also long flesh-coloured
legs.

The high cliffs of loess, shale, or granite in all three provinces form the
home of the beautiful wall-creeper [Tichodroma muralis), a small grey bird with
crimson spotted wings, long slender curved beak, and long sharp claws, which
enable it to climb about the flat surfaces of the rocks with the utmost ease.
The wall-creeper has a long, sweet, vibrant song, which it utters as it flits
butterfly-like across the valleys.

The accentor [Accentor nipalensis), a pretty little soft-billed bird, somewhat
smaller than the starling, inhabits the stony cairns and rocky summits of the
highest mountains ; while its near relation, a smaller, though as prettily
marked, hedge sparrow [Tharrhaleus montanellus) frequents the valleys.

The graceful waxwing (Ampelis garrulus) may be seen during the migrations
in large flocks, when it subsists chiefly upon the glutinous mistletoe berries,
yellow and red, that abound in the poplar and elm trees.

Three species of shrikes, or butcher-birds, namely, Lanius sphenocercus,
L. bucephalus, and L. superciliosus, are found throughout the three provinces. Of
these, only the first, commonly known as 'the great grey shrike, is at all
plentiful. This somewhat striking bird may be seen in winter on any large
plain, where it loves to perch upon the top of some spare and solitary shrub,
sorghum stem, or giant reed. From this coign of vantage it pounces upon
any unsuspecting insect that may have been tempted above ground by the
warmth of the brilliant winter sun.

The beautiful golden oriole [On'olus indicus) inhabits during the summer
the groves of the plains and foothills, not fearing to take up its abode
in temple-grounds close to the habitations of man. Its hanging nest, built
high up in the tree and at the end of some yielding branch, is free from the
attacks of small boys and cats.

On the plains also, the jet black drongo [Dicrurus cathcscus) is very

100

PLATE 43.

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common. It may frequently be seen dashing out from the willows lining
the roads or river banks, to seize some passing insect, when its long black
deeply forked tail give it a most graceful appearance.

Amongst the first arrivals in spring are the swallows and martins. The
former belong to the species Hirundo striolata, and are characterised by having
spotted breasts. They are welcomed wherever they choose to build their nest,
both by the Chinese and the Mongols, who consider them to be birds of good
omen.

The martin (Cotyle sinensis) resorts to the high rocky cliifs of the foothills,
where it builds its nest well out of reach of the passer by.

Leaving the perching birds, we will next turn our attention to the birds of
prey, such as eagles, hawks, and owls. These groups are fairly well
represented in the ornithology of Shansi, Shensi, and Kansu. One's mind
naturally turns first to the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetus) whose regal poise
and fierce far-seeing eye have won for their owner the name of King of Birds.
Alas for romance, this powerful bird, though a Brst class hunter, often
descends to the useful, but disgusting, level of scavenger, and many are the
times it robs the ignoble kite or the croaking raven of their lawful food, and
gorges to repletion on the remains of some leprous beggar considered unworthy
of decent burial.

In fact, its taste for food, other than that of its own killing, is so marked,
that I have known native hunters turn it to their advantage in an ingenious
way. A beast or bird having been shot and lost in dense scrub, the hunter at
once makes his way to a neighbouring eminence. Immediately, as if from
nowhere, a golden eagle appears and commences to circle round and round
above a spot in the scrub. Noting the spot, the hunter makes for it, and
— the eagle has made no mistake about that anyway — the game is there.

The speed of the golden eagle is prodigious, and it is with a keen thrill of
pleasure that I recall to mind an exhibition of feathered speed witnessed by
me on the present expedition.

I was out on a hillside collecting my rodent traps, when a golden eagle
sailing overhead disturbed several pheasants that had been feeding a few yards
up the slope. All the birds sought cover in a small copse of stunted cypress,
except one, which broke away towards a wood some two hundred yards
distant on the level ground below. Like lightning the eagle swooped down
upon his prey. The pheasant had, however, gained a high speed on her
downward course, and now frantically struggled to reach the friendly wood.
The pace was terrific, but the great marauder was slowly gaining upon his

101

intended victim. The flight of the fastest duclc would have been slow
compared with such speed, for the birds were not only gaining impetus from
their rapidly descending course, but adding to their motive power by a
vigorous use of their powerful wings. The chase must have ended
disastrously for the pheasant, but for the wood which suddenly loomed up in
front of the terrified bird. Without wavering she dashed into the wood,
crashed through some hindering branches and fetched up with a sickening
thud against a stout trunk, coming to the ground like a stone mid showers of
twigs, leaves and feathers. The eagle, with a supreme effort shot upwards,
narrowly missing the tops of the trees, and rose high into the air before the
momentum generated by the headlong downward swoop gave out. Hurrying
to the spot where the pheasant had fallen I was surprised not to find her, but
there were several souvenirs of her devastating journey through the upper
branches of the stately pines.

A bald-headed eagle [Haliaetus leucocephalus) and a white-tailed eagle
(//, pelagicus) also inhabit North China, though the former is rather rare, two
only being seen on the present expedition. The latter is found along the
rivers of the large plains, generally as the ice is breaking up in the spring.

Two vultures are found in the highest mountain ranges. One of these,
the lammergeier {Gypaetus barbatus) is comparatively common, while the other,
the cinereous vulture [Vultur monachus), a large black species, is very rare. One
specimen measured by me was 9^ feet across the wings.

The kite {Miluus melanotis) is very common, not only in the country, but
also in the large cities, where, together with pigs and dogs, it renders valuable
services to yellow humanity, as a scavenger of undoubted efficiency. These
birds may frequently be seen in large flocks circling continuously at great
altitudes and at the same time moving steadily in one direction till they
disappear from view. This is suggestive of a migration, but is in no way
connected with the regular spring and autumn migrations of other birds.

The North China kite also seems to migrate in sandstorms. This act
may, however, be involuntary, the birds overtaken when at a considerable
height above the earth, being driven helplessly by the fury of the gale till
they succeed in reaching the ground. Whatever the explanation, the fact
remains that the traveller overtaken by one of these sandstorms — which come
down from Mongolia with the appearance of mighty walls thousands of feet
high, and blotting out the landscape as they approach — will shortly see
the dark forms of innumerable kites in every direction.

The sacred falcon [Falco sacer), the peregrine {Falco peregrims), and the

102

sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus), all comparatively common, are trapped by the
natives of the country and trained to the ancient and noble sport of falconry.
The kestrel {Cerchneis tinnmculus) , and the red-footed falcon [Erythropus vespertinus)
are abundant on every plain, whilst the fierce but somewhat clumsy buzzard
{Buteo hemilasius) takes heavy toll of the hares, partridges, and ground squirrels
of the broad valleys.

Over the marshes the elegantly shaped hen harrier {Circus cyaneus) glides
in its search for small aquatic fauna of all kinds, whilst occasionally the
osprey {Pandion haliaetus), king of fishing hawks, visits the larger ponds and
lakes. Here he may be seen circling high in the air, till some large fish coming
to the surface, catches the marauder's eye. Down he comes like a bolt from
the blue, cleaves the surface of the placid waters, scattering wide the
shimmering spray, and, burying his talons deep into the quivering flesh of his
prey, carries it off to the nearest pinnacle of rock or lofty tree.

Owls are represented by the five following species. The great eagle-owl
{Bubo maximus), the long-eared owl {Otus vulgaris), the short-eared owl {Otus
brachyotus), the little owl {Athene plumipes), and the scops owl {Scops stictonoi us).
The last mentioned is somewhat rare and is found usually round old temples.
The little owl may frequently be seen in the loess gullies and ravines of the
foothills, or out on the plains, where some lofty hollow tree affords adequate
shelter.

The long-eared and short-eared owls are inhabitants of the plains, while
the great eagle-owl frequents the highest and wildest mountains.

Following the owls, I might mention the night-jar {Caprimulgus jotaka), a
bird that is not often seen, but which inhabits the bush-covered slopes of the
lower mountain ranges. At dusk on warm summer evenings it flits on
noiseless wings over the hazel scrub and waving oatfields, chasing the large
pink-winged grasshopper, which always seems more active and noisy at this
time of the day.

The nearest relative to the night-jar in North China is the white rumped
swift {Cypselus pacificus) which appears rather late in the spring, rears it young
in the hollow eaves of temples and gate-towers, and is away again long before
the cold sets in.

We may now take a rapid survey of the game birds of the country, and
ornithologists must forgive me if I place pheasants, bustards, ducks, pigeons
and snipe in one large category.

Belonging to the phasianidae are some half dozen species, any of
which may give the traveller welcome relief from the monotony of the long

103

journey, and a diet of tinned food, by appearing within easy and tempting
range of the road. From the sides of the loess ravines or the bare shale
foothills, the rowdy cackling chukar, or red legged partridge [Caccabis chukar)
sends forth its taunting call to the passer by, who, if he be a sportsman, fails
not to take up the challenge. Rapidly climbing the steep cliff, he is likely to
find himself in the centre of a large covey of birds, which break cover with
terriffic whirr and whistling of wings, and rocket away in every direction.
The novice frantically swings the muzzle of his gun first in one direction and
then in another, and usually ends by making a double miss.

In the broad valleys out on the plains or again upon the great grassy slopes
of the high mountains, the little bearded partridge [Perdix daurica), a bird not
unlike the common partridge in size and appearance, but characterised by
having a peculiar beard of ochreous feathers, may often be found in large flocks.
The migratory quail [Coturnix coturnix) seeks refuge in the stubble of the plains
and valleys, whence it is easily ' walked up,' affording a good mark for the
quick gun.

The common pheasant {Phasianus torquatus) abounds wherever there is
any cover at all, whilst in the great pine forests of the highest and most
inaccessible mountain ranges the handsome eared pheasant {Crossoptilon)
wanders in large flocks of from twenty to forty birds. There are two varieties
of the latter, one being found in Shansi and the other away out in western
Kansu. The Shansi variety {C. manchuricum) , is a large gamy bird, with black
breast, head and wings, greyish white back and tail, the long curved feathers
of which end in black. There is a white patch on the throat which is con-
tinued on either side of the head in the form of ear-like tufts. These give the
bird a sinister and bellicose appearance. The Kansu variety {C. aun'fum),
commonly known as Pallas' eared pheasant, differs from its Shansi cousin in
being almost uniformly of a slate blue colour, there being but little white in
the tail, though the white throat and ear tufts are present. In both species the
face is naked and scarlet as in the common pheasant, while the legs are of a
dull crimson.

The eared pheasant runs with considerable speed, taking to its wings with
great reluctance. Dogs only succeed in treeing this handsome game, whilst it
is almost impossible to shoot them in the dense dark woods that they frequent.
If, however, a flock can be induced to break cover, the sportsman may
enjoy the time of his life, as the large birds after fluttering clear of the trees,
spread their wings and sail up and down the valley, crossing and re-crossing
each other in their mad endeavour to find safety. They seem to lose their

104

PLATE 44.

Guard House on Hsi-an to Lan-chou Road, Kansu.

Peculiar Head-dress.
Only worn in the vicinity of Clien-yuan Hsien, Kansu.

See pp.70 and ~j.

heads completely at the first shot and will olten fly straight towards the guns,
discovering their mistake in time, only to swerve to right or left, offering the
while an excellent mark. On alighting, the frightened birds scurry up through
the woods with wonderful agility and gaining the summits of the ridges once
more break cover and sail away across to the opposite ridge. In this way they
very soon outdistance the sportsman, who will shortly lose all traces of them.

There seems to be but one representative of the grouse family in these
provinces. Pallas' three-toed sand grouse {Syrrhaptes paradoxus) is found on the
great plains during the winter months. This bird is really an inhabitant of
the great Mongolian Desert and Southern Siberia, but in severe winters it
frequently seeks the slightly less bitter weather of the Chihli and Shansi
plains. Its flight is very swift and is accompanied with a shrill whisthng,
caused by the rapid beating of the long pointed wings. The feet of this
pretty little bird look very much like those of a rabbit, the toes being short,
padded and covered with hairlike feathers, which are continued up the leg.

Two varieties of pigeons may be classed with the game birds, but one of
these, the stock dove {Columba intermedia) is practically a domesticated breed
frequenting the habitations of man. The other, a variety of rock dove
{C rupestris) differing from the European form in having a broad white band
across the tail, inhabits the loess gullies and rocky ravines of the foothills.
These two species may often be seen in vast flocks feeding together by
hundreds on the cultivated fields, along the roads, or in the boulder-strewn
mountain valleys.

Two other members of the dove family also frequent the woods and
groves, one {Turtur decaocta) inhabiting the plains, and the other, a turtle dove
{Turtur chinensis), preferring mountainous regions.

In certain localities the lordly bustard {Otis dybowskii) is very common.
Wherever large level tracts exist, be they uplands or lowlands, plateau or
plain, there this, the prince of game birds, is to be found. The sandy
stretches of the Ordos, the watery plain of Hsi-an Fu, the loess plateaux of
central Shensi, and the Shansi tableland — all are equally favoured by this
handsome bird. It does not, however, breed in these localities, but at the
approach of summer flies northward to the solitudes of the Gobi Desert or
Southern Siberia, where the female raises a large brood.

We now come to the geese and ducks, a group so large that justice
cannot be done to them in the limited space at my disposal. During the
spring and autumn the bean goose {Anser segetum) appears in vast flocks.
Spreading over the plains in their hundreds and thousands they resemble an

109

invading army. In squadrons and battalions they march over the fields of
winter wheat, uprooting and devouring the tender seedhngs, till the ground is
left bare and brown behind them. Whether taken with rifle or shot gun,
stalked, or shot as they pass in long chains overhead, they afford excellent
sport. Closely allied to the bean goose is the grey lag goose {Anser ferus).
The latter is a much rarer bird in North China, and is only met with in the
more out of the way places, such as the lonely marshes of the Ordos Desert.

The ruddy sheldrake {Casarca ferruginea) is extremely common in some
places. We found this duck most numerous on the Hsi-an Fu plain in South
Shensi and ip Honan. Here they were seen in pairs in every field, but at
Yii-lin Fu they occurred in large flocks. We seldom paid any attention to
these birds as they were easy to shoot and their flesh was coarse and oily.
The common sheldrake (Tadorna cormta) is only occasionally met with.
The wild swan {Cygnus ferus) is also an occasional visitor.

Coming to the ducks we find that the commonst species are the mallard
{Anas boscas), the teal {Nettion crecca), the pochard {Nyroca fen'm), the shoveller
(Spatula clypeata), the golden eye (Clangula glauciori) and the pin-tail {Dafila acuta).
There are other less common species such as the exquisite mandarin duck
{Aex galericulata) and Swinhoe's duck {Anas zonorhyncha).

Of all the foregoing the only species that remain north of Hsi-an Fu
throughout the winter are the mallard and teal.

The mallard and Swinhoe's duck not infrequently breed in the marshes
of Shansi.

The Baikal teal {Nettion formosum) may sometimes be seen during the
migratory season together with the smew {Mergus albellus), the red-breasted
merganser {Merganser serrator) , and the goosander {Merganser castor) . The red-
breasted merganser often remains for the winter, when it may be found in the
valleys of the high mountain ranges where open streams not infrequently
exist even in the dead of winter.

It is but a step from ducks to waders and aquatic birds in general, in
which branch of bird life the provinces of North China are particularly rich.

A small species of gull {Larus crassirostris) follows up the course of the
Yellow River and many of its larger tributaries. It may be seen flitting over
ponds and marshes wherever these exist. On the present expedition these
birds were noted in Shansi, on the T'ai-yiian plain, again on the Hsi-an Fu
plain in Shensi, and also near Lanchou, in Kansu. The tern is a summer
visitor only.

The bittern {Botaurus stellaris), the heron {Ardea cinerea), the black stork

106

PLATE 45.

{Ciconia nigra), the night-heron {Nycticorax nydicorax), the spoonbill {Platalae
leucorodia), and the curlew {Numenius arquatus), together with lesser waders, such
as red shanks, sandpipers, turnstones, sanderlings, stints, and sand plovers*,
congregate in little flocks, or disperse in pairs over the sandy flats of the large
rivers, along the shores of ponds and lakes, or even upon the cultivated fields
of the plains. The black stork {Ciconia nigra) is found along the rivers. It
builds its nest on crags of high precipitous cliffs.

On the waters of the lakes and marshes the cormorant [Phalacrocorax
carbo), the coot [Fulica atra) , the moorhen {Gallinula chloropus) , the great crested
grebe {Podiceps cornutus) , the little grebe {Colymbus ruficollis) , disport throughout
the summer, building their nests in the rushes, where skulks the water-rail
{Rallus indicus) .

Snipe are very common and many a good bag can be made in the rice-
fields and reed-beds. There are two species of snipe in North China, the little
jacksnipe {Limnocrypfes gallinula), and the pin-tailed snipe {Gallinago sfenura). The
latter is frequently found along the banks of streams in mountainous districts.

One must not forget to mention the common crane {Grus grus) which
passes north or south during the spring and autumn respectively in immense
flocks containing from twenty to two hundred birds. They are usually very
shy, and the hunter finds great difficulty in approaching them, but as they
get further north they seem to lose their fear of man and can easily be
brought down with a shot gun. The demoiselle crane {Anthropoides uirgo) may
also be seen occasionally.

In the boulder strewn valleys of the high mountains may be heard the
plaintive cry of the remarkable ibis-billed curlew [Ibidorhynchus struthersi), as it flits
along the stream beds, while the pretty little ringed plover {y^gialitis alexandrinus)
deposits its clutch of eggs amongst the pebbles that they so exactly resemble.

The crested plover ( Vanellus vanellus) and the grey-headed plover {Micro-
sarcops cinereus) may be seen during the spring and autumn.

The Chinese ibis (Nipponia nippon) builds its nest in the large trees that
grow on the margins of the rice-fields, seeking sustenance for itself and young
in the muddy waters of the latter. Its chief food is a large water-snail,
together with mussels, frogs and aquatic insects.

Before drawing to a close, if will be well to mention various other families
represented throughout the mountains, plains, hills and valleys of the
provinces by not more than one or two species.

Here, where the mountain stream plunges into deep defile, or stays to

* The species to which these belong I have as yet been unable to determine.

107

wander in rich meadow, we may mark the little emerald-hued kingfisher
{Alcedo ispida) ; or there, watching for his prey from some branch over the
glassy pool, the larger long-tailed variety {Halcyon pileatus), easily distinguishable
by his black head and purple back.

The handsome hoopoe {Upupa epops)^ with its golden crown, pied wings
and long curved bill, abounds in Shansi. It is found in the other provinces,
but is less common. Its peculiarly characteristic call, ** ho poo poo," uttered
at short intervals with three nods of the head, announces to the worthy
celestial the approach of spring, but it is not till the voice of the cuckoo
(Cuculus canorus) resounds o'er hill and dale that he commences to sow his
seeds. The Chinese call the cuckoo " chung-ku " (pronounced * joong goo '),
which means "plant (your) millet." These syllables, they aver, form the
notes of the bird's call, which is intended for a direct message to the husband-
man. Almost simultaneously with the cuckoo comes the wryneck {lynx
torquilla), but it is a comparatively rare bird, keeping away from the beaten
tracks of man.

Three or four species of woodpecker are found in the country, and of these
the great spotted woodpecker {Dendrocopus major) is decidedly the most
common. The green woodpecker {Gecinus canus) comes next, while the little
spotted woodpecker {lyngipicus doerriessi) may also be seen from time to time.

A bird which would appear to be the great black woodpecker {FHcus martius)
was described to me by some of the mountain people of Shansi, but it must
be very rare indeed.

108

PLATE 46.

Isolated column of Sandstone, Hai-shui-ssu,
Kansu and Shensi border.

See p. 124.

CHAPTER XII.

REPTILES, BATRACHIANS AND FISHES — BY A. DE C. SOWERBY.

IN these branches of the Biological work of the Expedition comparatively
little was done chiefly because there was so little to collect. North China
is very poor in cold-blooded vertebrates and the whole collection included not
more than sixteen species, which were presented by Mr. Clark to the U.S.
National Museum.

The explanation for this can be expressed in three words : unfavourable
climatic conditions.

In the first place the excessive cold of the North China winter tells very
severely against snakes and lizards. For three months the thermometer
nightly registers from twenty to forty degrees of frost. The ground is frozen
hard as a rock to a depth of several feet. Rivers and lakes are covered with
layers of ice from two to four feet thick, whilst marshes and mountain streams
become solid.

Following the severe winter frosts, comes a long period of drought lasting
through the spring into early summer. Sometimes this drought is prolonged
through the whole of the latter season. This terrible dryness is very hard on
batrachians, especially as it usually occurs during the spawning season, when
they need water most. Apart from one or two small varieties, fish do not
exist, except in permanent streams, rivers or lakes.

There is little wonder then, that North China boasts so few species
belonging to these classes of vertebrates. As was shrewdly remarked about
them, they have to hibernate in winter and aestivate in summer.

Reptiles.

On the present expedition three species of snakes only were secured.

The commonest of these was the olive water-snake {Tropidonotus tigrims), a
beautiful reptile of a bright sap-green colour. On the throat are patches of
orange red which extend down either side of the body, growing smaller till

109

they vanish somewhere near the tail. Alternating with these are patches of
black, which commence just behind the jaw, two being larger than the rest.
The sides of the head are striped with black, while the lower jaw and throat
are white. In the shape of the head and general appearance, this snake
resembles the common British grass snake. Specimens of this species were
taken in all three provinces. One was caught in the temple yard at Yii-lin
Fu, but usually they were found along the banks of streams and rivers.

The second species fCoIuber—or Elaphis—dioneJ was secured only at Yti-lin
Fu. This is a prettily-marked variety, which varies in colour from a rich
orange-brown to a dull grey-brown according to the time since the skin was
shed. The markings commencing in the shape of a U, behind the head,
extend in transverse bars down the back. The edge of each bar is darker
than the rest. On either side of the body occur rows of dots, also with
darkened edges. These alternate with the ends of the transverse bars.
Besides these markings, two broad lines of a slightly darker shade than the
ground colour extend from the head along either side of the back to the tail.
This species is very common in the Ordos Desert and in the loess country of
the adjacent provinces. It may frequently be found in the houses of towns
and villages, to which it is probably attracted by the abundance of rats, mice
and sparrows (see coloured plate) .

The third species {Zamenis spinalis) was secured only in Kansu. Here a
single specimen was caught on the bank of a large stream. This species
somewhat resembles Coluber dione in colour, but is more whip-like in shape and
is differently marked. It has three white stripes down the back, and there are
white markings on the head. Though the specimen in question was caught
on the side of a stream in a valley, the snake cannot be said to frequent such
places. I have seen it in mountainous country in Shansi, on the top of rocky
ridges far removed from any water. It is, however, rather a rare species.

All these three species are non-poisonous. There seems to be only one
poisonous snake in North China, namely, a species of viper {Ancistrodon
intermedius). This is the common Central Asiatic form. Fortunately for the
inhabitants it is very rare in these provinces. No specimens were met with
on the present expedition.

Three species of lizards were added to the collection.

The dullard lizard [Eremias ar^us) was noticed in all three provinces,
though very few specimens were taken. A very common species, it is
particularly abundant in the Ordos. It is frequently seen along the sides of
the road in the loess country. The species is very widely distributed.

110

Brown Snake (Coluber dione).
Toad-headed Lizard (Phrynocephalus frontalis).

they vaLDtdh somewhere near the tail,
black, which commence just behind the jaw, '
The sides of the head are striped with Wack, v
sr? .V I site. In the shape of the head and f
re^ he common British grass snake. 5'_

t all three provinces. One was cau^jht in
"v they were found along the b '
id species fCohtber—or Blaphis- _.. - .. .
Fi: is a prettily-marked variety, which varies

orange-brown to a dull grey-brown according to the tr
shed. The markings commencing in the shape of a u, oemaj tiie nead,
extend io tmnft'r«^r?e T.ar?. down the back. The edge of each bar is darker
than the ^e of the body occur rows of dots, also with

dfii t- with the ends of the transverse bar

Be^j'ir M5V** '' ' ' ' darker shade than the

c?r :rn ' -^4cvr --^r \h^. hack to the tail.

«» conntry of

.(sno\b laduVoO^ 9>lBn8 nwonfl

on the head. Though the
of a stream io a va' i tu iretjuent sucii

I have sec- ' ■■ — ' i, un th- ^ ' — '

:?tr lemovf'd '" ej a rare

All theEe tr son-poisonous, eems to be

j»oisonous China, namely, a species of viper {Afia

,*}termedv- » umroon Central Asiatic form. Fortunately fot ui'.

inhabit ^ ce in these provinces. No specimens were met with

on the present expedition.

Three species of lizards were added to the collection.

^'illard lizard {Eremias argus) was noticed in all three prov:
»^- y few specimens were taken. A very common 'ax^^'A*-*

abundant in th« Ordos. It is frequently seen ■
the loe; The species is vc uted.

,^f^|*;,>

>?ji^

:i:'^*||^?!^|f;;i

In the country round Yti-lin Fu a good series of the little sand-
inhabiting lizard {Phrynocephalus frontalis) was secured. I have not met
this little lizard anywhere but in, and on the borders of, the Ordos Desert.
Here it may be seen in great numbers during the warmer months of the
year. These little creatures are very pugnacious, and indulge in desperate
battles with one another. They have a peculiar habit of rapidly curling and
uncurling their tails over their backs. This action looks very venomous, and is
strongly suggestive of the vicious swishing of the scorpion's deadly caudal
weapon. This lizard is of a general sandy colour above, with creamy under-
parts. Blotches of a darker shade occur over the body, and extending along
the tail grow darker, finally ending in a series of black rings. The last half
inch of the tail is black. The under surface of the tail is pale vermilion,
while a crimson-mauve patch occurs behind each fore-limb. The head is
shaped like that of a toad, the eyes being black with white eyelids. It makes
holes in the sand in which it shelters at night, or when threatened with danger.

The remaining species of lizard is the little gecko {Gecko japonicus),
which frequents buildings, temples, and caves. It may also be found in
crevices in loess or rocky cliffs. It is perfectly smooth-skinned, and is free
from frills of any sort. In colour it is a dull mottled grey, admirably adapted
to protect it from discovery, as it clings to the surface of brick wall or rocky
cliff. Some eggs of this species were found in a temple. Several of these
were hatched out in the course of a few weeks. The Chinese greatly
fear this little creature, crediting it with being venomous. In reality it is a
great boon, as it keeps the houses clear of all kinds of vermin. It is nocturnal
in its habits. The Chinese name is ** Hsieh-hu," meaning " scorpion tiger."
This name is given because the gecko is supposed to eat scorpions.

The only other reptile secured on the expedition was a species of
mud-tortoise {Trionyx sinensis). This species abounds in some of the tributaries
of the Yellow River in Shensi. Here it may be seen floating in the quiet
waters below rapids, or basking in the sun on the muddy banks. It also
exists in the Yellow River itself. Some were secured in the fish market
in Ho-nan Fu, in Honan. Others were taken in the rivers near Yen-an
Fu, in Shensi. The Chinese esteem these ugly creatures a great delicacy ;
and certainly, when properly cooked, they are quite palatable. At the
same time, it is considered a foul beast, and is emblematic of all that is
vile. These mud tortoises are extremely vicious, snapping angrily at the
hand when disturbed. They are capable of making a noise, and I have
heard them scream when being killed for the table.

ni

Batrachians.

In this branch of cold-blooded vertebrates, the provinces passed through
are very poor. Only two species of frogs and two of toads were secured.

The large edible frog {Rana esculenta) was common in places where there
was a good supply of water. In the small streams joining the Yii-lin Ho,
at YU-lin Fu, these frogs were very common. They were also met with
in great numbers in the few fertile valleys of Eastern Kansu and West
Central Shensi. This handsome frog is not unlike the common British form
{Rana temporaria), but is somewhat larger and of a beautiful green colour, either
dark or light. It possesses a bladder on the side of the head, which distends
and contracts as the frog emits its loud, hoarse croaks. It is very agile and
difficult to catch. The flesh of the legs is edible and is a great delicacy.

The small brown frog {Rana Japonica) was frequently met with in
the ravines of the loess country of North Shensi. It is capable of with-
standing long periods of drought, burying itself deep down in the beds of
the streams and pools. In colour this frog varies considerably in different
places. Some were of a deep brown colour above, yellowish-pink beneath,
shading into red on the under surfaces of the legs. Others were of a light
fawn colour, and cream or yellow beneath. The former was secured at Yu-lin
Fu, while the latter were found in the streams of the loess country in all three
provinces. All specimens agreed, however, in having a black or dark brown
band crossing the eye on either side of the head.

Of the two toads met with Radde's toad {Bufo raddei) is characteristic of the
country. This amphibian does not attain any great size. The female is very
prettily marked, somewhat resembhng the natterjack toad of Europe ; the male
is of a dull greenish-brown colour, and does not possess the beautiful marking of
the female. There can be no doubt of this animal's powers to withstand drought.
I have found it amongst the sand-dunes of the Ordos, as well as in the loess
hills of other parts. Specimens were secured in Kansu, within the famine area
near Lan-chou Fu. Here, the natives said, there had been no rain for three
years. In spite of its frequenting such dry places, it thoroughly appreciates
an abundant supply of water, as I have found them in the ponds and back-
waters of rivers, not only while spawning but at all times of the year, excepting
winter. The spawning season is regulated by the rains, and in a dry year I
have known it to be postponed till July.

The other toad obtained is identical with the common European species
{Bufo vulgaris). It is much less common than B. raddei. Only very young
specimens were secured on the present expedition.

112

PLATE 47.

Nothing in the way of salamanders or newts were seen, and I do not
believe that they exist in these provinces north of the 35th parallel of latitude.

Fishes.

On the expedition very few fish were secured. Constant watch was kept
for anything in this line in the mountain streams but with poor success. No
doubt the Yellow River would have yielded a fair number of species if we had
had the means and opportunity of exploring its muddy depths. However, its
commonest denizens are undoubtedly the cat-fish {Silunis asotus) and the carp
[Cyprinus carpio). Both these species attain a large size, and are eagerly fished
for by the natives who transport them to various large centres.

The cat-fish is usually transported alive. The carp on the other hand
are not transported till winter, when they are frozen and covered with a layer
of ice to preserve them.

Cyprinus carassius is the species from which the Chinese and Japanese
have bred the gold fish. Specimens (young) were obtained from the streams
at Yii-lin Fu. This is a comparatively common fish, being found in most lakes,
ponds and rivers. It often finds its way to the tables of Chinese gentlemen,
but has a muddy taste and is excessively bony. The serving of such a fish
at a feast, where such expensive luxuries as bird's nest soup and white
fungus are on the menu, speaks volumes for the scarcity of fish in North
China.

In the fish-markets of Hsi-an Fu and Ho-nan Fu I noticed one or two
other species of fish, but as I could get no satisfactory statement as to where
they came from, I did not consider it worth while to secure specimens.

Monoptems Jammnsis, a species of eel, was secured at Hsi-an Fu where
it was commonly found in the black oozy mud of the rice-fields and irrigation
ditches. It is remarkable for the total absence of fins. Its gills are very
small and inconspicuous. It might thus be easily mistaken for a snake. It is
of a dark olive-brown colour, with mottling of a darker shade closely dotted
all over it. The head is very snake-like. Large specimens were for sale in the
market at Hsi-an Fu.

Misgurnus anguillicaudatus is an eel-like loach, specimens of which were
secured at Yii-lin Fu. I noticed larger specimens for sale in the fish-market
in Ho-nan Fu and round Hsi-an Fu. As far as I could gather, it is an inhabitant
of large rivers and their affluents, and occurs in flat country, but is never seen
in mountain streams. "

Cobitis tinia is the only species of fish which is really abundant in the

H US

the northern parts of the three provinces of Shansi, Shensi, and Kansu. It
is found in most streams, whether in the high rocky mountains or in the loess
hills. This loach was secured in large numbers at Yii-lin Fu. Specimens were
also captured in Kansu, and at other places, but these unfortunately were
spoiled.

It is highly probable that this species can survive the drying up of the
streams in which it lives, as I have found it in places where such conditions
must frequently prevail.

Specimens of a minnow {Phroxinus Sp.) were caught at Yii-lin Fu and again
in the mountain streams south of Hsi-an Fu ; but I have been unable to
identify the species.

114

PLATE 48.

Chipmunk. {Butamias asiaticus senesceus).

See pp. g2 and lyb.

Mole-rat. (Atyospalax cansus).

See /•/>. 84 and i8z.

CHAPTER XIII.

GEOLOGICAL NOTES — BY A. DE C. SOWERBY.

TT is with some hesitation that I set forth the following notes and remarks
■■• on the Geology of the country traversed by the Expedition. With but
a mere smattering of knowledge, picked up from text-books whilst on the
march, I realise my unfitness for the task of giving anything like a Geological
description of the Provinces passed through. Nevertheless it would seem to
be a pity were I to shelve even such meagre notes as I have been able to
gather about a country so little known. Eminent authorities on Geology have
travelled in North China, but the route taken by the present Expedition
seems to have been almost altogether through districts entirely new, so far
as this science is concerned. That part of Shansi west of T'ai-yiian Fu, and
the whole of Shensi north of the Wei Ho were out of Richthofen's path. This
interesting country was missed too by the members of the Carnegie
Expedition 1903-4, It seems, however, to present features not found
elsewhere in China, a proper study of which would throw light upon many
problems in connection with the great loess deposits of North China.

Throughout this Chapter I adopt the momenclature used by the authors
of ** Research in China." This book (published by the Carnegie Institution
of Washington) deals with the results of the Carnegie Expedition already
mentioned, and in it, where dealing with this subject, Mr. Bailey Willis calls
the whole of the Yellow Aeolian deposits, so extensively found in all the
northern provinces, the Huang- fu formation. In Chinese, the word Huang-fu
means literally " yellow earth." It refers to the true wind-deposited loess, as
well as to the fluvial deposits of the ChihH plain and elsewhere. Bailey Willis
took the name, which is a very happy one, from Huang-t'u-tsai, a village
situated about ten miles north of T'ai-yiian Fu.

Another substance containing a large percentage of clay, and occurring
in many places with the loess, is called Shao-fu which means literally "baking
earth." It derives this name from the fact that it is suitable for mixing with
coal-dust to form a good burning substance. The mixture is either dried into
cakes, or is put on the kang-hre wet. It burns well, but slowly, forming a
very economical fuel.

Throughout this Chapter I shall use the word Shao-fu in its real Chinese
sense, and the word Huang-fu in the sense given to it by Bailey Willis. I
shall thus have three terms to use in connection with yellow deposits ; —

115

(i) Huang-fu referring to all deposits, whether Aeolian or fluvial.

(2) Loess, the pure aeolian or sub-aerial deposit.

(3) Shao-Vu, that substance, which resembles Loess, but contains a certain

proportion of clay.

The last usually contains more carbonate of lime than the second,* and
generally occurs at the bottom of the deep ravines in the Huang-fu formations.
So far as I have been able to gather, the lime nodules mentioned by various
writers occur in the Shao-t'u. The origin of the latter is difficult to determine, t
but it is believed by some to be the result of decomposed Felspathic rock.
For want of any other name, I call the sedimentary beds of Shensi " the
Shensi formation," but the exact relationship between this and the Shansi
formation I cannot define, though it certainly resembles the formation between
Chiao-ch'6ng Shan and the Huang Ho.

The country in the immediate vicinity of T'ai-yiian Fu, our starting-
point, has been investigated by the members of the Carnegie Expedition, so
that I will commence drawing on my note book at the western bank of the
F6n Ho. In the preparation of this Chapter I have had frequent recourse to
" Research in China " ; the line of march followed by the authors of that
work was from Pao-ting Fu in Chihli westward to Wu-t'ai Shan in Shansi ;
thence southward through the middle of Shansi as far as T'ung-kuan Hsien,
just beyond its south-western border ; and from this point westward again in
exploration of the Ch'in-ling range and the country south of the Wei Ho in
Shensi.

After continuing westward from T'ai-ytian Fu, in Shansi, to Yti-lin Fu, in
Northern Shensi, our own route lay in a direction roughly parallel to that of
the Carnegie Expedition, extending as it did from North to South down the
middle of Shensi. The Carnegie Expedition did not enter Kansu at all, and
the country we traversed seems to have been visited by no geologist. We
thus had the opportunity of seeing a mountainous country, namely the Chiao-
ch'^ng Shan, dividing the F^n Ho from the Yellow River, the existence of
which seems to have been unsuspected by Richthofen, and only guessed at by
the members of the Carnegie Expedition. Both parties apparently confined
themselves to the valley of the F6n Ho, and formed their opinions of what
lay to the westward from what they saw of the small range of mountains
forming the north-western boundary of that valley.

Richthofen speaks of the country between the F6n Ho and the Yellow

* The loess has a large p<oportion of clay, but disseminated and not separated as appears to be the case with the Shao-t'u.
t The CaOiCOj of the calcareous nodules is probsbiy derived from the upper beds by water action.

116 -

River as a plateau of nearly horizontal coal-bearing strata ; whilst Bailey
Willis suspects that the rock below the Sinian Limestone, together with the
Sinian Limestone itself, forms the mass of the mountains west of the small
range already mentioned. Neither of these observers mentions the great
divide of Igneous and Metamorphic rock, which extends in a more or less
complete line from Ning-wu Fu, five days journey (about lOO miles) north-
west of T'ai-yiian Fu, to Yung-ning Chou, four days journey south-west.
Having penetrated these mountains at five different points I can vouch for its
existence. Professor Lyman of the Shansi University discovered Granite and
Gneiss in the mountains west of W^n-shui Hsien, a town about fifty miles
south-west of T'ai-yiian Fu.

From my notes it will be seen that Richthofen was not altogether wrong
when he discussed the country west of the F6n Ho as a plateau of horizontal
coal-bearing strata. There are undoubtedly great stretches of country marked
by beds of this nature ; but on the other hand there are large areas where,
but for the Loess, the Sinian Limestone would form the surface. I have found
this to be the case in the mountains west of K'e-lan Chou a town about sixty
miles north-west of T'ai-yiian Fu, and again at Wu-ch'6ng a village half-way
between Yung-ning Chou and F^n-chou Fu. It also forms certain high peaks
situated physiographically between the Shansi formation and the pre-Cambrian
rocks in the Ning-wu district. Of course the outcrops of Pre-Cambrian
(Igneous and Metamorphic) rock, already referred to, form a large area.

The folding and vertical dips mentioned by Bailey Willis occur, as far as
I can make out, only in the small range — not more than twenty miles wide —
which extends from north-east to south-west along the north-western edge of
the T'ai-yiian Fu plain. Westwards from this range till the Chiao-ch'^ng
Shan are reached the strata are horizontal. Further north, as the Ning-wu
district is approached, these strata are arranged in a series of ridges having a
north-east to south-west trend and formed by dip-slopes on the south-eastern
and scarps on the north-western side. The dip-slopes vary generally from 30°
to 80°, some being almost perpendicular. As already stated, between these
ridges of Shansi formation and the great outcrop of pre-Cambrian rock, occur
very high and precipitous ridges of Sinian limestone. These form very pointed
peaks, varying in altitude from 7,000 to 8000 feet above the sea-level. Their
dips slope to the south-east at angles of from 45° to 60°, becoming almost
perpendicular as the crests of the ridges are reached. The escarpments are
due, doubtless, to erosion on the eastern side of an immense fold ; the softer
rocks on the anti-cline of this fold have been carried away by denudation,

117

leaving exposed the Plutonic rocks, which now form the crest of the great
divide between the F6n and Yellow Rivers.

There is plenty of good coal in the district, as well as a certain amount of
silver ore. The former is mined, but the mining of the latter is prohibited by the
local officials, who fear the imposition of heavy taxes by the central Government.

In the Ning-wu district I discovered a series of small lakes situated at an
altitude of about 7,000 feet above sea-level along the summits of the shale
ridges of the Shansi formation. They occur in hollows formed by scarps on
the one side, and dip-slopes on the other : their existence bearing testimony
to the impervious nature of the shale. The accompanying sketch shows one
of these lakes, and other physiographical features of the district. The lakes
are very deep and contain clear, sweet water. Their overflows join the Fen
Ho, in spite of the fact that they are much closer to the Huai Ho, which
flows northward, and ultimately joins one of the rivers traversing Chihli.
(An account of the discovery of these lakes was published in " Travel and
Exploration," October, 1910).

The foregoing remarks refer chiefly to those parts of the mountains west
of the F6n Ho which lie outside the path of the present Expedition. I will
now take in more detail the rocks and formations noticed along our own line
of march. On entering the mountains west of T'ai-yuan Fu, the first rock
encountered was the dark limestone (Cambro-Ordovician) dipping slightly to
the west. This is deeply cut through by water-courses which enter the plain
from the west. At Lan-ts'un, a village about fifteen miles north-west of
T'ai-yiian Fu, the Fen Ho cuts through this formation. The height of the
limestone cliffs here must be between 300 and 400 feet. A similar formation
occurs again about three miles north-east of the same village. Here a narrow
winding gorge cuts deeply through the limestone for a distance of about
fifteen miles. The limestone, in places, exhibits a pale creamy colour. This
outcrop appears to form the eastern edge of a great, but shallow synclinal
fold. The western outcrop appears along the eastern side of the great divide
of igneous rock, already mentioned.

At a level of about 300 feet above the plain, the Limestone formation
gives place to the Sandstone and Shale formations typical of Shansi. These
continue the crest of the range to an altitude of 2,500 feet above the level of
the plain. The shale deposits in this small range are horizontal and free from
faults, and are inter-stratified with beds of Pyrites, Conglomerates, and thick
seams of coal. The colours of these shales vary considerably, being blue-grey,
dark madder, yellow ochre, greenish yellow, or green.

119

*f he Conglomerates, formed o^ well-worn and rounded pebbles, occur at
an altitude of about 500 feet. The Pyrites, a grey and friable variety, occurs
at an altitude of between 300 and 400 feet. The sulphur is extracted by the
natives, who roast the pyrites in perforated clay vessels, the residue being a
soft, earthy substance the colour of yellow ochre. When roasted again, this
turns into a bright red powder, largely used in the manufacture of paint for
houses and furniture. In places, where the second roasting is carried on,
the whole of the surrounding ground, for a considerable distance, becomes
stained a bright red. Many such patches mark the slopes of these mountains,
and might at first sight be mistaken for outcrops of Red Haematite.

The coal from this district is also very sulphurous, and unpleasant to use
in open grates, being very smoky and giving a large percentage of ash. In
places, where the seams were exposed to the air, we often noticed an
efflorescence of pure sulphur.

There is also a considerable amount of iron-ore in these mountains ; and
some of the streams in the range are strongly alkaline : a fact especially
noticeable when they are frozen.

After crossing this ridge, we descended first through loess and then
through shale to the bed of the F6n Ho at Ku-chao. Here, a little way up
the ravines, which join the river, iron-smelting is carried on ; brown iron-
ore being easily mined. Iron, coal and clay occur together in these spots ;
otherwise, there would be no smelting done. The price of pig-iron is too low
to allow of any one of these materials being transported for use from a
distance. Baron von Richthofen has described the native method of smelting
so well that any further remarks would be superfluous.

The formations, from Ku-chao westward for a distance of twenty miles,
are entirely of Sandstone, Shale and Huang-fu. As already stated, the strata
of these sedimentary rocks were found to be horizontal, and free from foldings
and faults.

At Ts'a-k'ou, about forty-five miles west of T'ai-yiian Fu, Sinian Lime-
stone again makes its appearance, and a little further on the Pre-Cambrian
rocks, which form the Chiao-ch'^ng Shan district, commence. We first
travelled up a long valley leading westward, the sides of which were composed
of precipitous limestone peaks. As we ascended the pass at the head of this
valley, we crossed a dyke of Pegmatite exposed in the cutting of the bridle-
path, the rest of the slopes being composed of Mica Schists. On the western
slope of the pass, masses of white Felspar with large pieces of embedded
Muscovite were noticed. Large stones of both fine and coarse-grained Granite,

120

PLATE 49.

%,.

•^*r'-

tV' '-^

5and Hamster. {Phodopus bedtordise).

See pp. Sj and jSo.

David's Squirrel. (Sciurotamias davidianus).

Sie pp. SS and 776.

besides Pegmatite, Felspathic and Micaceous rocks, and Gneisses were plentiful
in the valley-bottoms on either side of the pass.

With my limited knowledge, it would be hopeless to attempt a full
description of the co;nplicated structural formation of the Chiao-ch'^ng Shan
district : the most I can do is to mention the names and the positions of the
rocks which I noticed. So far as I could gather, these mountains, like those
in the Ning-wu district, are formed by a great fold, the softer rocks of which
have been denuded, thus laying bare the Plutonic rocks. The tops of the
peaks and ridges are undoubtely of granite, which varies in colour from grey
to pink, and in texture from a fine to a coarse grain. The summit of Mo-6rh
Shan (9,200 feet), the highest peak in the district, is in the form of a hugh cone
of grey granite, slowly breaking up into large blocks — roughly cubical — many
of which lie scattered down the mountain's side. Slightly curved joints —
very noticeable in our illustration (Plate 55) — cut across the summit, and
appear to form an anticline. On the next highest peak Yun-t'ing Shan, red
granite appears, as well as the grey. To the north, the peaks and ridges seem
to be composed of gneiss and other metamorphic rocks, with ribs of granite
here and there. The valley-bottoms are strewn with boulders, and stones
of all kinds of crystalline rock ; the minerals quartz, mica, and felspar
predominating.

On descending the western slope of this great ridge, which divides the
basin of the F6n Ho from the Yellow River, we soon reached again the beds
of shale and sandstone. They present here features similar to those east of
Chiao-ch'eng Shan. Huang4'u is very widely distributed, and in many places
hides all other formations by extending right down to the valley-bottoms.

At a distance of about fifteen miles from the Chiao-ch'^ng Shan range, we
crossed another small divide, the summit of which was composed of shale
protruding through the Huang-Vu. Between here and the next pass — about
twenty miles further west — lies the river valley, in which the town of Lin
Hsien is situated. The valleys between these three divides run from north-
east to south-west, eventually joining the Yellow River.

The Lin Hsien valley is filled with vast deposits of Huang-fu so that
only at the ravine-bottoms is the substratum of sandstone exposed.

One might consider the chain of mountains, which divides the Fdn Ho
from the Yellow River, as forming the eastern boundary of a vast flat basin,
which takes in the whole of Northern Shensi, and the adjacent parts of Shansi,
and Kansu. This basin is underlain by the Sinian Limestone, upon which
lie Sandstone and Shale formations, which in turn are covered by a thick layer

121

of loess. Except at the edges, these successive layers are practically horizontal.
I will refer to this as the North Shensi basin, and will deal with it more
closely in my remarks on the Huang-Vu formation.

About fifteen miles west of Lin Hsien a very peculiar formation
occurs. Three peaks, composed chiefly of granite, pierce through the
Huang-Vu mantle, and rise to an altitude of from 6000 to 7000 feet. The
peaks, which go by the name of Ch'ing-ting Shan (" clear summit moun-
tains ") run roughly in a line, north and south, their bases covering a square
of five miles to the side. All round are loess hills. So far as could be
gathered, these isolated peaks are the result of folding ; but on this point I
would not care to offer a positive opinion.

Westward, to the Yellow River, the country consists of loess lying upon
a thick layer of sandstone. Through the latter, streams flowing towards the
Yellow River in a general westerly direction have cut down to a depth
commencing at from 20 to 30 feet and gradually increasing to about 300 feet
in its bed. This sandstone doubtless belongs to the Shansi formation ; it is
perfectly horizontal in stratification, and nowhere were any faults noticed. It
is in the form of freestone, and is admirably illustrated in the accompanying
photograph (Plate 9).

On the western bank of the Yellow River, the same formation extends to
the borders of the Ordos, though the depth of the sections exposed along the
sides of the river-valleys becomes less and less till only along the largest rivers
is there any outcrop.

At YU-hn Fu the loess formations give place to a peculiar, hard, purplish
rock containing a certain percentage of sand. Though not nearly so hard, it
closely resembles shale, and doubtless only requires pressure to be converted
into it. This hardened, sandy mud, or mudstone, protrudes through the thick
layer of loose sand in the form of low rounded hills ; one of which appears
in the photograph of the sand-dunes (Plate 10).

The sand that exists in this district, is of the same yellowish fawn tint as
the loess, and is from fifty to one hundred feet deep. It is very soft and
loose, and in the river-beds and damp ravine-bottoms forms dangerous quick-
sands. About Yii-lin Fu itself the sandstone, where visible, is of a pale
greenish colour ; but further to the south-west along the Ordos border it is of
a brick-red. A deep bed of this red sandstone occurs at the head of the Yen
Shui valley, a few miles south of Ching-pien. Here the cliffs rise to the
height of some 200 feet, whilst the waters of the Yen Shui are stained a deep
red. Red sand is deposited along the valley near Yen-an Fu.

122

PLATE 50

1

I

t

Travelling southward from Yii-lin Fu to Yen-an Fu we encountered
Huang-t'u formation upon horizontal strata of sandstone and shale. The
sandstone in places shows very marked bedding, and, owing to the deposition
of mica between the layers, can be split without difficulty. This strongly-
bedded sandstone occurs chiefly between Sui-t6 Chou and Ma-chia-k'ou. A
good illustration of this may be seen in the photograph of icicles, taken about
three miles south of Ch'ing-chien Hsien (Plate 17). The photograph shows
too a typical source of the plentiful water-supply to be found in every ravine of
North Shensi.

At Yen-an Fu, the sandstone, still of a pale greenish colour, continues to
show marked bedding. At low levels a pink and green cross-bedded sandstone
was noted. In the region of Yen-an, the sandstone contains many crystals of
Iron Pyrites. These, of course, where exposed, are very much oxidised, but
some fine unoxidised specimens were secured at Lao-shan.

There is little to say about the Huang- fu of this vicinity, except that
at the ravine-bottoms it is inclined to be clayey, resembling Shao-fu rather
than loess. In the wooded area — which extends in a great belt, east and west,
some twelve miles south of Yen-an Fu — there is an even greater predominance
of Shao-Vu. Here also finely-laminated, dark blue-grey shale occurs just
above the sandstone.

Coal is mined at various places along the route from Yii-lin Fu to Yen-an
Fu. Seams, reached by rather deep vertical shafts and showing no outcrops,
occur within a mile of the former place. These mines produce a good-
burning, but rather smoky, bituminous coal. At Sui-te Chou, a peculiar coal
was secured : it was said to have been transported from Ning-hsia, on the
western border of the Ordos. It is very heavy and dirty, but absolutely
smokeless, and smoulders like charcoal. Once ignited, it will continue to
burn with a dull glow till the mass is reduced to soft white ash. The substance
is certainly not charcoal, and those who sold it said that it was mined like
coal. It has neither the appearance, nor the lustre of graphite. At Ch'ing-
chien a fine quality of lignite is obtainable. This comes from mines at An-
ting Hsien, a town situated some twenty miles to the north-west of Ch'ing-
chien. At Ma-chia-k'ou a very poor quality of coal occurs. This ignites
only with the greatest difficulty, and leaves an enormous percentage of ash.

Yen-ch'ang Hsien, a town situated about forty miles east of Yen-an Fu,
is famous for its petroleum wells ; which are worked with European machinery,
and produce a high grade of oil. We bought a supply of the oil, and found it
burn well. It is sold at the rate of 2^d. per catty (i catty=i^ lbs.) and finds

123

a ready market. The poor people use the crude oil, which they purchase at
half the price of the refined. There was no evidence of any other useful
minerals in this district. The coal-beds however must be very extensive and
valuable.

Working southward from Yen-an Fu, the same horizontal sandstone bed-
rock without faults is encountered, whilst the loess deposits are in the form of
great plateaux, all uniform in height (Plate 22). These continue from Fu
Chou to near Chung-pu Hsien, a distance of about seventy miles. South of
the latter town the rock-beds, in the form of shale, rise considerably above
their normal level, and the loess mantle is very much reduced in thickness,
being in some places entirely denuded. Continuing southward, we found the
shale strata very much contorted. Still further south again, at Yao Chou, we
passed through a great outcrop of grey limestone, dipping sharply to the north.
This seems to mark the southern boundary of the great North Shensi basin.

From here the country gradually slopes down to the Hsi-an plain. The
loess on the southern side of the limestone ridge is very thick, completely
hiding the under-lying rock, and extending right over the plain. The country
south of the Wei Ho was visited by the Carnegie Expedition, and a good
account of its geology appears in the book subsequently published by the
Carnegie Institution. I will not do more than draw attention to the variable
temperature of the hot springs at Lin-t'ung Hsien. Bailey Willis found
them to be 40° Centigrade (104° F.). Rockhill records their temperature at
106° F. When we visited them they were at 108° F. whilst Dr. Jenkins, a
resident missionary of Hsi-an Fu says that he has known them to reach
112° F. In the mountains immediately south of Hsi-an Fu I found granite
occuring at very low levels. Viewing the mountains southward from the
top of the peak, about 5000 feet in altitude, I could make out nothing but
igneous rock masses.

Leaving this vicinity we will now follow the westward course of the main
division of our Expedition on its way to Lan-chou Fu in Kansu, and for this
we must return to Fu Chou. From that point westwards for about thirty-four
miles the same loess plateaux as lie to the south and east were encountered.
Then a stretch of very moist country : deep and clear streams in every valley
and ravine : the hills clothed with luxuriant vegetation. Denudation must have
been at one time very extensive, for not only is the loess low and well rounded-
off, but the sandstone and shale substrata also show marked wearing.

At Hai-shui-ssii, a peculiar column of sandstone — all that is left of a

124

great bluff cutting across the valley — rises to a height of about 200 feet above
the stream-bed (Plate 46).

At Ho-shui Hsien the bed-rock is chiefly in the form of dark-maroon or
grey shale, finely laminated. This gives place at Ch'ing-yang Fu to grey
sandstone with marked bedding. Immediately west of this city the loess
plateaux commence again. The country is noticeably drier than that to the
east, and the plateaux continue for about sixty miles, ending abruptly at
Ch^n-yiian Hsien.

From here westward, the loess formations become much deeper and less
regular. The bed-rock rises gradually and is no longer perfectly horizontal.
Immediately west of Ch^n-yiian Hsien, the sections exposed on the side of the
valley show a red sandstone with marked bedding. It dips towards the west
at an angle of 20°. This is very clearly shown in the accompanying
photograph (Plate 57) of a view looking westward about five miles west of
Ch^n-yiian Hsien.

The sedimentary formations from Ch6n-yuan westward rise steadily in
altitude till the Liu-p'an Shan are reached. This great range of mountains
(8000 to 10,000 feet high), composed of crystalline rocks, and extending from
north-west to south-east, lies to the west of Ku-yiian Chou and Wa-t'ing and
may be considered as the western rim of the great North Shensi basin. The
highest peaks are very precipitous, and resemble the Chiao-ch'eng Shan of
Western Shansi in their formation. The lower peaks are composed of lime-
stone, through which run many deep ravines.

Ku-yiian Chou is situated in an immense loess basin, bounded north, east
and south by hills of sedimentary origin, and on the west and south-west by
the Liu-p'an Shan. On the western side of this range the formation is chiefly
of limestone, at a higher level than the sedimentary rocks to the east of the
range.

From Ku-yiian the path lies in a general south-westerly direction till
Ching-ning Chou is reached. Immediately north of this city the limestone
formations are deeply cut through by a streani coming down from Liu-p'an
Shan. Westward from Ching-ning Chou the loess deposits increase
enormously in depth. High loess-covered mountains occur, divided by deep
ravines, and the substratum appears in only a few places. A photograph of
one of the deep canons is given (Plate 39). This was taken at Ying-t'ao-ho
immediately east of a high loess pass, and about sixty miles west of Ching-
ning. It is typical of the formations that occur throughout this area as far as
Hsiao-shui-tzu, near Lan-chou Fu. In places the loess is replaced by a dark,

125

alluvial clay strongly impregnated with alkali, through which run deep canons :
an especially large one occuring to the east of Hui-ning Hsien (Plate 38).

As Hsiao-shui-tzii is approached, a system of high mountains makes its
appearance to the south and south-west. From these mountains the streams bring
down great quantities of pebbles and boulders of limestone and crystalline rocks.

At Hsiao-shui-tzu (or Shao-shui-tzu) itself the Yellow River is again
reached, at this point cutting through a thick dyke of granite to a depth of
200 feet (Plate 33). On this granite lies a layer of green sandstone and on
this again a deep deposit of loess. The loess here seems to contain a certain
amount of whitish clay, and becomes extremely hard under the influence of
the hot sun. ♦

The formations round Lan-chou Fu are very complex. There is a good
deal of felspathic rock, especially north of the river, which here flows through
a long valley, from two to three miles wide.

To the south of the city, sedimentary rocks are first encountered, but
these give way to crystalline rocks, which rise to a height of from 10,000 to
11,000 feet. Westward, the mountains to all appearance are formed of igneous
rocks, and very complicated. Gold, silver-ore, jade and precious stones are
obtained in this range.

The sedimentary strata, which occur some ten miles south of Lan-chou
Fu, namely at Wa-kang-ch'6ng, are coal bearing ; whilst a plentiful supply of
clay — derived probably by decomposition from igneous rocks-callows of
extensive pottery-works being carried on.

There is a good deal of grey crystalline limestone in the mountains south
of the city. These are more or less rounded, no very prominent peaks existing.
Loess occurs at an altitude of over 7000 feet.

The next stretch of country to be discussed is that along the road taken
by the Expedition on its return journey from Sui-t6 Chou, in North Shensi,
eastward to F6n-chou Fu, in Shansi, and thence north-eastward to T'ai-yuan
Fu. Between Sui-t6 and the Yellow River very deep deposits of loess and
Shao-t'u occur. The latter is found usually at the bottoms of the deep ravines
and is of a deep brick-red colour. In places the ravine-bottoms are formed of
the usual sedimentary strata (Shensi formation) with marked horizontal
bedding. Within five miles of the Yellow River the loess gets very shallow,
and in many places the sandstone substrata are exposed in the form of rounded
hills with precipitous ravines. The depth (500 to 600 feet), to which the river
has cut through the sedimentary formation, is much greater here than at the
spot further north where the Expedition crossed on its journey westward.

126

PLATE 51.

Suslik. (Citellus mongoUcus).

See pp. Qi and 777.

Polecat. (Mustela larvata).

See pp. ()2 and 174.

Our course lay in a north-easterly direction up the right bank of the river
for about six miles, and the sections exposed were carefully noticed. The
strata on the left bank (Shansi side) seem to be chiefly of red-brown and green
shales, arranged for the most part in slightly folded beds of varying thickness,
dipping slightly to the south-west. Near Wu-pao Hsien, where the caravan
effected a crossing, this folding is rather more pronounced than elsewhere. On
the right bank the strata are composed of yellow-grey sandstone arranged in
horizontal beds, and rise to a height about two hundred feet lower than those
on the left.

After crossing the river, we continued up a deep ravine through strata of
green and red-brown shale, finally crossing a ridge upon the summit of which
loess to a depth of fifty feet occurs. The descent from the crest is first through
loess, and then through shale till a small river-valley is reached. Here the
section showed nothing but horizontally stratified shale, and sandstone v ith
thick superimposed loess beds. Our road lay up this valley as far as Yung-
ning Chou where the granite and gneisses, which occur in the Chiao-ch'6ng
district, again appear. Working east from Yung-ning, we approached
Wu-ch'6ng, a large village situated about twenty miles distant, and again
encountered the Sinian limestone, dipping in a north-westerly direction at a
slight angle. On crossing a divide we descended into a deep ravine cutting
through the limestone, which extends to within ten miles of F6n-chou Fu.
Here the strata are perfectly horizontal, as shown in the accompanying
photograph (Plate 58), which also gives a good idea of the depth of the limestone
beds. Between the end of these beds, which form a surface free from loess,
and the valley of the F6n Ho, the ordinary Shansi coal-bearing series occur
covered by a thick deposit of Huang-t'u formation. The latter comprises here
both loess, and Shao-fu.

The road from F6n-chou Fu to T'ai-yiian Fu has been traversed by several
geologists, so that I will not presume to offer any remarks about it.

The Huang-fu Formation.

One of the most characteristic features of the provinces of Chihli, Shansi,
Shensi, and Kansu is afforded by the vast Aeolian deposits, commonly called
the " Chinese Loess." This has also received the name of " the Huang-t'u
Formation," and is divisible into two classes : —

(i) That which is purely wind-deposited, and may be called Loess.

(2) That deposited by rivers in the form of great plains, such as those
of Pao-ting Fu and T'ai-yiian Fu, and conveniently termed Fluvial Loess,

127

We will not do more than mention the latter, which is of course derived
from the former : it resembles in its characteristics, such as vertical cleavage
and compactness, the true Loess.

The true Loess, which forms the bulk of the Huang-Vu formation
encountered by us on our journey, is again divisible into two classes, con-
taining a greater and lesser proportion of separated clay respectively. To the
former I give the name of Shao-fu, which has already been explained in the
earlier part of this Chapter ; for the latter we may still use the name Loess.

The extent of the Huang-fu formation is very great : it covers, roughly
speaking, an area of 200,000 square miles. Occurring as a sort of mantle
overlying the greater part of Shansi, Shensi, and Kansu, it extends into Honan
and forms also the great plains of Chihli. But nowhere are such vast deposits
found as in the Province of Shensi, north of the Wei Ho.

The physiography of North Shensi has already been likened to a great
basin, and it is in this basin that we can see loess at its best. It covers the
whole of the sedimentary rocks to an average depth of 1000 feet. In some
places — notably along the sides of the Yellow River — it gets rather thin, but
in the country immediately south of the Ordos Desert the depth increases to
about 2,000 feet. The greater part of these Loess deposits are cut up by the
action of water into rounded hills of uniform height.

To the east, south and west of Fu Chou, in North-Central Shensi, the
Huang't'u formation assumes the form of immense plateaux, divided from one
another by deep valleys, and cut up along their edges by deep and narrow ravines
(Plate 56). The surfaces of these plateaux are perfectly flat ; and all are equal
in height to one another, and to the loess hills extending over the rest of the
basin. The hills immediately adjoining the plateau-area are the more flat-
topped, showing a gradual transition from the plateau to the hill form. From
these facts it may be argued that the whole of the North Shensi basin was at
one time in the form of a great loess plain, formed during a long period of
drought, when little or no erosion was taking place. I cannot conceive of such
a plain having been formed under the weather-conditions prevailing at the
present time. It is certain that deposition is going on nowadays, but I do not
think its rate can be in any way equal to that of erosion. Many facts may be
cited to show the enormous rate at which the present torrential rains,
occurring in summer, erode the soft Loess. Some twenty miles north-east of
Yti-lin Fu, where deep deposits of loess occur along the Ordos border, huge
ravines or canons, many miles in length and hundreds of feet deep, cut through
the Great Wall into the Ordos. Everything points to the fact that these have

128

PLATE 52.

Allactaga. (AJJactaga mongoUca loaglor).

See pp. Q2 and 183.

The Pika. (Ochotona annectens).

See pp. g2 and 1S4.

J

been formed since the Wall was built. The city of San-yiian Hsien, situated
twenty miles north of Hsi-an Fu, has been cut in two, since it was built, by a
ravine 200 feet deep and over 200 feet wide. Again, in the Loess country of
North Shansi one may often notice the remains of a succession of old roads,
one below the other, along the side of a ravine. The ravine in these instances
marks the original trace of the road. This was washed away, so that it
became necessary to form a new road along the margin of the first. This in
turn became dangerous or unfit for use, owing to the continual falling-away of
great masses of loess, and again a new road had to be made. To-day a
yawning chasm remains, which has swallowed up each successive road, leaving
perhaps remnants of the last two or three. The whole process has taken
place within the memory of the older iuhabitants of the district, who can
testify to the facts. Places like this occur along the roads from T'ai-yuan Fu
to Shou-yang Hsien, and Hsin Chou. Of course the practice of the inhabitants,
who each winter root up or cut down every trace of vegetation, greatly
accelerates the denudation of the loess deposits ; but even taking this into
consideration, we must conclude that the rainfall, during the time when the
loess plain was forming, was far less than it is now.

It may be suggested that these loess deposits were laid down at the bottom
of a lake, but there is no proof of this ; nor is there any reason to suppose
that it is a fluvial deposit such as the Chihli plains. The north Shensi basin
is open to the north, and there can be no doubt that the loess was originally
brought down from the Gobi Desert, of which the Ordos is but an arm.

During our stay in Yu-lin Fu we had excellent opportunities of noting
how the wind, which we found to prevail from the north, carries southward
the material of which the Loess is composed. The inhabitants of North
China are familiar with terrible dust-storms, which sweep down from the Gobi
Desert at all times of the year.

The Loess sometimes shows stratification. A good example of this
appears in the accompanying photograph (Plate 56)*, which was taken a
few miles west of the Chiao-ch'6ng Shan in Shansi. The strata occur in
alternate layers of brick-redj and light-coloured loess ; the former having
rather the constitution of Shao-fu.

In many places we noticed, embedded in the loess, shells of a little snail
inhabiting the country at the present time ; whilst bones of the Mole-rat —
a rodent with an underground mode of life like the mole's — were also found.
No fossils of any kind were discovered in the Loess.

• cf. Plate 55.

I 129

CHAPTER XIV.

SURVEY WORK OF THE EXPEDITION — BY R. S. CLARK.

"THE Map* accompanying this volume is based on the plane-table work
carried out by Hazrat Ali, of the Survey of India, the ill-fated member
of our party, whose death at the hands of the Chinese near Lan-chou brought
the expedition to an untimely close. A short description of the means and
methods employed on the survey will, we trust, be found of interest.

Commencing with a list of the instruments used, and remarking
where necessary as to their pattern etc., we give a few notes to indicate
briefly the methods employed for fixing our base, for carrying out the whole
survey and for determining certain check-measurements; finally connecting
up the results of our work with such records of previous surveys as are
available. For the benefit of future travellers itineraries of the routes
traversed are given in Appendix I., together with a table containing Latitude,
Longitude, and — in most cases — Altitude of every important place visited.

Instruments, etc.

The instruments and appliances used were : —

1 3-inch Astronomical Field Telescope. (Cary London)

2 5-inch Micrometer Theodolites. ( „ „ )

3 Half-Chronometer Watches. (Blockley, Kew certificated)
I Half-Chronometer Watch with Chronograph.

\ 3 Aneroid Barometers. (Cary)

I Boiling-point Thermometer. ( ,, )

I Georges Mercurial Barometer. ( », )

I loo-foot Invar Tape.
I Plane-table.
I Road-wheel.

Base-lines.

(a) As described in Chapter I, the party went into camp a few
miles out of T'ai-yiian Fu to measure a base-line, the site chosen for

• In a pocket at the end of volume.
130

Sunset on the Ordos Border.

CHAPTER XIV

SURVEY WOKK OF THE EXPEDITION — BY R. S. CLAKK.

TTHE Map* accompanying this volume is based on the plane

carried out by Hazrat Ali, of the Survey of India, the ill-fated nicniDer
A rmr party, whose death at the hands of^he Chinese near Lan-chou brought
pedition to an untimely close. A short description of the means and
i on the survey will, we trust, be found of interest-
" ' '' t of the instruments used, and
«herc ;ftern etc., we give a few notes .^ ......

■ riefly tht: » our base, for carrying out the who e

ats; finally

,-i9bioa aobiO aril no iaenu?-

ometer
t Half -Chronometer (Biockiey, Kew certificated)

j fin!'" "' :ronograph.
3 ' (Cary)

I nometer. ( „ )

rcurial Barometer. ( ,, )

I Road-wheel.

Bes4-lines.

(a) As described in Chapter I, the party went into car .;l5 a h
miles out of T'ai-ytian Fn to measure a base-line, the *

* In » p«dMt At tba «tMt «f rvAmo*.
130

v^-t^

^^^■:'.^^h^.r^< ^ ■

actual measurement being about two miles north of the town. The base
was 2400 feet long and was measured twice by means of the Invar Tape ;
the probable error being 1/50,000. The longitude of one end of the
base was assumed, and the latitude calculated from astronomical
observations. This was subsequently corrected by the telegraphic
longitude reduced to the South East Gate of the City.

(b) On our arrival at Yen-an Fu, the surveyor found himself at
fault, and it was considered advisable to measure a new topographical
base. This base was 8 miles long and connected with the longitude by
occultation.

Datum Level.

From the T'ai-yiian base-line, five elevated points were fixed by
triangulation, their vertical angles were taken with the theodolite, and
their altitudes determined trigonometrically. The altitude of the end of
the base from which they were determined was assumed to be 2700 feet.
As there is only a very gradual rise to this point from T'ai-yiian Fu (alt.
2600 feet as found by the French Railway Survey) we think that the
height assumed may be taken as correct to within 50 feet.

Plane-table Survey.

The plane-table work was executed by Hazrat Ali on the J-inch
scale. The country traversed was, generally speaking, of the very
hardest that could be found for the plane-table. With the exceptions of
the mountain country extending 80 miles west of T'ai-yiian, the range
immediately to the west of Ku-yiian Chou in Kansu, and the mountains
in the vicinity of Lan-chou Fu, the whole terrain was covered with loess.
Such a surface with its bare, rounded hill-tops — all usually of the same
level and rarely varying more than 100 feet — affords no salient features
suitable for triangulation ; whilst the deep gullies cutting it in every
direction make access difficult. In addition the valleys of even the
larger water- courses offer but very little better fields of view, being never
more than a mile, and but seldom more than a few hundred feet, wide.
In every way, a loess country taxes the abilities and patience of a surveyor
to the utmost, and I do not believe that too much praise can be given to
Hazrat Ali for the consistent and conscientious accuracy of his work.
Never was he seriously out but once. At Yii-lin Fu the work checked
out to within 5 ' of Long, and 4' of Lat. ; but our last three marches before

131

reaching Yen-an Fu were hurried — owing to various circumstances —
and the survey got in consequence considerably out, i6' of Long, and
8^' of Lat. It was adjusted by the distance as measured by road-wheel
— incidentally showing to advantage this less ambitious apparatus — and
a new base was established as described above in (b), from which the
survey was begun afresh.

At Lan-chou Fu, where I again joined the main body, the plane-
table results checked out to 12' of Long, and 6' of Lat.

The map, which is based on the plane-table sheets, has been
adjusted to the correct positions of the various towns, as determined
by observations.

Latitudes.

The Latitudes in the Table (on Page 170) are always the mean
of at least two observations, and more often of from four to six. As the
greatest variation never exceeded 8", we think they can be taken safely
as correct.

In taking the Latitudes for the ends of the base (b) the two
theodolites were used, both Grant and myself reading 30 faces on each
instrument. In one case the results checked to within i"5" and in the
other to o-8".

Longitudes.

By the co-operation of Major H. R. Davies, General Staff, who
kindly offered to take the Tientsin end, we were able to determine the
telegraphic Longitude of T'ai-yiian Fu. One set of six taps at 10 second
intervals, and another set of six at irregular intervals were sent and
received on three nights. Four persons received at T'ai-yiian Fu, and
two at Tientsin. The mean result was unexpectedly good, working out
to a probable error of 4 seconds of arc.

In taking the Longitudes by occultation at Yen-an Fu, Hsi-an Fu
and Lan-chou Fu, never less than three observers took the time. The
greatest variation between the times of two observers was three-quarters
of a second. The immersions were always on the dark limb. These
results can be taken safely to a quarter of a mile.

The Longitudes by Chronometer can, we think, be considered as
exceptionally good. All but that of F^n-chou Fu were between two points
fixed by occultation or telegraph. Two separate Longitudes of Yii-lin
Fu, one connected with the Longitude of T'ai-yuan Fu and the other
with the Longitude of Yen-an Fu checked to i '.

132

In going to Lan-chou Fu from Yen-an Fu the Longitudes of Ch'ing-
yang Fu and Ku-yiian Chou were not satisfactory, as Grant only had two
watches and the time consumed was too great. In coming back he took
a second set, which worked out exceptionally well, the rates of the
watches having been very regular, and the time consumed by the journey
being comparatively short. The Longitude of Yen-aft Fu, as determined
by the watches, was i09°-27'-33", and that as calculated from occultation
previously taken i09°-26'-49". However; calculating the Longitudes back
from Yen-an Fu, as a starting point, the biggest variation was 2'. We
consider the chronometer Longitudes correct to i mile.

The position of Lan-chou Fu (South Gate) was fixed as Lat.
36°-3'-6"; Long. i03°-40^-54". This was the only place on our trip where
we had a subsequent opportunity of comparing our determinations with
those of another traveller. Mr. Clementi, who travelled from Kashgar
to Kowloon in 1907-8, gives the position of Lan-chou Fu as Lat.
36°-3'-ii"; Long. i03°-46'-7". His latitudes were taken by N. and S.
stars and his longitudes by chronometric differences.

Altitudes.

After leaving T'ai-yiian Fu all determinations to within 30 miles of
the Yellow River were trigonometrical {i.e., obtained by vertical angles
with a theodolite). All subsequent heights are barometric. For baro-
metric determinations they can be taken as reasonably accurate, as the
aneroids were frequently compared with the mercurial barometer. The
mean of the barometer and the boiling-point readings was taken as the
correct height.

Previous Surveys.

Without pretending to give any exhaustive record of previous foreign
surveys of the country traversed, we offer a slight summary of such as we
have been able to trace.

Early in the Eighteenth Century the Emperor Kang-hsi ordered
a survey of the Eighteen Provinces to be carried out. In this he
most probably had the assistance of the Jesuit Fathers, whose influence
during this reign was very great. The Chinese method of map-making
is to give a separate sheet for each ** Fu " or " Hsien " district, and it
is of course possible to piece together a number of these sheets to form
a survey of the whole country. This however leads to a thoroughly
untrustworthy map, as it is vital ** to work from the whole to the part,

133

and not from the part to the whole " ;* and it may have been a realisation
of the necessity of a framework on which to hang the detail which led
the Fathers to determine the positions of many towns in China. Their
observations, especially when the inadequacy of their early instruments
is borne in mind, are entitled to the very greatest credit.

In 1877-80 Count della Szechenyi published an Atlas of a Portion of
East Asia (Scale 1/1,000,000). The Lan-chou sheet takes in a part of
our route, viz., Lan-chou to P'ing-liang Fu via An-ting Hsien.

In 1903-5 Herr Wilhelm Filchner, made a trip into Kansu,
subsequently publishing a map of Kansu (Scale 1/1,000,000). No
hills shown.

In 1906 Major C. D. Bruce travelled in company with a Rurki-
trained surveyor from Lan-chou to Peking. Starting from Lan-chou he
proceeded via Hai-ch'6ng Hsien to Ch'ing-yang Fu, thence following the
same route as that taken by us, viz., Fu Chou, Kan-ch'uan Hsien to
Yen-an Fu ; then bearing east and crossing the Yellow River at Yen-
shui-kuan he reached T'ai-yiian by Yung-ho Hsien and F^n-chou Fu.
An account of this trip, with a route sketch map (Scale 1/3,500,000,
based on a plane-table traverse), appeared in the Royal Geographical
Society's Journal, 1907.

In 1907, as mentioned above, Mr. Clementi travelled from Kashgar
to Kowloon, taking astronomical observations with the theodolite
throughout his line of march, which however intersected our own at
Lanchou only.

In 1910, the Russian Geographical Society published routes of their
expedition into Kansu (Scale 40 versts to i inch).

The German Karte (Scale 1/1,000,000, sheet Hsi-ngan and Yii-linFu).
takes in a great proportion of our route, but the sheet giving Lan-chou
Fu has not yet made its appearance.

• Vide Tfxi Book of Topographical and Geographical Surveying by Colonel C. F. Close, C. M. C, R. E.

134

In the T'sing-llng Shan.

>er, made * Kansu.

In rr,ir,nany with a Rufki

Lan-chou h
at Yen-

.nsria sn»-3l«^^^T^i>«^ *^' ''

from Kashgar

reographic: * their

134

y?^iifev;:4^' ;;

'■1>".iW^' '■■'^ •

CHAPTER XV.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORT — BY A. DE C. SOWERBY.

IVAETEOROLOGICAL observations were commenced at T'ai-yiian Fu, in

Shansi, on May i6th, igo8, and were kept up — with as much care and

regularity as circumstances would permit — throughout the whole duration of

the expedition, i.e., till September 12th, 1909. The instruments used were : —

One portable mercurial barometer.

Three aneroid barometers.

One hypsometer, with spare thermometer.

One small psychrometer (wet and dry bulb thermometers).

Three swing psychrometers.

Six swing thermometers.

One maximum and one minimum thermometer.

One six-inch diameter rain gauge.
All thermometers were graduated on the Fahrenheit system, while the
barometers, boiling point thermometers, and swing thermometers were
provided with Kew certificates.

The barometer observations were made either with the mercurial
barometer or with an aneroid. In the former case the readings have been
corrected for temperature, so that they represent the true air pressure at
station level ; and in the latter case, comparisons between the mercury
barometer and the aneroids were carried out at intervals, in order to guard
against errors due to changes of zero in the aneroids.

The readings of dry and wet bulbs printed in the diary were made with
swing thermometers. This was necessary on account of the inevitable absence
of a suitable screen for the exposure of the instruments. The reduction of
the readings in order to determine the humidity of the air will therefore
require tables appropriate to the well-ventilated psychrometer. The tables
commonly used in England, which are based on Glaisher's Factors, are not
suitable for the reductions, and would give values of the relative humidity
lower than the true values. The tables of the U.S. Weather Bureau, which
were prepared for use with sling psychrometers, are more appropriate.

The readings of the maximum and minimum thermometers are probably
less reliable than those of the dry and wet bulbs, because it was necessary to
improvise some shelter for them, and some of the readings may be affected by

135

radiation. In the case of the maximum thermometer, it was impossible to
expose the instrument during the day when the expedition was on the march.
Frequent readings of the thermometer were, however, made during brief halts
at the hottest time of the day, and the highest of these readings was taken to
be the maximum temperature for the day. In the diary, the readings of the
maximum and minimum thermometers are printed opposite the first observa-
tion for each day for the sake of uniformity. It is to be noted, however, that
the maximum reading refers to the same day as that against which it is
printed, whilst the minimum refers to the lowest temperature of the preceding
night.

The highest temperature recorded on the expedition was on July 5th,
1909, at Ch^n-yuan Hsien, in Eastern Kansu, when the thermometer
registered 102*2° F. in the shade. On July 5th, 1908, at Chao-chuang, near
T'ai-yiian Fu, the thermometer registered loo'o^ F. in the shade. On August
5th, 1908, the same temperature was recorded within the walls of T'ai-yuan Fu,
while on the 8th of the same month a temperature of ioo'2° F. in the shade
was recorded.

The lowest temperature on record was at Kan-ku-yii, near Yen-an Fu, in
Shensi, when the thermometer went down to— 6'o° F. on December 19th,
1908. At Yen-an Fu, on January 19th, 20th, and 21st respectively— 3*5*^ F.
and— 2'5*^ F. and zero were recorded. These records were made within the
shelter of the town walls, and it is probable that far lower temperatures pre-
vailed in the open valleys outside.

The greatest rainfall occurred on July i8th, 1908, at T'ai-yiian Fu, when
3'66 inches fell in twenty-four hours. On July 17th and i8th, 1909, at
Ch'6ng-k'ou-yi, in Kansu, i"32 inches, the next heaviest rainfall, was recorded.

Cloud formations, and the strength and direction of the wind were also
noted daily.

Good sets of observations were secured at the following places : —

1. In and near T'ai-yiian Fu, Latitude 37°5i'36'' N., Longitude

Ii2°33'56'' E., altitude 2600 ft., from May i6th to September
28th, 1908.

2. Yun-t'ing Shan, Latitude 37°54'0ii N., Longitude iii°33'48'' E.,

altitude 6950 ft. in the mountains 90 miles west of T'ai-yuan
Fu, in Shensi, from October 4th to i6th, 1908.

3. Yii-lin Fu, Shensi, on the borders of the Ordos Desert, Latitude

38°i6'54" N., Longitude i09°45'o'' E., altitude 3170 ft., from
November 5th to December 5th, 1908.

136

Wild Pig. {Sus moupinensis). Shot near Yen an Fu. Shensi.

Domestic Pig.

4- Yen-an Fu, Latitude 36°35'33ii N., Longitude io8°26'49'' E.,
altitude 2769 ft., in north central Shensi, from December
19th, 1908, to January 30th, 1909.
6. Lan-chou Fu, Latitude 36°3'6'' N., Longitude i03°40'54" E.,
altitude 5106 ft., in western Kansu, from April 5th to July
15th, 1909.
In this chapter an endeavour will be made to deal with the meteorological
observations month by month as they come ; but at the same time stress is
laid upon the periods enumerated above, when sets were taken during lengthy
stays at various places.

May, 1908. Tai-yiian Fu, Shansi (Altitude 2600 ft.) and
neighbourhood.

As already stated, observations were commenced on May i6th, from which
date to the end of the month daily maximum and minimum temperatures were
recorded, besides somewhat erratic observations for the pressure and humidity
of the atmosphere. The maximum temperature noted was on the 27th, 98*2°
F. being recorded. The minimum temperature occurred on the 31st, when
the thermometer stood at 47*0° F. Both these records were taken at Chao-
chuang, a small village on the plain some fifteen miles north-west of T'ai-yiian
Fu. The average maximum temperature for the period is 81*2° F., average
minimum, 56*5° F. The lowest barometrical observation, 26'84 inches, was
made on the 26th, at T'ai-yiian Fu, the highest, 27*05 inches on the 23rd, and
again on the 30th, both at T'ai-yuan Fu.

The first part of the second half of the month was marked with consider-
able dryness, the difference between the wet and dry bulb readings being as
much as 192° F. on the 21st. Towards the end of the month rain and
thunder were noted.

June, 1908. T'ai-yuan Fu (Altitude 2600 ft.) and neighbourhood.

Throughout June, the members of the expedition were encamped at
Chao-chuang, where daily observations were made. From time to time the
mercurial barometer, which was left in T'ai-yiian Fu, was read. Much hotter
weather was experienced than in May. The maximum temperature, 98*0° F.
was recorded on the loth, and the minimum, 42*9° F. on the 7th. The
average maximum temperature for the month, excluding the last four days
which were spent in the hills west of T'ai-yiian Fu, was 90*0° F., the average
minimum was 58.4° F. The barometer was at its lowest on the 24th, the
reading being 26*67 inches, whilst the highest reading 27*08 inches occurred

137

on the 20th, both at Chao-chuang. The month was comparatively dry,
though thunderstorms occurred at Chao-chuang on the 3rd and 4th, and at
Tou-fu-ssu, a temple, in the hills north-west of T'ai-yiian Fu on the 27th,
28th and 29th. The last three storms were accompanied by very heavy rain,
and the F^n Ho rose several feet and became unfordable. Thunderstorms were
also noted from Chao-chuang in the mountains to the north-west on the i8th,
and to the south-west on the 19th. Rain, varying from a few drops to gentle
steady showers, was recorded on seven other days during the second half of
the month. The amount was not registered.

The presence of wind of varying degrees of strength was recorded on
seventeen days, from the 12th to the end of the month. Previous to this
hardly any weather notes were made. A strong gust of wind, accompanied
by dust, and lasting only half an hour almost demolished the camp on the nth.
On the I2th, strong wind, accompanied by dust, blew from the north-west
during the greater part of the day. On the 18th, a heavy wind from the
north-east blew for a few hours. The direction of the wind was usually from
the north-east or north-west, though it also blew at one time or another from
the east, south, south-west and west.

Cloud formations of all kinds, except nimbus, were recorded, though
cumulus and cirrus were the most frequent. No connections between the
various cloud formations, and the humidity or dryness of the air could be
established.

July, 1908. T'ai-yiian Fu (Altitude 2Q00 ft.) and neighbourhood.

Half of July was spent in camp at Chao-chuang, and the rest of the
month in T'ai-yiian Fu. During this time observations were taken from three
to eight times daily ; whilst detailed notes on the very varied weather were
kept.

July and August may be considered the rainy season of North China, and
the present month was no exception to the rule. Rain more or less heavy fell
on eight days, and thunderstorms occurred on four others. Thunderstorms
occurred in the surrounding hills on five days. The total rainfall for the
month was over 6*29 inches, the rain that fell on the third not having been
recorded.

The heaviest rain fell on the i8th, when 3*66 inches in 24 hours was
recorded.

The highest barometrical reading was taken on the 7th, and the lowest
on the 19th and 22nd, when 27.09 inches and 26*67 inches respectively were

138

recorded. The average barometrical reading was 26*92, some 8 points higher
than that of June.

The average maximum temperature of this month was lower than that of
the previous one, though some very hot weather was experienced. The
maximum temperature was recorded on the 5th, when the thermometer stood
at 100° F. in the shade. Oddly enough 577° F., almost the minimum
temperature for the month was recorded on the same day, thus giving a
variation in about twelve hours of 42*3° F. The actual minimum temperature,
which was 55*4° F. occurred on the 15th, whilst the average minimum
temperature was 65*8° F., or 12*4° F. more than that of June.

It may be noted here in connection with the thunderstorms of this district,
that they usually come in the afternoon after very hot days. Thus on the 5th,
when the maximum temperature was ioo'o° F. in the shade, a thunderstorm
occurred at 6'30 p.m. The same thing occurred on the 8th, 12th, 13th, and
28th of this month, and also on the 3rd, 4th, 19th, and 23rd of June. A
heavy downpour is not a necessary and inevitable result of a hot day, but it is
safe to say that the one is usually preceded by the other. On the other hand
continuous steady rains such as occurred on the 3rd, the 17th, and the i8th
of July are usually accompanied by comparatively low temperatures such as
74'2° F. on the 3rd, 75'6° F. on the 17th, and 74*0° F. on the i8th.

This month cirrus clouds seemed to predominate, though cumulus,
stratus, cirro-cumulus, nimbus, cirro-stratus, and strato-cumulus were
also noted, coming in the above order as regards their frequency of occurrence.
On two out of three days on which nimbus clouds were recorded, they were
followed by rain ; whilst rain almost invariably followed stratus clouds.

It can hardly be said that there was any prevailing wind during this
month, though it was most often recorded as blowing from the west. "Wind
blew from the north-east, north-west and south-west with almost equal
frequency. Rain was most frequently brought up by south winds, though it
was recorded from all parts of the compass.

The month ended with less rain, and with finer and more settled weather
than that with which it commenced, whilst the maximum temperatures of the
last few days were considerably above the average, as also were the mininum
readings.

August, 1908. Tai-yiian Fu. Altitude 2600 ft.

The whole of the observations this month were made in T'ai-yiian Fu
where the members of the expedition were busy with astronomical observations

139

and general preparations for the forthcoming journey westward. Under these
circumstances, weather notes were entirely neglected, though all other records
were kept.

The maximum temperature occurred on the 8th, the thermometer
registering ioo'4° F. On the 5th, 100*0° F. was recorded. 61*3° F. the
minimum temperature for the month occurred on the 28th. The average of
the maximum temperature readings works out at 83*2° F., or 5*4° F. less than
that of July. As in July the average minimum temperature showed an
increase on the month before, that for the present month being 71*4° F.
compared with 65*8° F. in July. Thus in the three months June,
July and August, we have a steady decrease in the average maximum
temperatures and a steady increase in the average minimum temperatures.
It is doubtless the increased night temperatures of August that make it seem
the hottest month of the year in this part of China.

August, this year, did not keep up to its reputation for heavy rains.
There were only seven days on which rain was recorded, whilst the total
rainfall for the month was 1*94 inches. The heaviest fall occurred on the
15th, when o'6 of an inch was measured.

No records of wind, or cloud formations were kept.

September, 1908. Tai-yilan Fu. Altitude 2600 ft.

From the ist to the 28th the expedition remained in T'ai-yiian Fu, when
the usual observations were taken. On the 28th the journey westward was
commenced, and as the last three days of the month were spent in travelling,
and the observations in consequence were taken at varying altitudes, they
cannot be included in the following averages and remarks.

The weather during the month was, generally speaking, fine, though no
notes to this effect were made.

The average temperatures were distinctly lower than those of August,
especially at night. The highest temperature occurred on the 6th, when the
thermometer stood at 86*o° F., and the lowest on the 23rd, when 46-5° F. was
recorded. The average maximum temperature was 77'5° F., and the average
minimum was 58*1° F.

The atmospheric pressure was considerably less than that of August ;
27*22 inches on the 23rd being the highest reading, 26*79 inches on the loth
the lowest, and 27*05 inches the average for 28 days.

Contrary to what one might expect, judging by the barometrical records,
the rainfall of the month was greater than that of August. The total rainfall

140

PLATE 54.

Mud Turtle. {Trionyx sinensis).

See pp. g3 and ///.

Day's Bag near Yen-an Fu. Koedeer, pheasants and hare.

was 2'02 inches, the heaviest rain occurring on the 15th, when 0*94
inch fell. On the 2nd 0.91 of an inch was recorded. Though rain fell
on two other days the amount was recorded on these two only.

No wind or cloud notes were made.

From the morning of September 28th till the evening of October 4th, the
expedition was travelling in a general westerly direction, first up the valley of
one affluent of the F6n Ho, and then up that of another, till the Chiao-ch'eng
Shan district was reached, where camp was pitched in a ravine at the base of
a high mountain named Yiin-t'ing Shan. During these seven days all
observations were kept up, including notes on the clouds and wind. The
caravan mounted slowly from an altitude of 2600 ft. to one of 6950 ft., which
rise, as might be expected, was accompanied by a steady decrease in the
temperature of the atmosphere. Cirro-cumulus, cumulus, and cirrus clouds
were noticed on the 2nd and 3rd of October, strong wind from the east on the
last day of September and light wind from the west on two other occasions.
For the rest, the sky was clear and the weather fine.

Octoher, 1908. Yiin-t'ing Shan. Altitude 6950 ft.

The expedition remained at this spot, close to the great divide between
the basin of the F6n Ho and the Yellow River, for twelve days, so that good
sets of observations were secured. The average maximum temperature during
this time was 57*2° F., whilst the average minimum was 32*7° F. The
maximum and minimum readings taken at Yiin-t'ing Shan were 61 '0° F. and
26-0° F.

The barometer ranged between 23*66 inches the highest reading, and
23*45 inches the lowest, while it averaged 23*57 inches.

Rain was recorded on the 4th, 5th and 13th, though the amount was not
noted ; while a heavy fall of snow occurred on the nights of the iith-i2th.
Cirrus, cirro-cumulus or cumulus clouds were noted almost every day, and
mists occurred twice, each time following rain. There was little or no wind
felt in the ravine where camp was pitched, though a very cold wind blew over
the pass, about a mile east of the camp on the day of arrival. Wind from the
west was also noted on the summits of Yiin-t'ing Shan and Mo-6rh Shan the
highest peaks in the district, both of which were thickly covered with snow on
the 13th. An ascent was made to the summit of Mo-^rh Shan (Alt. 9200 ft.)
on the i2th, and observations for temperature and pressure taken. The two
aneroid barometers showed an average reading of 21*58 inches, the hypsometer
i95'5° F. and the thermometer 39*2 between 3.00 and 4.00 p.m.

141

On October i6th the expedition left Yun-t'ing Shan and from that date
travelled in a westerly direction slowly, and with frequent halts till November
5th, when Yii-lin Fu was reached.

On the first day a descent of over two thousand feet was made after
which the altitude varied between 5300 ft. the height of one of the passes, and
2400 ft. the bed of the Yellow River.

The highest temperature was recorded on October 19th at Lin Hsien
(Alt. 3269 ft.) where the party stayed two days. Here the maximum
thermometer registered 67*4° F., the highest temperature experienced since
the T'ai-yiian Fu plain was left behind on September 29th.

From the evening of the 20th till the morning of the 27th the expedition
was encamped in a deep ravine, at the foot of some isolated granite peaks
called Ch'ing-ting Shan, that towered above the surrounding loess hills to a
height of from 6000 ft. to 7200 ft. The camp was situated close to a village
named Kan-tsao-k'ou, and its altitude was estimated at 4664 ft.

Two members of the party pushed on to Yii-lin Fu, reaching that city on
the 26th. They reported rain every day from the 21st to the 26th, and
experienced a severe sandstorm from the west on the 26th.

Meanwhile the rest of party, which remained at Kan-tsao-k'ou recorded
rain on the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 26th, the fall on the first three days being
1*97 inches. On the 26th a strong wind from the west blew all day, though
neither sand nor dust was recorded. Hoar-frost occurred for the first time
on the 30th at Liu-chia-mo in Shensi, after which time it was frequently
noticed till the temperature became too low in December.

Light variable winds were noted most of the time between Yiin-t'ing
Shan, and Yu-lin Fu, while strong winds blew from the east and the west on
the 3rd and 4th of November respectively. Cirrus and cumulus clouds, as
usual, were most frequent, nimbus clouds were noted on the 23rd of October,
and stratus on the 3rd of November. Mists and dust hazes also occurred
from time to time.

November 5th to December 5th, 1908. Yu-lin Fu. Altitude S170ft.

The expedition spent a month at Yii-lin Fu, from November 5th to
December 5th. The following remarks and averages will include the whole of
this period.

Situated as it is on the border of a great sandy desert, Yu-lin Fu exhibits,
as might be expected, meteorological conditions somewhat out of the common.
The district was chiefly remarkable for its dryness, neither rain nor snow

142

occurring once throughout the thirty days during which observations were
taken. The only signs of moisture were hoar-frosts which occurred every few
days. Frequently the temperature was below the freezing point, and the
humidity was not always recorded, but strange to say when it was, the difference
between the bulbs was never very great.

From this, one would gather that there was a certain amount of moisture
in the atmosphere, but that other conditions prevented the formation of
rain clouds. In fact, clouds of any kind were extremely uncommon.
The observations were taken in a temple, situated outside the city, not more
than three-hundred yards from the Yii-lin Ho, a fair-sized river. The writer
can state from previous experience in this district, and along the Ordos border
generally, that dew is not infrequent, though rain and snow are very rare, and
clouds uncommon. On the other hand scarcely a day passes without steady
wind from some direction or other.

From November 5th to December 5th, wind was recorded every day.
The prevailing direction was from the north, the wind being in this quarter
fifteen days, in the north-west four and in the north-east three. On only five
occasions did it blow from the south, and twice from the west. Once it was
recorded as variable.

On November 19th and 21st, strong wind from the north was recorded, and
again from the north-west on the 25th. These brought down quantities of
sand, which, being thus driven against the surfaces of buildings and monu-
ments in exposed positions, would in time wear away the softer materials used
in their construction. On examination, several dagobas, pagodas and monu-
ments situated on some high ground to the east of the city, showed much
wear on their northern sides, whilst their southern sides — as well as
the eastern and western to a less degree — were in good condition, even the
pointing of the brick-work remaining intact. From this it is reasonable to
assume that the strongest winds which prevail in this district are northerly.

The barometer, in spite of the lack of rain and clouds, varied considerably
from day to day, and even between the two daily readings. The highest reading
was 26'88 inches on November 27th, and the lowest was 26'28 inches on Decem-
ber 4th. The readings of the last three days at Yii-lin Fu were all very low, but
no change in atmospheric conditions resulted. It will be noticed that the
difference between the extreme readings during the time spent at Yu-lin Fu
was greater than that of any of the preceding months. The average of all
barometrical readings for the thirty days was 26*61 inches.

The temperature during this time steadily decreased, and hygrometer

143

readings became fewer, ceasing almost entirely on October 24th, not to be
renewed till February, igog.

The maximum temperature was 57'0° F. on November loth, and the
minimum was I2'5° F. on November 27th. The average maximum and
minimum readings were 46'8° F. and 20*5° F. respectively.

On December 5th the expedition left Yii-hn Fu and commenced the
journey to Yen-an Fu, about 170 miles to the south. The country passed
through was chiefly of low loess hills cut up in every direction by deep ravines
and valleys, along which the roads chiefly lay. The observations were kept
up as usual. The lowest temperature experienced during the whole winter
occurred on this journey at Kan-ku-yii, just before reaching Yen-an Fu, on
the night of December iSth-igth. The thermometer registered 38 degrees of
frost (-6-0° F.).

The wind was from the south on the day that the expedition left Yii-lin
Fu, but blew from the north each of the three days following. It veered
round to the south-east on the 9th, and then to the north-west on the loth.
After this date it was recorded almost daily as variable. These winds, which
seem to come from every quarter at once, are typical of North China. It is
impossible for the traveller to find any bank or crevice in the loess which will
shelter him from this cold and searching wind.

Cirrus and cumulus clouds predominated as usual, stratus and nimbus
being each recorded but once. Slight hoar frost was recorded on the 19th,
on which date Yen-an Fu was reached.

December 19th to Slst, 1908. Yen-an Fu. Altitude 2769 ft.

During these twelve days fine but cold weather was experienced. A light
wind blew continually, but its direction was only recorded thrice, namely, once
from the south, once from the south-west, and once from the north-east. At
other times it was the same variable wind experienced on the journey from
Yii-lin Fu to Yen-an Fu. Frequently the sky was clear, though cirrus and
cumulus clouds were noted.

The maximum temperature experienced was 40*0° F. on the 29th, whilst
the minimum was 3*5° F. on the 20th. Average maximum and minimum
temperatures were 34*3° F. and 12*2° F. respectively. The highest
barometrical reading was 27*26 inches on the 31st, the lowest was 2672
inches, and the average of the twenty-five readings was 26*90 inches.

No observations for humidity were made, while neither snow nor
hoar-frost occurred. Rain, of course, was out of the question with such low
temperatures. ,

144

PLATE 55.

The Summit of Mo-erh Shan, Shansi.

Sec pp. g and 121.

Sandstone Beds, west of the Chiao-ch'eng Shan, Shansi.

See p. i2g.

January, 1909. Yen-an Fii. Alt. 27 GO ft.

January again was a month of extremely cold, but on the whole fine
weather. The proportion of cloudless days was not quite so great as in the
last twelve days of December, while light falls of snow, usually following
stratus clouds, were recorded on the loth, nth, 12th, 13th, i6th, and 30th,
Hoar-frosts were recorded daily from the 23rd to the 27th inclusive. In cloud
formations there was a decided predominance of cumulus, or cirro-cumulus
clouds, over anything else. Cirrus also occurred with comparative frequency,
whilst stratus were also recorded more frequently than usual, being generally
followed, as already stated, by snow. Again the light variable wind was the
rule, though from time to time it freshened, when its general direction was at
once discernible. It was then recorded from the north-west, west, and south.
Wind was not once recorded from an easterly direction.

From the 19th to the 2^nd some very low temperatures were experienced.
The minimum temperature for the month was — 3'5° F. on the 19th, while the
average minimum was 12*2° F.

The maximum reading for the month was 39.0° F., which temperature
occurred on the 4th, 5th, and 28th. The average maximum was 32*1° F.

The highest, lowest, and average barometrical readings were 2y'i6 inches.
26*64 inches, and 26*86 inches respectively.

Yen-an Fu to Lan-chou Fu.

On January 30th the expedition left Yen-an Fu for Lan-chou Fu, in
Kansu. The journey, including many stoppages, was accomplished in a little
over two months.

Observations were regularly taken at altitudes, ranging from 2769 ft., the
altitude of Yen-an Fu to 7468 ft. in the high loess country of Kansu.

Temperatures remained comparatively low till the commencement of
March, when the weather began to get distinctly warmer. On April 3rd, just
before Lan-chou Fu was reached, the maximum thermometer registered
68*0° F., and the minimum 32.0° F., and on the morning of April 5th, the
day on which the expedition entered Lan-chou Fu, the minimum temperature
was 4i'o° F. This was the highest minimum temperature recorded since
November 4th, 1908. Twice in the early half of February the minimum
thermometer registered 2*0° F., but no temperature lower than that was
experienced.

Owing to the various altitudes of which observations were taken, nothing

K 145

much can be remarked about the barometrical readings, except that when a
number of readings were taken at one place, owing to a longer stay than usual
being made at that place, considerable fluctuations were noticeable. Thus at
Ch'ing-yang Fu, on February 17th, the barometer stood at 26*13 inches.
On February 19th, it stood at 26*55, giving a difference of forty-two points.
Again at Ku-yiian Chou, the barometer varied from 24*05 on March 9th to
24*47 c>n the i6th, also a difference of forty-two points. No atmospheric
disturbance, or changes followed these fluctuations.

Wind was recorded every day. During most of the time it was but a
light wind, but on nineteen occasions it freshened up, being recorded as
moderate, whilst on eight occasions it was noted as strong.

On sixteen days the wind blew from a north-westerly direction. It was
from this direction that it generally blew when it was of more than usual
strength. On nine days it blew from the north, and it freshened up usually
when in this quarter. When the wind was in the south-west or west, as it was
on eight and seven days respectively, it was never very strong, whilst a
southerly wind was generally fresh. The prevailing wind during this time
of the year may be considered to have been from a general northerly direction,
though it frequently shifted to other points of the compass.

An analysis of the weather notes leads roughly to the following deduc-
tion : — North winds usually meant fine weather with cloudless skies, while
north-westerly winds brought decidedly more clouds. West wind brought
snow or rain, and was invariably cloudy. South-west winds brought snow,
clouds, or fog, while south winds again invariably brought up clouds. Any
thing might be expected if the wind was in the south-east, east, or north-east,
but it was so seldom in these quarters that no certain deductions could be
drawn.

Clouds were recorded very frequently during these months of travel,
every variety being noticed. Cumulus clouds predominated, being recorded
thirty-two times, and were brought up from the north-west, and south-west
most frequently. Cirrus clouds were also very frequently recorded, being
brought up by north-westerly or southerly winds. Cumulus and cirrus were
almost always noted when the wind was variable. Stratus clouds occurred on
sixteen occasions, most frequently when the wind was from some westerly
quarter, whilst nimbus clouds were noted seven times from all directions.

Hygrometer readings were commenced on February 14th, as soon as the
temperature was high enough, and were kept up with increasing regularity.
Usually no very great difference between the two bulbs was recorded, but on

m

Pl,AJE 56.

Loess Plateaux, east of Pu-chou, 5hensi.

Loess shewing stratafication, Shansi.

March the gth when an east wind was blowing, the difference between the bulbs
was 34*2° F.

Snow was recorded eleven times and rain three times during the journey.
As already stated, both were proportionately more frequent when the wind was
in the west, in which direction lies Kokonor, the great lake of Eastern Thibet.
It may be that the snow clouds originate in this district. Hoar-frost was
recorded from time to time.

April, 1909. Lan-chou Fu. Alt 5106 Jt.

When the expedition reached Lan-chou Fu on April 5th, that city, and
the district generally were suffering from a protracted period of drought.
According to native reports there had been no rain to speak of for three years.
Judging from the extreme bareness of the country with its parched sun-baked
hills and valleys this might well be the case.

It seems as if the desert were slowly creeping in from the north and
north-west. It was stated by more than one of the Europeans, long resident
in the district, that ten years ago the country immediately north and north-
west of the city for ten or more miles was fertile. Year by year this fertile
area has decreased till the whole of the country north of the Yellow River,
which flows under the northern wall of Lan-chou, has become a howling
wilderness, without a vestige of green anywhere. The expedition found the
country south of the river for some twelve miles in a condition scarcely better
than that of the country to the north and north-west.

During the months that the expedition spent at Lan-chou the drought
broke up, and towards the end of June and in the beginning of July rain fell in
great quantities.

Thus the season cannot be considered as a normal one, its commencement
being towards the end of a three years' drought and its termination coinciding
with that of the drought, and with general atmospheric disturbances.

During April the weather was dry, and generally speaking fine. Wind
was recorded daily, whilst clouds were noted most of the time. The prevailing
wind was from the east, which blew with more or less strength on fourteen
days. Once it shifted to the south-east but at other times it was either from
the west or north-west.

Cumulus and cirro-cumulus clouds prevailed throughout the whole month,
cirrus and stratus clouds being recorded but once each. Dust hazes were
frequent and on the 13th a dust-storm was recorded.

Towards the end of the month a little rain fell.

147

Again the barometer showed considerable fluctuations, the highest readings
being 25*27 inches, and the lowest 24*72 inches. The average of all readings
was 25*00 inches.

The highest temperature during the month was 83*0° F. on the 25th,
and the lowest was 30*0° F. on the 7th. The averages were 68*6° F. for the
maxima and 41*2° F. for the minima. The temperature steadily
increased throughout the month, though one or two cold days were
experienced towards the end.

ifa?/, 1909. Lan-chou Fu. Alt 5106 ft.

With the exception of six days, which were spent in the mountains to the
south of Lan-chou, a very complete set of observations was made during the
month of May.

The observations differed but little from those made in April.

The temperature was increasingly warmer, the barometer averaged a
little higher, but was perhaps a trifle more unsteady ; whilst there was more
rain, more strong winds, and slightly greater variety in cloud formation,
stratus clouds appearing more frequently.

The prevailing wind was again in the east, though winds from the north-
east and north-west were recorded with some frequency.

Rain fell on eight occasions; the rainfall, which was recorded on four days
only, being 0*09 of an inch. Late in the afternoon of the nth a remarkable
phenomenon was noticed. Two strong winds, blowing from the west and
east respectively met over Lan-chou, when hail and rain fell for about an hour.
This was followed by rain during the night, fog next day, and snow upon the
surrounding hills, and it may be noted that a wind from the west was largely
responsible for the latter. Most of the rain that was recorded fell during these
few days of atmospheric disturbance. The temperature fell to considerably
below the average, whilst the barometer ran up to the highest level recorded
during the three and a half months' stay in Lan-chou. It may
here be noted that whenever the temperature was unusally low the barometer
was high, and vice-versa.

The average maximum temperature was 75'5° F., and the average
minimum was 48*7° F., the highest and lowest temperatures being respectively
88*o° F. on the 30th and 35*0° F. on the 13th.

The barometrical readings averaged 25*07 inches, a slight increase on
that of the April readings, while the highest point reached was 25*30 on the
13th and the lowest, 2478 inches, on the 28th.

148

The relative humidity of the atmosphere was usually very small, the
difference between the wet and dry bulbs generally exceeding ten degrees, and
not infrequently exceeding fifteen degrees.

June. 1909. Lan-chou Fu. Alt. 5106 ft.

June was decidedly hotter than May, and the rainfall was greater. The
prevailing wind was no longer in the east, but blew from the north-east.

On the gth, at 3.30 p.m., a fierce gale swept up from the west, tearing
branches off the trees and carrying them for considerable distances. No
serious damage was done, however. A strong wind and a dust storm were
recorded on the loth; a strong wind on the nth ; and another on the 12th.
During these three days of disturbance the barometer fell from 24*90 inches
to 24*68 inches, rising once more to 25.06 inches. On the 12th rain fell, and
continued intermittently till the 17th. Heavy rain was also reported by two
members of the party at work in the mountains to the south of Lan-chou on
the 12th and 13th ; whilst a heavy deluge, preceded by a violent wind, was
recorded by one of them on the 14th. Rain was again recorded on the 15th
in the same district, while a little to the east of this position heavy rain was
recorded on the 20th. On the 22nd a west wind was noted, followed by
rain, and again on the 26th a west wind brought up rain clouds, when "72 of
an inch of rain was recorded in sixteen hours. The wind continued to blow
from the west for two days, then, shifting right round to the east, seemed to
bring back the rain clouds.

It must here be noted that rain was frequently brought up by a north-
easterly wind. The fact that the Yellow River flows in a north-easterly direction
from Lan-chou Fu may account for this. It cannot be doubted that the
Kokonor has some effect upon this district, but it is equally certain that it is
not the only agency at work, and an analysis of the wind direction and
corresponding periods of rain leads to the idea that the large volume of water
flowing down the bed of the Yellow River is another powerful element in the
meteorology of the district. Only on very rare occasions (in April) was rain
recorded from any quarter but north-east and west. The total rainfall for the
month was i'i4 inches, notwithstanding the fact that on five occasions
the fall was not measured.

Clouds appeared every day of the month. Cumulus formations pre-
dominated, though stratus clouds were not infrequent, cirrus clouds occurred
more often than in May.

The maximum temperature was 90*0° F. on the 26th and 29th. The

149

minimum was 43*0° F. on the 13th. This temperature, it will be noted,
occurred on the night after the highest barometrical reading, 25*06 inches was
taken. The lowest barometrical reading occurred on the 28th, between the
two maximum temperatures for the month. This seems to bear out the rule
regarding the inverse relationship between the thermometer and barometer.

The average maximum and minimum readings were 8i'i° F., and 57*9° F.
respectively, whilst the average barometrical reading was 24*87 inches.

The psychrometer showed differences between the two bulbs of io'o° or
more, more frequently than not ; but only once on the 25th, did the difference
reach 15*0°. This was followed on the 26th by absolute saturation in the air, no
difference between the bulbs being discernible. The rainfall on the 26th, as
already stated, was 72 of an inch.

July, 1909. Lan-chou Fu. Alt. 5106 ft.

Observations were made at Lan-chou Fu from the ist to the 15th of this
month, when the expedition left the district.

During these fifteen days the average temperatures were slightly higher
than those of June. The barometer remained correspondingly low, never
once reaching 25*00 inches. The humidity of the air varied from saturation
to a dryness showing a difference between the bulbs of 19*5°.

Rain fell on six of the fifteen days, making a total fall of 1*29 inches,
considerably more than that of the previous month.

The direction from which the rain came was not properly recorded this
month, but the last wind recorded before each period of rain was from the
north-east.

Wind was of less frequent occurence than during the preceding months,
calm being recorded on seven days, whilst no reference whatever was made to
the subject on three others. What wind there was came usually from the
north-east.

Cumulus and stratus clouds were prevalent till the 15th, when cirrus
clouds were recorded. Nimbus clouds appeared on the 2nd.

The maximum temperature for the fifteen days occurred on the gth when
87*8° F. was registered. The minimum was 53*0° F. on the 2nd. The
highest barometer reading occurred on the ist close to the date on which the
minimum temperature was recorded, whilst the lowest barometrical readings
occurred on the same date as the maximum temperature for the month.

The highest and lowest barometrical readings were 24*98 inches, 24*70

150

PLATE 57.

o
a
•3
«

-4-1

u

c

C
es
:3

B

b

4)

C

inches, whilst the averages for maximum temperatures, minimum temperatures
and barometrical records were 82*0° F., 61*2° F., and 24"8i inches respectively.

During the three and a half months spent at Lan-chou the barometer
varied from 24'6o inches to 2530, an extreme variation of 07 inch. The
barometer at T'ai-yiian during the three months ending July 31st shewed an
outside variation of only 0*42 inches.

On July 15th the expedition left Lan-chou Fu on its way back to T'ai-
yiian Fu, by the same road which it had travelled in the spring. The journey
occupied nearly two months, during the whole of which time careful
observations were kept. No long stoppages were made.

On the 17th the party was held up for two days at Ch'6ng-kou-yi by very
heavy rains, which rendered the roads through the soft loess country
impassable. The rainfall recorded on this occasion was 1*32 inches in ten
hours. Unfortunately the rain gauge overflowed during the night so that it
was impossible to estimate the exact amount that fell. The head native of the
expedition said that it was the heaviest rain he could remember since the time
(about 1888) when the F6n Ho overflowed. It then flooded the T'ai-yiian
plain, and, entering that city, demolished the Tartar quarter in the south-
western corner.

At Ch'ang-t'ai-p'u the expedition was again held up by rains from the
evening of the 25th to the 28th. During this time a total of 1*45 inches
fell. Altogether the total rainfall for the month was 4*33 inches. The
weather was usually bright and calm, though frequently very hot.

August found the expedition once more at Ku-yuan Chou, and for some
days the weather was fine and calm. Rain fell on the 4th, after which the
party experienced intermittent rain, overcast skies, heavy dews and mists till
the 25th. The total rainfall for the month was 1*63 inches. From the
25th to the 31st the weather was again clear and calm. During the whole
month there was scarcely any wind.

On the 5th the thermometer registered a maximum temperature of 102.2°
F. at Ching-yuan Hsien, and '99*0° F. was recorded at Ch'ing-yang Fu.
four days later.

From this date the temperature seemed to fall steadily though some very
hot days were experienced in the loess ravines of the country between Yen-an
Fu and Sui-td Chou, which place was reached on the 29th.

The first three days of September were wet, the rainfall being '52
inches. From then onwards the weather was clear, with but little wind. The

151

temperature was distinctly cooler than that which had been experienced for
some months.

On the 8th, T'ai-yiian Fu was reached, but observations were kept up till
the. I2th, when the expedition officially came to an end.

SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

May, 1908.

Maximum 98*2°, 27th Highest Bar. 27*05 inches, 23rd and

Average max. 85*6° 30th

Minimum 47*0°, 31st Lowest Bar. 26*84 inches, 26th

Average min. 56*5° Average Bar. 26*95 inches

June, 1908.

Maximum 98*0°, loth
Average max. 90*0°
Minimum 42*9°, 7th
Average min. 53*4°

Juhj, 1908.

Maximum ioo'o°, 5th
Average max. 88*6°
Minimum 55*4°, 15th
Average min. 65*8°

August, 1908.

Maximum 100*4°, ^th
Average max. 83*2°
Minimum 61*3°, 28th
Average min. 7i'4°

September, 1908.
Maximum 86'0°, 6th
Average max. 77*5°
Minimum 46*5°, 23rd
Average min. 58*1°

Highest Bar. 27*08 inches, 20th
Lowest Bar. 26*67 inches, 24th
Average Bar. 26*84 inches

Highest Bar. 27*09 inches, 7th
Lowest Bar. 26*67 inches, 19th and

22nd
Average Bar. 26*92 inches
Rainfall over 6*29 inches
Heaviest fall, i8th, 3*66 inches

Highest Bar. 27*17 inches, 30th
Lowest Bar. 26*82 inches, 6th
Average Bar. 26*97 inches
Rainfall 1*94 inches
Heaviest fall, 15th, *6 inch

Highest Bar. 27*22 inches, 23rd
Lowest Bar. 26*79 inches, loth
Average Bar. 27*05 inches
Rainfall 2*02 inches
Heaviest fall, 15th, *94 inches

152

November 5th, 1908 to December' 5th.

Maximum 57-0°, 7th and loth Highest Bar. 26-88 inches, 30th

November November

Average max. 46*8° Lowest Bar. 26*28 inches, 4th
Minimum I2'5°, 27th November December

Average min. 20*5° Average Bar. 2661 inches

Wind recorded 30 days: — 15 from N., 3 from N.E., 4 from N.W., 5 from
S., 2 from W., one variable.

Strong wind, 3 times, N.W. i., N. 2, moderate once N.

December I9th to Slst, 1908. Yen-an Fu. Alt. 2769 ft.

Maximum 40*0°, 29th Highest Bar. 27*26 inches, 31st

Average max. 34*3° Lowest Bar. 26*72 inches, 20th

Minimum 3*5°, 20th Average Bar. 26*90 inches
Average min. 12*2°

January, 1909. Yen-an Fu. Alt. 2769 ft.

Maximum 39*0°, 4th, 5th and 28th Highest Bar. 27*16 inches, 19th

Average max. 32*1° Lowest Bar. 26*64 inches, 3rd

Minimum —3*5°, 19th Average Bar. 26*86 inches
Average min. 12*2°

April, 1909. Lan-chou Fu. Alt. 5106 ft.

Maximum 83*0°, 25th ^ Highest Bar. 25*27 inches, 5th
Average max. 68*6° Lowest Bar. 24*72 inches, 15th

Minimum 30*0°, 7th Average Bar. 25*00 inches

Average min. 41*2°

May, 1909. Lan-chou Fu. Alt. 5106 ft.

Maximum 88*0°, 30th Highest Bar. 25*30 inches, 13th

Average max. 75*5° Lowest Bar. 24*78 inches, 28th

Minimum 36*5°, 15th Average Bar. 25*07 inches
Average min. 48*7°

1S3

June, 1909. Lan-chou Fu. Alt. 5106 ft

Max. 90'0°, 26th and 29th Highest Bar. 25.06 inches, 12th

Average max. 8i'i° Lowest Bar. 24.60 inches, 28th

Min. 43'0°, 13th Average Bar. 24*87 inches

Average min. 57*9°

July, 1909, 15 days.

Maximum 87*8°, 9th
Average max. 82*0°
Minimum 53'0°, 2nd
Average min. 61*2°

Lan-Chou Fu. Alt. 5106 ft.

Highest Bar. 24'98 inches, ist
Lowest Bar. 2470 inches, 9th
Average Bar. 24*8 1 inches

154

'PLATE 58.

Sandstone strata at Suite Chou, Shensi.

See pp. 26 and 123.

Canon in Limestone Formation west of Hen-chou Fu, Shansi.

Seep. 121.

APPENDIX I. (A).

ITINERARIES.

No.

From

To

Distance

IN

Miles

Remarks.

I

T'ai-yuan Fu

Yii-Hn Fu -

220

via Lin Hsien.

2

Yu-lin Fu -

Yen-an Fu

176

via Sui-t6 Chou.

3

Yen-an Fu

Fu Chou -

48

via Kan-ch'iian Hsien.

4

Fu Chou -

Ch'ing-yang Fu -

112

via Ho-shui Hsien.

5

Ch'ing-yang Fu -

Ku-yiian Chou -

129

via Chdn-yuan Hsien.

6

Ku-yiian Chou -

Ching-ning Chou

58

via the Hai-tzu Pass.

7

Ching-ning Chou

Lan-chou Fu

154

via Hui-ning Hsien
and An-ting Hsien.

ITINERARY No. i.

T'ai-yuan Fu to Yii-Hn Fu (via Lin Hsien).

Distance 220 miles ; 17 stages.

Communication between rail-head at T'ai-yiian Fu and Yii-lin Fu,
on the northern borders of Shensi.

Generally speaking, the road is a fair mule track, with some steep
gradients and for the most part stony. The Yellow River is crossed by ferry
in Stage 13.

From T'ai-yiian there is telegraphic communication with Peking vigl the
Railway and S. to T'ung-kuan Hsien (Shensi). There is also a Head Post
Office (Taiyiianfu).*

• The place-name in brackets is the spalling adopted by the Postal Service and does not agree with the "Wade"
system. To ensure delivery of letters and telegrams, the postal system of spellinf; should always be carefully followed, in
addressing all communications,

155

Stage I. Sh^ng-yl (i6 miles). General Direction : West.

Cross F^n Ho (3 feet deep in September) and pass over level plain
to Nan-shih (5 miles). Then ascend narrow^, stony gorge, passing
Pei-hai-ts'un (6 J miles), Hsi-ming-ts'un (8 miles), and reaching summit
at Ho-shih-ts'un (12 miles). Thence road bends S.W. and runs easily
along a ridge to Sh6ng-yi (population 100).

Stage 2. Ku-chao (13^ miles). General Direction : N.W.

A stony road runs easily along the ridge, and at Chao-chia-li
(4 miles) bends N.W. and becomes less stony. At 8 miles a steep
descent is made to the F^n Ho and the road runs along the left bank
for 3 miles to Ku-chao (population 500). Good supplies of coal here.

Stage 3. Wu-chia-chuang (9I miles). General Direction : S.W.

A good mule-road ascends the F^n Ho for 2 miles to its junction
with a tributary and then ascends valley of latter, passing Hsiao-6rh
(3 miles), Mu-kou (5 miles) and Chi-ya (7 miles).

Stage 4. Tsa-k'ou (10 miles). General Direction : W.

Good mule-road continues easily up the valley, passing Yi-la
(2 miles), Chao-san (6| miles), and Ma-ho-chuang (8 miles).

Good crops of millet, buckwheat, corn, potatoes and oats in the
valley.

Stage 5. Mi-yueh-ch'^ng (17 miles). General Direction: N.W.

A rough, stony road ascends 1600 feet to the summit of the valley
at II miles, passing Kuan-t'ou (4 miles), Shan-t'ou-p'u (6 miles), and
Ti-tzu-t'du (7 miles). Thence a steep, stony descent is made to
Mi-yiieh, on the left bank of the Nan-fan Ho.

Stage 6. Camp in Mo-an Valley (11 miles). General Direction: S.W.

Road ascends valley of Nan-fan Ho in southerly direction and at
3 miles becomes narrow and steep. At Ta-shih-ho (6 miles) it bends
west, and crossing a col at 8 miles, descends to the Mo-an valley,
where camp can be formed in a wide ravine, on the north slopes of
Yun-ting Shan. There are no villages convenient for camping in.

Stage 7. Ma-f^ng (12 miles). General Direction : N.W.

Road descends the Mo-an valley, and for the first three miles is
rough, afterwards improving, passing Wan-chia-chuang (7 miles) and
Ch'ih-ch'ien (9^^ miles).

Population of Ma-f^ng about 300.

156

Stage 8. Sung-chia-k'ou (i6 miles). General Direction : W.

A good cart-road to Yung-ning Chou descends the Mo-an valley,
passing Liu-chia-chuang (4 miles) and the large village of Feng-hsiang-
ch'^ng (6 miles), and a mile beyond the latter, at Chou-chia-yuan, the
main route is left and a rough, stony mule-road turns W. and ascends
900 feet to summit of a pass at 12 miles. Thence a steep descent is
made to Sung-chia-k'ou, on a small tributary of the Lin Hq.

Stage g. Lin Hsien (13 miles). General Direction : W.S.W.

A good mule-path descends the valley to the Lin Ho, where
2 miles down stream on the left bank is Lin Hsien, a walled town of
about 3000 inhabitants. The following villages are passed en route:
Miao-chia (2 miles), Ch'ien-ch'ang (6 miles), K'ang-chia-wan {y\ miles),
and Cho-tzu (g| miles).

Lin Hsien contains a Roman Catholic Mission, and supplies are
numerous. There is a Postal Agency here Linhsien Sha).

Stage 10. Kan-tsao-k'ou (15 miles). General Direction : N.W.

The road ascends the Lin Ho valley for 3 miles and then strikes
W. up a ravine, gradually narrowing as it ascends. Tu-chia-kou is
passed at 8 miles, after which the road is steep and rocky, ascending
the eastern slopes of Ch'ing-ting Shan.

Stage II. Ts'ai-chia-wei (14 miles). General Direction : N.W.

Road ascends fairly easily for 4 miles to a pass between two peaks
of the Ch'ing-ting Shan, and thence by easy gradients descends a small
valley to Ts'ai-chia-wei, passing Sha-p'o (8^ miles), Chuang-t'ou
(10 miles), and Yang-p'i (12 miles).

Stage 12. Huang-ho-yeh (14 miles). General Direction : N.W.

A good mule-track descends the valley easily for 10 miles, and
then, at Lung-wang-miao, a steep, winding ascent is made to the head
of the valley, whence the road descends steeply to the valley of the
Huang Ho (Yellow River), on the left bank of which is Huang-ho-yeh.
There is a ferry over the river here and several large ferry-boats are
available.

Stage 13. Ch'i-chia-wei (10 miles). General Direction : W.

Crossing the Huang Ho, the road ascends 700 feet steeply, and,
crossing a pass at Liu-chia-mo (5J miles), traverses a small plateau and
descends to Ch'i-chia-wei, on the left bank of the Tui Ho, a tributary
of the Yellow River.

157

Stage 14. Chin-chia-k'ou (11 miles). General Direction : S.W.

The road makes a bad, rocky ascent up the valley of the Tui Ho,
passing Wang-chia-shan (4 miles), Hsii-chia-mo (7 miles), and
F6ng-huang (9 miles).

Stage 15. Yang-chia-tien (14 miles). General Direction : W. by S.

Crossing a low, sandy plateau, the road descends to the Chia-lu
Shui, a stream about 15 feet wide, at the village of Chiu-ts'ai (5I miles),
and thence an excellent mule-track ascends the valley, passing
Yao-6rh-wan (8 miles), Tsao-chia (10 miles), and Shang-ts'ai (iii^
miles).

Stage 16. Liu-chien-hua (9 miles). General Direction : W.

The road ascends the Chia-lu valley and at K'ang-chia-wan
(2 miles) becomes a narrow path, only 2 feet wide in places, skirting an
overhanging cliff for 3 miles, when a low sandy ridge is crossed and the
road descends easily to Liu-chien-hua (population 200).

Stage 17. Yii-lin Fu (15 miles). General Direction : W.

A good mule-road descends the valley easily, passing An-chia-kou
at 2 miles, and at Yang-chia-shan, a mile beyond, crosses a low, sandy
plateau, passing Ta-li-kou (4 miles) and Tien-wa-mao (8 miles).
Traversing two successive low, sandy ridges, the road reaches the S.
gate of Yii-lin Fu.

Yii-lin Fu contains a small garrison and is the centre of a
' flourishing fur trade. There is a branch Post-Offlce here (Yiilinfu).

ITINERARY No. 2.

Yti-lin Fu to Yen-an Fu (vi^ Sui-t6 Chou).

Distance 176 miles ; 13 stages. General Direction : S.

An excellent mule-road, and wide enough for carts, though in some places
the gradients are too steep for the use of wheeled transport, notably in the
vicinity of the Kuan-t'i Pass in Stage 9 and of the T'ien-m6n Pass in Stage 12.

Stage I. Kuei-ti-p'u (loj miles). General Direction : S.

The road, which is level and in excellent condition, though sandy
in places, descends the left bank of the Yu-lin Ho, passing San-ts'a-wan
(5 miles) and Niu-kuo-tsai (8 miles).

158

Stage 2. Yii-ho-p'u (ii miles). General Direction : S. by E.

The road, which is still in excellent condition, continues to skirt
the Yii-lin Ho, passing Mi-chia-yiian (2 miles), Kao-chia-wa (6 miles),
and Li-chia-kou (8 miles). Yii-ho-p'u is a small walled market-town ;
population 200.

Stage 3. Ch'i-chia-p'o (14 miles). General Direction: S.E.

Road continues in excellent condition down the Yu-lin Ho valley
and is no longer sandy. The following villages are passed en route :
Yii-hua-mao (6 miles), Tang-chia (8 miles), Shang-yeh-wan (10 miles),
and Liu-chia-p'o (12 miles).

Stage 4. Mi-chih Hsien (13 miles). General Direction : S.E.

A good mule-road down the Yu-lin Ho valley, passing through the
following villages: Shui-chi (i mile), Liu-hsien-chuang (2 miles),
Kao-lien (4^ miles), Ch6n-chia-p'o (6 miles), and Chiang-chia-kou
(11 miles).

Mi-chih Hsien is a town of about 2000 inhabitants, with wall and
buildings in good repair. There is a Postal Agency here (Micheh).

Stages. Ssu-shih-li-p'u (12 miles). General Direction : S. by E.

Road is still good and descends the Yii-lin Ho (or Wu-ting Ho)
valley, passing through F6ng-chia-chuang at 3 miles and Ma-chia-hsin
at 9 miles.

Stage 6. Sui-t6 Chou (15 miles). Qeneral Direction : S. by E.

An excellent road, descending the fertile Wu-ting valley, here | to
I mile wide, and passing en route : Chiao-chia-kou (i mile), Pai-chia-
ch'u (6 miles), Yen-chia-ts'a (7I miles), Tung-chia-shan (g miles),
Liu-chia-wan (11 miles), and Lung-wang (13I miles). Just before
reaching Liu-chia-wan a road branches E. to T'ai-yuan Fu via Yung-
ning Chou and F6n-chou Fu. There is a Postal Agency here
(Suitehchow).

The Wu-ting Ho is crossed just before reaching Sui-t6 Chou
(which lies on the right bank) by a shaky trestle-bridge.

Stage 7. T'ien-chuang (12 miles). General Direction :' S.W.

Leaving Sui-t6 Chou by the S. gate, the road ascends a narrow
gorge and is wide enough for carts, though some of the gradients are
too steep for wheeled transport. Passing Pien-shang at 2 miles, the
the road ascends steeply for 900 feet to the summit of a small spur at 4
miles, descending steeply thence to Ma-chia-p'ing (6 miles), on the

159

Huai-ting Ho, a tributary of the Wu-ting Ho, which it joins about 5
miles below Sui-te. The road now bends W.S.W., and ascends the
Huai-ting valley through a narrow gorge to T'ien-chuang (population
150).

Stage 8. Mu-chia-ho (12 miles). General Direction : S.

The road which is generally in good condition, ascends the fertile
Huai-ting Ho valley, passing the following villages : — Ssii-chia (3^ miles),
Kang-chia-wan (5 miles), Wang-chia-p'u (6 miles), P'ing-tzu-ko (8 miles),
and Shih-ts'ui-yi (11 miles). Mu-chia-ho is situated 2 miles below the
crest of the Huai-ting valley.

Stage 9. Ch'ing-chien Hsien (15 miles). General Direction : S.

The road, which is generally good, ascends steeply for 600 feet to
the head of the Huai-ting valley at 2 miles, and, crossing the Kuan-t'i
Pass, descends steeply to Lao-to-p'u (4 miles). Thence the road
descends with occasional steep gradients to Ch'ing-chien Hsien, passing
through Ts'ai-tzii-wan (6^ miles), Chou-chia (g| miles), and Shih-li-p'u
(11 J miles). Ch'ing-chien is a dirty, dilapidated town, with little
commercial activity.

Stage 10. Yen-ch'uan Hsien (14J miles). General Direction: S. by E.

An excellent road, fit for wheeled traffic, descending the Hsien Ho.
Just below Ch'ing-chien, the road crosses to the right bank of the river.
The following villages are passed : — Erh-shih-li-p'u (5 miles), Ying-tieh
(8 miles), and Ho-chia-wan (12 miles).

Stage II. T'ou-chia (17 miles). General Direction : W.S.W.

The road ascends a tributary of the Hsien Ho and is in good
condition, though stony in places. The following villages are passed : —
Hsing-shan-ku (2 miles), Ma-chia-tien (4 miles), Ma-chia-k'ou (6 miles),
W^n-an-yii (10 miles), and Ju-tsui (12 miles).

Stage 12. Yao-tien (15 miles). General Direction : S.W.

Ascending with some steep gradients to the head of the valley, the
road crosses the T'ien-men Pass at 4I miles, and descends thence
steeply to the Yen Shui valley, passing Lao-chia-wan at 7 miles, and
reaching the Y^n Shui at Kan-ku-yii (11 miles). Thence a good cart-
road ascends the left bank of the river to Yao-tien.

Stage 13. Yen-an Fu (15 miles). General Direction : S.W.

An excellent cart-road skirts the left bank of the Yen Shui, passing
through Ssfi-shih-li-p'u (ij miles), Kuai-mao-shang (4 miles), Nai-li-chia

160

(7 miles), Liu-shu-kou (9 miles), and Yang-chia-wan (11 miles).
There is a Postal Agency here (Yenanfu).

ITINERARY No. 3.
Yen-an Fu to Fu Chou (via Kan-ch'iian Hsien).
Distance, 48 miles ; 4 stages. General Direction : S.
A good mule-road, generally practicable for wheeled transport.

Stage I. Hsia-ho (i2| miles). General Direction : S.

A good mule-road ascends easily in a S. direction up the valley of
a small tributary of the Yen Shui, through a sparsely- populated and
poorly cultivated country. The following villages are passed : — Nan-
ch'i-li-p'u (2 miles), Shih-li-p'u (4 miles), Kao-mao-shang (7 miles),
San-shih-li-p'u (9 miles), and Ma-p'u (11 miles). Hsia-ho is at the
head of the valley ascended during the march.

Stage 2. Kan-ch'iian Hsien (14 miles). General Direction: S. by W.

Crossing a low spur just S. of Hsia-ho, the road descends into the
valley of a small tributary of' the L^ or Lo Ho, through a thinly-
populated district. The following villages are passed : — Su-chia-ho
(3 miles), Lao-shan (7I miles), Pai-t'u-p'o (10 miles), and Yang-chia-
pien (12 miles). Kan-ch'iian Hsien is a walled town, situated on the
left bank of the Lo Shui.

Stage 3. Tao-tso-p'u (10 miles). General Direction : S.

The road is good and fit for carts, skirting the left bank of the
Lo Shui and passing Liu-shu-ying (i| miles), An-chia-p'ing (4 miles),
Cheng-chia-wan (7 miles), and San-liu-mao (8| miles). Tao-tso-p'u is
a walled village, formerly of considerable importance, but now con-
taining only about 150 families. The Lo Shui is here 10 yards wide
and 3 feet deep (in January), and there is a trestle bridge at the village.
Stage 4. Fu Chou (11 miles). General Direction : S.

A good cart-read continues down the left bank of the Lo Shui,
passing the following villages : — Ts'ui-chia-kou (3I miles), Yii-lin-
ch'iao (5 miles). Ma-fang (7 miles), and Ts'a-f6ng (9I miles). At
Ts'a-f^ng a road goes E. to Yi-ch'uan Hsien, up the valley of a
small tributary of the Lo Shui. This road is in places too steep
for carts. Fu Chou is a clean, prosperous town of about 500
famihes.

L 161

ITINERARY No. 4.

Fu Chou to Ch'ing-yang Fu (via Ho-shui Hsien).

Distance, 112 miles; 7 stages.

Good mule-road, except in stage i, where there are some steep, rough

gradients.

Stage I. Ch'ang-ts'un-yi (17 miles). General Direction : S.W.

After skirting the right bank of the Lo Ho for about a mile, the
road bends W. and becomes steep and rough. It ascends, winding
round the hillside, with several steep descents to streamlets, until at 6
miles a plateau is reached. The road then descends the hillside,
skirting the Ch'ing-shui Ho, a tributary of the Lo Ho, the gradients
being steep in places. Ch'ang-ts'un-yi is a prosperous village, situated
on the right bank of the Ch'ing-shui Ho. The following villages are
passed en route: Sha-hsi-kou (2 miles), T'ai-ch'i (4 miles), T'u-ling
(5 miles), Yang-chuan (7 miles), Shan-huo (9 miles), Yao-shang-wan
(15 miles), and Hsin-ch'^ng (16 miles).

Stage 2. Hai-shui-ssu (17 miles). General Direction: N.W.

The road ascends the right bank of the Ch'ing Shui and is in good
condition. Passing Chih-fang-kou (2 miles) and T'ang-fang (4^ miles),
the road at the village of Tai-shih-tien (6 miles) crosses a small steep
spur, and again descends to the river at Ch'ih-16 (loj miles), and,
crossing to the left bank, passes An-chia-shan (15 miles) and reaches
Hai-shui-ssu, a village of about 250, surrounded by ruined walls.

Stage 3. T'ai-pei-ch'6ng (20 miles). General Direction : W.N.W.

A good mule-road skirts the left bank of the Ch'ing Shui through
a well-wooded but sparsely-populated valley, which has suffered greatly
from famine and is poorly cultivated. The following villages are
passed : Hsiao-shan (2I miles), Ch'iu-shu-lin (4I miles), Wang-chia
(5 miles), Ch'uan-chuang (7 miles), Chang-chia-wan (9 miles), Ma-chia
(10 miles), and Ho-shang-yiian (12J miles). T'ai-pei-ch'eng is a ruined
village of 100 souls, on the right bank of the Ch'ing Shui, just below its
junction with a small tributary — the Miao Ho. The boundary between
Shensi and Kansu is crossed about a mile to the east of the village.

Stage 4. Miao-ts'un (17 miles). General Direction : W.

The road, which is in good condition, ascends the left bank of the
Miao Ho through densely-wooded and poorly populated country. The

162

following villages are passed : Wang-mao-chuang (3 miles), Ning-huan-
kou (4 miles), Yang-chia-pien (9 miles), Chang-chia-p'u (ii| miles),
T'u-p'o (13I miles), and Ta-6rh-wan (15 miles).
Stage 5. Pai-chia-lao (11 miles). General Direction : W. by S.

The road ascends to the summit of the Miao Ho valley, and at 4
miles descends through a pass to the valley of the Ma-lien Ho and
descends the right bank past Chien-shui-p'u (7 miles) and Chia-chia-
kou (8 miles) to Pai-chia-lao.

Stage 6. Ho-shui Hsien (12 miles). General Direction : S.W.

A good mule-road descends the right bank of the Ma-lien Ho
through sparsely-cultivated country to Ho-shui Hsien, passing the
following villages: Ch'6n-chia-ho (i mile), Chang-chia-lao (3 miles),
Hao-hsii-p'u (6 miles), Shih-ch'iao (8| miles), Chiu-chan (10 miles),
and Chiian-chia (11 miles).

Stage 7. Ch'ing-yang Fu (18 miles). General Direction : W.

The road continues to ascend the right bank of the Ma-lien Ho,
passing Pai-chia-kou (2 miles) and Hsii-chia-yiian (5 miles) and at
Yao-tzu-t'ou (10 miles) crosses a small ridge and descends to the
Huan Ho at M6ng-chia-ch'iao (13 miles). Thence it ascends the left
bank of the Huan Ho past Kan-kuo-tien (14 miles) and Wu-li-p'u
(17 miles) to Ch'ing-yang Fu, formerly a prosperous commercial town.
There is a R.C. mission here.

ITINERARY No. 5.

Ch'ing-yang Fu to Ku-yuan Chou (vid Ch^n-yiian Hsien).

Distance, 129 miles ; 8 stages. General Directions : W. by S.

A good mule road with some steep gradients and in stage 2 a good

cart-road.

Stage I. Pai-ma-p'u (14I miles). General Direction : S.W.

Crossing from the town to the right bank of the Huan Ho, the
road ascends the left bank of a small tributary, passing Ch'i-li-p'u at
2| miles, and Shih-li-p'u at 4 miles. At 6 miles, the stream is left
and the road ascends S.S.W. up a steep ridge passing Hsii-chia-yiian
at 10 miles. At 11 miles, at San-chia-tien, the road reaches the summit
of a loess plateau and turning W., runs easily to Pai-ma-p'u, a poor
village of 25 families.

163

Stage 2. Hsi-f6ng-ch6n (20 miles). General Direction : W. for 8 miles then S.
A good, much-used cart-road with easy gradients, passing through
a prosperous and well-cultivated country. The road ascends easily up
the plateau, passing Miao-ling at 3 miles, Hsiao-lo-p'u at 4 miles,
Hsia-chia at 5 miles, and Tang-chia at 7 miles, and at 8 miles turns S.
and runs over a level plain, passing Yi-ma-kuan (9 miles), Ts'ao-fan-p'u
(12 miles), Hua-chia-k'6ng (14 miles), Li-chia {15 miles), and Yen-ssu-
miao (18 miles).

Hsi-f6ng-ch6n is a prosperous, walled village, peopled chiefly by
immigrants from Ssiich'uan and Shensi. From the village, roads run
N. to Huan Hsien, S. to Fdng-hsiang Fu, and E. to Ning Chou and
Pin Chou (Shensi).
Stage 3. T'ai-pei-ch'6ng (15 miles). General Direction : W.

A good cart-road runs W. along the plateau passing Ma-chia at 2J
miles, and at 5 miles becomes an ordinary mule-track, descending, fairly
steeply in places, to the valley of the P'u Ho and crossing by a foot-
bridge to the right bank at Ts'ai-yiian (10 miles). Thence the road
ascends fairly easily up a loess ridge to T'ai-pei-ch'^ng (70 families),
passing en route through Yang-ts'un (11 miles), and Liu-chia-kou (13
miles). All the country passed through is well cultivated.

Stage 4. Ch^n-yiian Hsien (14I miles). General Direction : W. by S.

From camp the road ascends by a mule-track to a small stream —
the Chiao-ko Ho — which is crossed at Pao-chia (3 miles). Thence the
road ascends fairly easily up a plateau, passing T'ang-chia-wan (5 miles),
and reaching the summit at Mao-chia-p'u (8 miles). After running
level along the plateau for 3 miles, the road descends to the valley of
the Chien-tsai Ho, on the left bank of which stands Ch^n-yiian, a
prosperous walled town, containing a Protestant Mission Station.
Carpets are woven here on a small scale.

Stage 5. Yang-shu-wan (19 miles). General Direction : W. by N.

The road ascends the left bank of the Chien-tsai Ho, through fairly
well-cultivated country, passing Wu-li-kou (3 miles) and Chiu-lung
(6 miles). Just after passing K'ai-pien (12 miles), the road bends S.W.
and passing Chi-chia (13 miles) and Ch'dn-chia-p'ing (16 miles), reaches
Yang-shu-wan (80 families).
Stage 6. Liu-chia-hua {i'j\ miles). General Direction : W.

A good mule-road continues to ascend the left bank of the Chien-tsai

164

Ho, with considerable windings. The country is well cultivated,
and the following villages are passed en route : — Wang-chia-p'ing (3
miles), Han-chia-chai (5 miles), Yii-chia-kou (9 miles), J6n-chia-wan
(12 miles), and Wang-chia-wan (16 miles).

Stage 7. J^n-sa-ho (15 miles). General Direction : W. by N.

A good mule-road continues to skirt the left bank of the Chien-tsai
Ho for i\ miles, and then strikes W. up the valley of the Hsien Ho,
a small tributary. Many small villages are passed en route, including : —
Kao-chia-wa (4 miles), Ta-shih-kou (7 miles), Ts'ao-chia-p'o (10 miles),
and Huang-chia (13 miles). J6n-sa-ho contains about 25 families.

Stage 8. Ku-yiian Chou (13^ miles). General Direction : N.W.

A good mule-road still ascends the left bank of the Chien-tsai Ho
to the head of the valley at 8 miles, and, traversing the Hua-mao Pass,
descends the valley of a small tributary of the Ku-yiian Ho, reaching
the main river a mile below Ku-yiian Chou. The following villages
are passed: — Liu-chia-wa (2 miles), Ta-ho-tien (3 miles), Liu-chia-yao
(6 miles), Wang-chia-hsin (7 miles), and Ching-shih-hsiang (12 miles).
Ku-yiian Chou is a prosperous commercial town of about 5000
inhabitants. There is a telegraph office here, and lines run N. to Ning-
hsia Fu, S.E. to Hsi-an Fu, with offices en route at P'ing-liang Fu and
Chin Chou, and W. to Lan-chou Fu.

There is also a Postal Agency (Kuyiian).

ITINERARY No. 6.

Ku-yiian Chou to Ching-ning Chou (vid the Hai-tzii Pass).

Distance, 58 miles; 3 stages.

A good cart-road throughout with easy gradients. The telegraph line
from Ku-yiian to Lan-chou follows this road.

Stage I. Hsiao-ch'^ng (17 miles). General Direction : S.W.

A good mule-road, fit for carts, ascends S.W. easily over a plain,
passing Yang-fang (3 miles) and Mao-chia-lao (5 miles), and reaching
the edge of the plain at K'ou-chia (8 miles) crosses a small ridge and
descends to the valley of a streamlet, up which it ascends fairly easily
in a S. direction. Passing Hai-tzii-ho (11 miles), and Ta-wa-tien (14
miles), the road just beyond the latter village traverses the Hai-tzii
Pass, 1700 feet above Ku-yiian, penetrating the Liu-p'an Shan range at

165

this point. Thence it descends to a tributary of the Ku Shui and passes
through Sung-chia-wa (15 miles) to Hsiao-ch'eng.
Stage 2. Ch'ang-t'ai-p'u (17!^ miles). General Direction: W.

A good mule-road, practicable for carts, continues to descend the
valley, which is grassy and well-cultivated, passing Ch'ang-yi-p'u at
3 miles. Here it bends W., and skirting the right bank of the stream,
past Hsi-lien-p'u (5 miles), Ch'i-chia (8 miles), and Ma-lien (13 miles),
to Ch'ang-t'ai-p'u, a small walled village on the left bank of the Ku
Shui. The village contains about 30 families and a small military post.

Stage 3. Ching-ning Chou (23 miles). General Direction : S. by W.

A good level cart-road descends the Ku Shui valley, which is well-
cultivated (wheat chiefly) and dotted with prosperous villages, mostly
inhabited by Mahommedans. Passing Wang-chia-p'u at 7 miles, and
Shan-chia at 10 miles, the road at ii| miles crosses to the right bank,
and traversing Kao-chia-ch'6ng (12 miles), T'uan-chuang {14 miles),
and Hsia-p'u (20 miles), reaches Ching-ning Chou, a prosperous town
of about 5000 inhabitants.

ITINERARY No. 7.

Ching-ning Chou to Lan-chou Fu (via Hui-ning Hsien and An-ting Hsien).

Distance, 154 miles; 11 stages.

A good mule-road, but rough in places. The telegraph line from Ku-yiian

to Lan-chou follows this road.

Stage I. Chieh-shih-p'u (13 miles). General Direction : W.N.W.

A rough mule-road with steep gradients in the first six miles.
From Ching-ning the road goes N., skirting the left bank of a tributary
of the Ku Shui, and at 2^ miles crosses to the right bank and ascends
a steep spur to the summit at Teng-chia-p'u (3^ miles). Crossing a
narrow pass, the road then descends steeply to the Hei-lung Ho, which
is reached at the village of Sung-chia-kou (6 miles). The road now
ascends the left bank of the stream, passing Ch'i-li-p'u at 8 miles, and
Hsia-chia-p'u at 10 miles.

Stage 2. Ch'ing-chia-yi (11 miles). General Direction : N.W.

A rough mule-track continues to ascend the left bank of the Hei-
lung Ho, the loess hills bounding the valley being fairly well cultivated.
At 4 miles the road branches N.W. up the valley of a small tributary,

166

passing Kuan-chih-hsiang (5 miles), Han-chia (6 miles), and Wu-li-
ch'iao (9 miles). Ch'ing-chia-yi is a small village in bad repair, but
contains numerous inns.

Stage 3. Kao-chuang (13 miles). General Direction : W.

A rough mule-track, much cut up in places, ascends to the head
of the valley, passing Pai-chia-chi at 2 miles, and reaching the summit
at the village of Ta-shan-ch'uan at 4 miles. Traversing a pass in the
mountain-range, the road descends into a narrow valley, flanked by
loess hills, and skirts the stream, which it crosses and re-crosses several
times. T'ai-p'ing-ch6n is passed at 7 miles, T'ai-p'ing-tien at 8 miles,
and Man-yang-chuang at 9 miles. Kao-chuang is a fair-sized walled
village.

Stage 4. Hui-ning Hsien (13 miles). General Direction : W.

The road continues to descend the valley, which now opens out,
and passing Wu-li-p'u (3 miles), Chang-ts'un-p'u (5 miles), San-li-p'u
(6 miles), and W^n-chia-chuang (7 miles), reaches Hui-ning Hsien, a
busy town on the right bank of the Lan Ho, with one long main street
containing many shops. There is a Postal Agency here (Hweining).

Stage 5. Hsi-kung-yi (15 J miles). General Direction : W. by S.

A fair cart-road, but rough in places. Descending the valley of
the Lan Ho in a N.W. direction, the road at 2 J miles crosses to the
left bank and passes Yang-chia-ts'ai (3 miles), Chang-chia-ho (4 miles),
and Tung-^rh (5 miles). At Chi-erh-ts'ai (6 miles) the road reaches
the junction of the Lan Ho with a tributary stream, and, skirting a
small fort, turns S.W. up the valley of the tributary and skirts the left
bank of the stream, which is bounded by high loess cliffs. The road
passes Ts'ao-chia-p'u (7 miles), Ts'ao-chia-ho-p'ang (9 miles), Hsia-
chia-ying (11 miles), and Liang-chia-hua (14 miles), and reaches
Hsi-kung-yi, a village of about 70 families, surrounded by a ruined wall.

Stage 6. An-ting Hsien (14 miles). General Direction : W.S.W.

A good mule-road ascends the valley, passing Ma-chia (2 miles), and
thence begins to ascend the loess slopes of the Ching-liang Shan,
passing Shan-t'ou-shang at 4 miles and Ching-liang-shan at g miles.
The summit of the pass is reached at Ssu-fang-p'u (11 miles), and the
road then winds easily down the hillside, passing Ch'en-chia-chuang
(11 J miles) and Chia-ho-kou (15 miles). An-ting Hsien is a busy town

167

of about 3000 inhabitants, on the left bank of the An-ting Ho. There
is a telegraph office here and a Postal Agency (Anting Kan).

Stagey. Ch'6ng-k'ou-yi (i6| miles). General Direction : N.N.W.

Crossing by a bridge to the right bank of the An-ting Ho, a good level
mule-road descends the river northwards, passing Wu-li-p'u (2 miles),
Shih-pa-li-p'u (4 miles), and several other prosperous villages. At 12
miles the road leaves the main stream and strikes W. up a small
tributary, passing Ch'a-k'ou (13 miles), and Liao-chia-p'ing (15^ miles),
Ch'6ng-k'ou-yi has a population of about 200 and an official rest-house,
but the inns are poor.

Stage 8. Kan-tsao-tien (14 miles). General Direction : N.W.

The road, which is rough in places, ascends the stream for i| miles,
and then strikes N.W. up the hillside for 4 miles, passing Tuan-chia-yao
(2 miles), Fa-niu-p'o (3I miles), Chin-chia-chuan (5 miles), and Hsien-
tzu-shang (7 miles). Just beyond the last-named, it traverses a low
pass (8050 ft.), and runs level along the ridge to a mile beyond Ta-wan-
lou (8 miles), where it begins to descend to the well-cultivated valley of
a tributary of the Yellow River, and passing Pai-t'u-yao at ii|^ miles,
reaches Kan-tsao-tien, a prosperous village on the left bank of the
stream, containing many inns, and enjoying a considerable trade with
Lan-chou Fu.

Stage 9. Ta'i-ya-p'u (16 miles). General Direction : N.N.W.

A good mule-road continues to descend the left bank of the stream,
through a well-cultivated valley, passing Shan-tung-ying at i^ miles,
and Ch'ing-shui-yi at 6J miles. At Hsu-chia-t'ai (10 miles) a road
goes S.W. to Chin Hsien, 8 miles distant, via Shuang-tien. The route
continues to descend the left bank, crossing a small spur and tributary
at II miles, and passing Hsia-kuan-ying at 15 miles, crosses to the
right bank of the stream at T'ai-ya-p'u.

Stage ID. Sang-yiian (15 miles). General Direction : N.W.

A good mule-road continues to descend the right bank of the
stream, passing Yiieh-chia-lao at 4 J miles, and Cliin-chia-yai at 6 miles,
and crossing to the left bank of the stream at 8J miles. Passing
Hsiao-shui-tzu at 13 miles, the road at 14 miles reaches the Yellow
River where it joins a route coming in from the N.E. from Ching-yiian
Hsien. The road now skirts the right bank of the river to the village.

168

Stage II. Lan-chou Fu (lo miles). General Direction : W.

The road continues to ascend the right bank of the Yellow River,
passing Tung-kuang at 5 miles, and K'uei-hsing-t'un at 6 miles, and
crosses a sandy j poorly-cultivated plain to the town.

Lan-chou Fu is the capital of Kansu, and the seat of the Viceroy
of Sh^nkan. It has a population of about half-a-million. It is a busy
commercial centre, and a considerable amount of cloth is manufactured
in the neighbourhood. There is a telegraph office at Lan-chou, and
communication eastwards with Hsi-an Fu, via Ku-yuan Chou, and
north-westwards with Kuldja and Kashgar, via Liang-chou Fu, Yung-
chang Hsien, Kan-chou Fu, Kao-t'ai Hsien, Su Chou, and An-hsi
Chou, at all of which towns there are telegraph offices. There is also
a Branch Post Office (Lanchowfu). The Yellow River is crossed N.
the town by an iron bridge.

169

APPENDIX I (B).

TABLE OF LATITUDES AND LONGITUDES.

Place.

Observation Point.
(Altitude in ft.)

Latitude N.
By theodolite
observations.

Longitude E.

37

51

363

112

33

5573

Z1

54

00

III

33

48

37

57

32

1 10

58

51

38

7

31

IIO

50

16

37

15

42

III

48

2

38

16

54

109

44

59

37

29

51

IIO

13

49

36

35

33

109

26

49

34

15

5

108

53

7

35

59

40

107

45

56

36

00

23

106

6

28

35

31

55

105

28

41

36

3

6

103

40

54

Long, obtained by

SHANSI—
T'ai-yiian Fu . .
Yiin-t'ing Shan
Lin Hsien . . . .

Ch'eng-wu Miao
(In Ch'ing-ting
Shaoi Range)
Fen-chou Fu . .

SHENSI—
Yii-lin Fu

Sui-te Chou

Yen-an Fu

Hsi-an Fu ....

KANSU—
Ch'ing-yang Fu
Ku-yiian Chou
Chmg-ningChou
Lan-chou Fu

S. East Gate (2600) .
Camp at foot of (6950)
East Gate (3269) . . . .

{7201 of Peak to N) . .

East Gate

S. Gate (3170)

S. Gate (2330)

S. Gate (2769)

Ku-lu (Drum Tower)

East Gate (3080)

S. Gate (6610)

West Gate (6700) ....

S. Gate of S. Suburb. .
(5106)

Telegraph with Tientsin

Three chronometers with
T'ai-yiian Fu

>> H It

» t>

** $>

Three chronometers with
T'ai-5man Fu and
Yen-an Fu

Occultation

Three chronometers with
Yen-an Fu

Occultation

170

APPENDIX II.

MAMMALS COLLECTED IN SHANSI, SHENSI AND KANSU
— BY A. DE C. SOWERBY.

"THE Mammals collected during the expedition, and presented by Mr. Clark

to the United States National Museum, number 220 specimens. Follow-
ing are details of the 33 species represented, besides the number, sex and
locality of each specimen.

A series of these, representing all the species taken, was brought to
London in the summer of 1910 by Mr. Gerrit S. Miller, in whose company I
compared them with the Chinese material in the British Museum. Complete
facilities for this work were courteously granted by Mr. Oldfield Thomas,
F.R.S., Curator of Mammals at South Kensington. The new forms which
the collection contained have already been described by Mr. Miller in two
papers issued August, 1910 and February, igii. The first of these is entitled
•' A New Carnivore from China " (from the proceedings of the United States
National Museum, vol. xxxviii., pages 385-386), and it deals with^the new
species Vormela negans from the Ordos Desert. The second paper is
entitled " Four New Chinese Mammals " (from the Proceedings of the
Biological Society, Washington, vol. xxiv., pages 53-55). This deals with the
four new species and sub-species Eptesicus serotinus pallens, Microtus pullus,
A llactaga mongolica longior, and Ochoiona annectens, from Shansi and Kansu.

The descriptions are embodied in this report.

The determinations and names of the other species dealt with in this
paper have been kindly verified and revised for me by Mr. Miller. The new
species or subspecies are underlined.

I. Eptesicus serotinus pallens. Miller.

1911. Proc. Biol. Soc, Washington, xxiv., page 58.

(? 244. 18 miles east of Ku-yiian Chou, Kansu. Alt. 530 ft. August

ist, 1909.

^ 246. Ch^n-yiian Hsien. 70 miles west of Ch'ing-yang Fu, Kansu.

Alt. 4000 ft. August 4th, 1909. Type of sub-species.

^ 249 ? 250. 80 miles south-west of Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt.

3500 ft. August 17th, 1909.

171

Type. — Adult male (skin and skull) No. 155, 156. U.S. Museum. Collected
at Chfin-yiian Hsien, 70 miles west of Ch'ing-yang Fu, Kansu, China.
August 4th, 1909, by Mr. Sowerby.
Original number 246.

Diagnosis. — In general, like the European Eptesicus serotinus, but colour
somewhat less dark, particularly below, the contrast between that of
dorsal and ventral surfaces evident enough to produce a slight line of
demarcation along side of neck; forearm shorter than in true serotinus;
skull tending to be rather short and broad.

Measurements in mm. — Type : head and body, 70 ; tail, 50 ; tibia, 22 ; foot, I3'8 ;
forearm, 49 ; thumb, io'6 ; third finger, 90 ; fifth finger, 65 ; ear, 19 ;
Skull : condylo-basal length, 19*0 ; zygomatic breadth, i4'o ; interorbital
constriction, 4*6 ; breadth of brain case, 9'6 ; mandible, 15 ; maxillary
tooth-row, exclusive of incisors, 7*2 ; mandibular tooth-row, exclusive of
incisors, 8'2.

specimens examined. — Four, from the following localities : Chen-yiian Hsien,
70 miles west of Ch'ing-yang Fu, Kansu (altitude 4000 feet), i ; 18 miles
east of Ku-yiian Chou, Kansu (altitude 5300 feet), i ; 80 miles south-west
of Yen-an Fu, Shensi (altitude 3500 feet), 2.

All shot flying round camp at dusk in loess country.

2. Pipistrellus sp.

S 245. 60 miles east of Ku-yiian Chou, Kansu. Alt. 4500 ft. August
3rd, 1909.

An immature individual, too young to be positively identified.

Shot on bank of river under loess cliff at dusk.

3. Scaptochirus gillesei, Thomas.

? loi. Yii-lin Fu, North Shensi, on border of Ordos Desert. Alt.
3000 ft. November 8th, 1908.

This mole is somewhat rare and one would hardly expect to find it in
so dry and sandy a country as the vicinity of Yu-lin Fu and the Ordos
Desert.

It has since been recorded from the plain of Wu-chai in North-
western Shansi ; also a dry and sandy locality. It has also been recorded
from T'ai-yiian Fu, North Central Shansi ; while the type locality is
Southern Shansi.

172

4. Felis chinensis, Gray.

$ 158 Yen-an Fu, Shansi. Alt. 2800 ft. January 19th, 1909. Skin and
skull only brought in by natives. 12 caudal vertebrae remaining, measured
146 m.m. Measurement of ear while still fresh and soft w^as 50 m.m.

This cat, though common over the greater part of China, is here very
seldom seen, and is difficult to capture. The Mongols of the Ordos trap
it in large iron gins, usually set for wolves and foxes. The fur is valued
by the Chinese.

The present specimen was killed while it was raiding a chicken coop,
and it displayed great ferocity.

5. Vormela negans, Miller.

Proc. U.S. National Museum, xxxviii., page 385, August 19th, 1910.
Among some mammals collected in North-Western China and the Ordos
Desert were two spotted polecats, readily distinguishable from the
western Vormela peregusna by a peculiar inversion of the colour pattern
of back.

The larger skin was brought to me in a very poor condition. The skull
was missing, as were also the leg bones, while the tail was torn in two, and
one eye was torn. I offered large rewards for a complete specimen ; but
though several Mongols and Chinese were induced to enter the Ordos in
search of them, I obtained nothing more than a small dry skin which
accompanies the above-named specimen. From what I could gather the
animal is not at all common. It frequents spots where trees exist, and
climbs freely. The Chinese name " Ma-nai-hou " would also signify this
fact, the last syllable " hou " meaning ** monkey " or " ape." They are
sometimes caught in traps set for foxes. Their skins, however, have no
market value. They are very savage when caught. The above-mentioned
facts were given and confirmed repeatedly by natives who had traded in
the Ordos.

Type specimen. — Adult male (skin only).

Cat. No. 155,001. U.S. National Museum.

Taken bv natives in the Ordos Desert about 100 miles north of YU-lin

Fu, Shensi. Original number 92.

Diagnosis. — Like Vormela peregusna, but light markings paler and more
extensive, those on posterior half of back confluent, so that this region is
yellow mottled with brown, instead of brown mottled with yellow ; under
parts, fore-legs, and inner surface of hindlegs black instead of dark brown.

173

Measurements in mm. — Type (from skin, apparently not much stretched).

Head and body, 340; tail, 210.
specimens examined. — Two, both from the Ordos Desert.

6. Martes flavigula borealis, Radde.

? 157 (skin only). Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 2800 ft. January i6th, 1909.
19 caudal vertebrae remaining measured 333 m.m. ; hind foot, fresh and
soft, measured 100 m.m. ; ear, fresh and soft, measured 42 m.m.

Common, but hard to secure, this handsome marten is seldom seen.
It inhabits the deep ravines of the loess country. The Chinese name
" huang-yao " means " yellow marten," a name given in consequence of
the brilliant yellow throat of this animal.

7. Mustela sibirica, Pallas.

^ 178, 179. Liu-ts'un, foot of mountains 15 miles south of Hsi-an Fu,
Shensi. Alt. 1500 ft. March 7th, 1909.

Both specimens trapped in drain in temple yard, after stealing game
from larder. Very savage. Common all over North China, especially in
large towns, where they live upon rats and other vermin. The two
specimens were markedly different in shape and colour, also in skull pro-
portions. Chinese name, "huang-shu-lang," meaning "yellow rat wolf."*

8. Mustela larvata, Hodgson. (Plate 51.)

,y 196, 248. Ching-ning Chou, 150 miles east of Lan-chou Fu, Kansu.
Alt. 5500 ft. July 24th and 25th, 1909.

S' 212. 15 miles north-east of Ching-ning Chou, Kansu. Alt. 6200 ft.
July 26th, 1909.

The three specimens are all immature, and their determination can
be regarded as no more than provisional. Specimens bought from
natives, who used them to capture small rodents in the same way that
ferrets are used in Europe to capture rabbits and rats. Chinese name,
" Sao-hu," meaning "ermine fox."

9. Capreolus bedfordi, Thomas.

? 149. 12 miles south of Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 400 ft. January 8th,
1909.

? 247. 30 miles east of Ch'ing-yang Fu, Kansu. Alt. 4500 ft. August
14th, 1909.

• Gilas gives the name " Huang-shu-lang " to the North China polecat or Siberian weasel

174

^ 251. Near Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 4000 ft. August 21st, 1909.
^ 254, 255, 256 (skulls and horns only). Yen-an Fu, Shensi.

Specimen 149 was in winter pelage, and specimens 247 and 251 were
in summer pelage. The skulls were picked up by natives in the hills
near Yen-an Fu.

These deer are very plentiful wherever sufficient cover exists,
whether it be in the low loess hills prevalent in North Shensi and Eastern
Kansu, or in the high rocky mountains elsewhere.

This species is somewhat larger than the European forms, and
decidedly more yellow in colour. It is not so large as the Siberian form.
Roedeer horns, when in velvet, have a certain market value amongst the
Chinese as medicine for female complaints.

10. Urotragus galeanus, Heude.

1894. Ketnas galeanus, Heude. Mem. Hist. Nat. Emp. Chinois ii.,
part 4, page 243.

<? 180. Mountains near Liu-ts'un, 15 miles south of Hsi-an Fu, Shensi.
Alt. 4000 ft. March 7th, 1909.

Essentially a topotype of the species. Resembles U. arnouxianus,
Heude ; but the head and ears are lighter, and the throat patch appears
to be less extensive.

The status of this animal, like that of other Chinese members of the
genus, is far from being clearly understood.
Dimensions measured in the fleshy — Head and body, 1160 mm. ; tail, 170 mm. ;
hind feet, 300 mm. ; ear, 150 mm.

This goral inhabits the highest and most precipitous peaks of the
range south of Hsi-an Fu.

11. Sus moupinensis, M. Edwards. (Plate 47.)

^ 252. 12 miles south of Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 4000 ft. August
22nd, 1909.

A fine adult male in its peculiar summer pelt. I have examined P6re
David's specimen in the Natural History Museum, Paris. This specimen
seems to be a fully adult male, and as such is much smaller than the
present form. It is also considerably darker in colour, and has smaller
tusks. However, it has not been thought advisable to separate the two.

Dimensions measured in the flesh. Head and body, 1555 mm. ; tail, 290 mm. ;
hind foot, 270 mm. ; ear, 120 mm.

J75

Other measurements. — Height at shoulder, 2 ft. 6 ins.
Weight, 320 lbs. (about).

This pig is a great scourge to the natives of the country, as it
destroys acres of crops. It is common in most mountainous or hilly
districts with good cover. Its range extends at least from Shansi to
Tibet.

12. Sciurotamias davidianus, M. Edwards. (Plate 49.)

S 119. 9 miles south of Ch'ing-chien Hsien, Shensi. Alt. 2600 ft.
December i6th, 1908.

? 120. 15 miles east of Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 2500 ft. December
19th, 1908.

^ 171, 173, 177, ? 181, 182. Liu-ts'un, foot of mountains 15 miles
south of Hsi-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 1500 ft. March, 1909.

^ 253. 15 miles south of Ch*ing-chien Hsien, Shensi. Alt. 2600 ft.
August 27th, 1909.

Found in rocky hills and mountainous country from near Peking in
the east to the furthest limits of Kansu in the west. It is recorded from
Ning-wu Fu, Shansi, and also from Ssiich'uan.

It resembles in habits and mode of hfe, the chipmunk, but does not
hibernate as does the latter.

13. Eutamias asiaticus senescens, Miller. (Plate 48.)

(? 2. Sheng-yi mountains 18 miles west of T'ai-yuan Fu, Shansi. Alt.
5000 ft. September 30th, 1908.

(3^ 6, ? 3, 4. Ku-chao, 30 miles west of T'ai-yuan Fu, Shansi. Alt.
4000 ft. October ist, 1908.

$ 7. 60 miles west of T'ai-yiian Fu, Shansi. Alt. 4450 ft.
October 3rd, 1908.

^ 34, 24, 44. Chiao-ch'^ng Shan, mountains 90 miles west of T'ai-yiian
Fu, Shansi. Alt. 7000 ft.

<? 45, 46. 30 miles west of Lin Hsien, Shansi. Alt. 4000 ft. October
2ist, 1908.

$ 185. Chien-ch'uan-ch'dng, 50 miles north-west of Hsi-an Fu, Shensi.
Alt. 3100 ft. May 9th, 1909.

? 197, 198, 199. Ching-ning Chou, 150 miles east of Lan-chou Fu,
Kansu, Alt. 5500 ft. July 25th, 1909.

176

* <y 232, 233, 236, ? 234. 15 miles north-east of Ching-ning Chou,
Kansu. Alt. 5200 ft. July 27th, 1909.

A very common and widely distributed species.

14. Eutamias asiaticus ordinalis, Thomas.
3^ 118. Yu-lin Fu, Shensi.

A pale desert race found round the borders of the Ordos Desert,
where it inhabits the deep ravines, which take the place of loess gullies
further south and east. It has not been recorded from the desert itself.
It might be noted that specimen No. 185 of the preceeding species
closely resembles in the lightness and yellowness of its pelt E. a. ordinalis.
Similar agencies may have been at work in both cases to cause this
lightening of colour, for specimen No. 185 was taken close to country,
which bore some resemblance to that round, and in, the Ordos. Wide
stretches of flat, somewhat sandy land, was there, inhabited chiefly by
Citellus mongolicus, and Lepus swinhoei subluteus, two other Ordos forms.

15. Citellus mongolicus, M. Edwards. (Plate 51).

S' 184, ? 183. 18 miles west, north-west of Hsi-an Fu, Shensi. Alt.
1700 ft. May 7th, 1909.

S 186. Lung-t6 Hsien, 40 miles west of P'ing-liang Fu, Kansu. Alt.
6800 ft. May i8th, 1909.

^ 188, ? 187, 189, 190. Lan-chou Fu, Kansu. Alt. 5500 ft. June
4th, 1909.

? 192. 15 miles south, south-east of Lan-chou Fu, Kansu. Alt.
8500 ft. June 20th, 1909.

<? 200, $ 193. 52 miles east of Lan-chou Fu, Kansu. Alt. 6700 ft.
July 26th and i8th, 1909.

? 195. 125 miles east of Lan-chou Fu, Kansu. Alt. 6300 ft. July
22nd, 1909.

3" 211, ? 231. 15 miles north-east of Ching-ning Chou, Kansu. Alt.
6200 ft. July 26th, 1909.

$ 248. 25 miles north-east of Ching-ning Chou, Kansu. Alt. 7000 ft.
July 28th, 1909.

Common in dry or sandy districts as well as on flat plains. Parti-
cularly plentiful in and round the Ordos Desert. The only thing alive in
the famine-stricken area round Lan-chou Fu, in Kansu. Chinese name,
" Sha-shu," meaning "sand-rat."

M 177

i6. Meriones auceps, Thomas.

^ 98, ? 97. Yii-lin Fu, Shensi. Alt. 3000 ft. November 17th, 1908.
<? 122, 126, 138, $ 123, 125, 136, 137. Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 2800 ft.
December 2lst to 23rd, 1908.

This species is nocturnal in its habits, in which respect it agrees with
M. psammophilus, and differs from M. unguiculatus. Usually found in
colonies. M. auceps seems to prefer bushy country, and its burrows occur
in patches of thorn scrub or other protective bushes.

M. unguiculatus is found on the open plains of Mongolia, away from all
bushes, and M. psammophilus on plains and in river valleys of the northern
provinces. The latter seems to prefer sandy places. Chinese name,
" Huang-shu," meaning ** yellow rat."

17. Epimys confucianus luticolor, Thomas.

(? 121, 129, ? 127, 128, 131, 134. Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 2800 ft.
December 21st and 23rd, 1908.

These form a series of topotypes, the subspecies having originally
been described from this locality by Mr. Thomas.*

(? 162, 163, 164, 167, ? 161. Liu-ts'un, foot of mountains 15 miles south
of Hsi-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 1500 ft. February 26th to 28th, 1909.

This rat is a rock-loving species, being found usually along the rocky
sides of ravines and valleys in both Shansi and Shensi. Easily trapped,
and frequently found to be covered with fleas and ticks. A new flea
{Ceratophyllus suhcaecatus)\ was taken from one of the Yen-an Fu specimens.
The stomach of another was found to contain parasitical worms.

18. Mus wagneri mongolium, Thomas.

^ 159. Lin-t'ung Hsien, near Hsi-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 1500 ft.
February 14th.

Caught on hillside on very barren ground.

19. Apodemus speciosus, Temminck.

$ I. Sh^ng-yi mountains, 18 miles west of T'ai-yiian Fu, Shensi. Alt.
5000 ft. September 30th, 1908.

<? 28, 30, 38, ? 17. Chiao-ch'^ng Shan, 90 miles west of T'ai-yuan Fu,
Shansi. Alt. 7000 to 8000 ft. October 7th to i8th, 1908.

• Abstr. P.Z.S., 1008, page 45, December 15th, also P.Z.S., 1908, p. 972 (under Mui).
t Described by the Hon. N. C. Rothschild, and published in present volume, Appendix IV.

178

S 145, 154, ? 148, 153. 12 miles south of Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt.

4000 ft. January 6th to nth, 1909.

S 174, 175, 176. Liu-ts'un, foot of mountains 15 miles south of Hsi-an

Fu, Shensi. Alt. 1500 ft. March 2nd and 3rd, 1909.

S 191. Mountains 15 miles south of Lan-chou Fu, Kansu. Alt. 7000 ft.

June 17th, 1909.

A very widely distributed species, common wherever scrub or woods
are at all extensive.

20. Apodemus agrarius pallidior, Thomas.

^ I35> ? I40' Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 2800 ft. December 23rd and
27th, 1908.

^ 160, 165, 166, 168, 169, 170. ^ Liu-ts'un, foot of mountains 15 miles
south of Hsi-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 1500 ft. February 26th to March ist, 1909.

Usually found in low, bushy country, on hill tops, or in open valleys.
Those taken at Liu-ts'un were caught on hill side amongst loose stones,
in small cypress wood, or along the bottom of a deep ravine. Enjoys a
comparatively wide range.

21. Cricetulus triton, de Winton.

S 130. Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 2800 ft. December 22nd, 1908.

Apparently not C. triton incanus, as described by Mr. Thomas.* True
C. triton incanus has hitherto only been found in Shansi, though the
present species seems to be an inhabitant of both Shansi and Shensi, as
well as of Shantung.

It is just possible that in all three provinces two forms exist, one a
large form (incanus) with ridges on the skull, and the other a smaller one
with smooth skull. Both C. t. incanus and C. triton are abundant on the
T'ai-yiian Fu plain.

Chinese name, " Pan-ts*ang." " Ts'ang " means a " granary,"
and refers to this animal's habit of storing away large quantities of grain
and beans for winter consumption. A very fierce and pugnacious animal.

22. Cricetulus andersoni, Thomas.

<? 9, 15, 22, ? 10, II, 12, 14, 23. Chiao-ch'6ng Shan mountains, 90
miles west of T'ai-yiian Fu, Shansi. Alt. 7000 to 8000 ft. October 6th
to 8th, 1908.

* Abstr. P.Z.S., 1908, page 45 (December 15), also P.Z.S., i|o8, p. 973.

179

3' 139- Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 2800 ft. December 27th, 1908.

<? 242. 15 miles north-east of Ching-ning Chou, Kansu. Alt. 6200 ft.
July 27th, 1909.

Those of the above mentioned specimens that were taken from
Chiao-ch'eng Shan form a topotypical series. This little hamster was
first secured from this district by Mr. M. P. Anderson, whose name it
bears. This species is very common in Shansi and Shensi, but is
comparatively rare in Kansu. Chinese name, " Tsang-erh," means
" storer."

23. Cricetulus griseus, M. Edwards. (Plate 49).

? 103. Yu-Hn Fu, Shensi. Alt. 3000 ft. November i8th, 1908.

This hamster seems to take the place of C. andersoni in and on the
borders of desert country. It is also recorded from Chihli and Shantung.

Its burrows are usually to be found along the sides of cultivated
fields, irrigation ditches, and watercourses. Chinese name, " Ts'ang-
kuan," or " granary official," from its storing habits.

24. Phodopus bedfordise, Thomas.

<? 49» 54. 55, 59, 60, 65, 66, 72, 73, 77, 81, 82, 83, 88, 90, 91, $ 48, 53,
58, 61, 68, 71, 74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 84, 85, 87, 89. Yu-lin Fu, Shensi. Alt.
3000 ft. November 2nd to 14th, 1908.

This hamster was originally placed in the genus Cricetulus by Mr.
Thomas. It was noticed, however, by Mr. Miller that the sole of the foot
instead of having several small distinct pads, as is the case in other
hamsters, has a single large pad formed by the coalescence of the usual
pads. For this reason he created a new genus Phodopus.

In appearance this species differs markedly from the hamsters
hitherto mentioned. In colour, it is pinkish buff above and pure white
beneath. The tail is very short, and the soles of the feet are thickly
covered with white hairs, which enable the little animal to progress with
ease over the deep loose sand. Extremely common. Present series are
topotypes. Specimens have also been recorded from Wu-chai Hsien, a
town situated on a plain on the west of the Ning-wu Fu mountains, in
Shansi. Chinese name, " Mi-tsang," meaning " storer of millet."

25. Microtus pullus, Miller.

Proc. Biol. Soc, Washington, xxiv., page 53. February, 1911.

^ 18, 20, 32, 42. Chiao-ch'^ng Shan mountains, 90 miles west of

T'ai-yuan Fu, Shansi. Alt. 7000 to 8000 ft. October nth to 14th, 1908.

180

Type. — Adult male (skin and skull), No. 155,047. U.S. National Museum.
Collected at Chiao-ch'eng Shan, go miles west of T'ai-yuan Fu, Shansi.
Alt, 7000 ft. October ilth, 1908.
Original number, 32.

Diagnosis. — Size and general characters as in Microtus {PhcBomys) Johannes,
approaching mars-brown instead of dull ochraceous-buff.

Colour. — Upper parts a uniform fine grizzle of cream buff and black, with a
distinct brownish wash on crown and along middle of back, the general
effect suggesting Ridgway's mars-brown, and not in the least resembling
the pallid ochraceous-buff of Microtus Johannes. Sides not so dark as back,
the grizzling less evident. Under part light cream-buff, much clouded by
the blackish-slate under colour. Feet dull buffy-white, with an evident
brownish wash. Tail whitish below, brownish above, not sharply bi-colour.

Skull and Teeth. — The skull and teeth do not differ appreciably from those of
Microtus Johannes. They are conspicuously smaller than in M. mandarinus.

Measurements in mm. — Type : head and body, 104 ; tail, 18 ; hind foot, without
claws, 15*5 ; ear, 9 ; skull, condylobasal length, 24*8 (27'4)* ; zygomatic
breadth, 16-2 (i7*8); interorbital constriction, 3'6 (4*0); occipital breadth,
13-0 (i3"o) ; occipital depth, 7-0 (7.2) ; nasal, 6*2 (7*0) ; diastema, 7*8 (9-2) ;
mandible, i6'4 (18*2) ; maxillary tooth-row, 5*8 (6*4) ; mandibular
tooth-row 5*8 (6*4).

Specimens examined. — Four, all from the type locality. Caught on grassy hill-
side, away from woods. Much earth thrown up in front of burrows. In
both these respects this vole agrees with M. Johannes. The latter,
however, seems to be an inhabitant rather of loess mountains than of the
high rocky mountains that form the habitat of this species. It has also
been recorded from similar country near Ning-wu Fu, Shansi.

26. Microtus inez, Thomas.

^ 152. 12 miles south of Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 4000 ft. January
9th, 1909.

The only vole hitherto recorded from Shensi, north of Hsi-an Fu.
Very rare here, though plentiful enough in similar districts in Shansi.
Inhabits the bottoms of well vegetated loess ravines.

* Measurements in parenthesis are those of an adult male Microtus mandarinus from the vicinity of T'ai-yuan Fn,

Shansi.

181

27. Craseomys shanseius, Thomas.

^ 27, 29, 36, 39, 9 41. Chiao-ch'^ng Shan, 90 miles west of T'ai-yiian
Fu, Shansi. Alt. 8000 to 9200 ft. October 9th to 13th, 1908.

All trapped amongst moss-grown rocks in or near dense spruce or
larch woods. Specimen No. 41 was caught on the summit of Mo-6rh
Shan, the highest peak in the district (9200 ft.). Common in moun-
tainous and well-wooded districts ; but not found elsewhere. These
specimens form a topotypical series, the first known specimens having
come from this same district. Also recorded from mountains near K'^-lan
Chou and from those near Ning-wu Fu, further north in the same province.

This vole feeds upon leaves of young plants growing amongst the
rocks, underneath which its burrows ramify. It can easily be tempted
into traps with a little grain or millet.

28. Myospalax cansus, Lyon. (Plate 48).

3' 35. Chiao-ch'^ng Shan, mountains 90 miles west of T'ai-yiian Fu,

Shansi. Alt. 7000 ft. October 12th, 1908.

<? 115, 117, ? 99, 100, 102, 116. Yii-hn Fu, Shensi. Alt. 3000 ft.

November 17th to 21st, 1908.

3 143. Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 2800 ft. January 2nd, 1909.

<? 201, 202, 209, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, ? 203. 15 miles north of

Ching-ning Chou, Kansu. Alt. 6200 ft. July 26th and 27th, 1909.

Specimen No. 35, an adult male, is the only one of this species
recorded from Shansi. In some ways this specimen differs from those
secured from Shensi and Kansu. The skull is heavier throughout, with
more pronounced ridges. It is not considered advisable to separate it
from M. camus, which it most resembles, especially as there is only the
one specimen from this locality. The Shensi and Kansu specimens are
identical and cannot be separated.

With these facts in view it would seem that the two species, M. camus
and M. fontanierii, overlap each other in their distribution. A specimen
o{ M . fontanierii was secured in the Southern Ordos, at a point lying almost
exactly between Yii-lin Fu, in Shensi, and Ching-ning Chou, in Kansu, at
or near both of which places M. cansus has been secured.

At the same time, here is a specimen of M. cansus which has
encroached upon the acknowledged habitat of M. fontanierii in Shansi.
More material is needed before this and other points can be cleared up.

18S

Chinese names " Ha-lao," " Ha Hui " or " Hsia-lao." " Ha " and
" Hsia " mean "blind," " lao " means ** old," and "Hui" means "grey."
The above names may be translated " the blind old one " or " the blind
grey one."*

2g. Dipus Sowerbyi, Thomas. (Plate 50).

<? 57, m, 112, ? 104, 108, 109, no, 113. Yu-lin Fu, Shensi. Alt.
3000 ft. November 2nd to 19th, 1908.

? 86. Ordos Desert, 15 miles north-west of Yu-lin Fu. Alt. 3000 ft.
November 12th, igo8.

A good topotypical series of a race of three-toed jerboas inhabiting
the Ordos Desert and immediate vicinity, the only three-toed jerboa
hitherto recorded from China.

Their food seems to consist of delicate shoots and seeds of such
scrubby plants as can find sustenance in the arid desert.

Chinese name " T'iao-6rh " (The Jumper).

30. Allactaga mongolica longior. Miller. (Plate 52).

Proc. Biol. Soc, Washington, xxiv., page 54, February, 191 1.

(? 205, 206, 207, 208, 213, 219, 220, 223, 224, 239, 241, ? 204, 221 (in

alcohol), 222, 240.

15 miles north-east of Ching-ning Chou, Kansu. Alt. 6200 ft. July

26th and 27th, 1909.

Type. — Adult female, skin and skull, No. 155, 183, U.S. National Museum.
Collected 15 miles north-east of Ching-ning Chou, Kansu. Alt. 6200 ft.
July 26th, 1909.
Original number, 204.

Diagnosis. — Similar to true Allactaga mongolica (Pallas), but ear and hind
foot longer and audital bulloe larger.

Measurements in mm. — Type : head and body, 150 ; tail, 230 ; hind foot without
claws, 76 ; skull : condylobasal length, 38*4 ; zygomatic breadth, 26*0 ;
interorbital constriction, ii'4; breadth of brain case, 19*8; depth of
brain case at middle, i3'6 ; nasal (median), I5'4; diastema, i2'6;
mandible, 24*8 ; maxillary tooth-row, alveoli, 8"o ; mandibular tooth-row,
alveoli, 7*8.

specimens examined. — Twelve all from the type locality. Dug up by natives.
Apparently very numerous in this district, though not met with else-

• Giles gives " Hsia-Iao-shu " as the "Mole-rat."

183

where. Reported to exist round Lan-chou Fu in Kansu, but none were
seen. Chinese name T'iao-t'u-tzii, meaning "Jumping Hare." This is
ascribed by Giles to the Siberian Jerboa.

31. Lepus swinhoei subluteus, Thomas.

^ 141. Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 2800 ft. December 27th, 1908.
? 151. 12 miles south of Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 4000 ft. January
8th, 1909.

Very common.

32. Ochotona bedfordi, Thomas.

? 155. 12 miles south of Yen-an Fu, Shensi. Alt. 4000 ft. January
nth, 1909.

On a previous visit to this locality, several specimens were secured,
but on the present visit I could scarcely find any inhabited burrows, and
had much difficulty in trapping this single specimen.

This species was described by Mr. Thomas from specimens in their
summer pelage, taken in Shansi at Ning-wu Fu, in 1908. Those taken
from Yen-an Fu on the same expedition being in their winter coats.
The U.S. National Museum now possesses specimens in winter pelage
from both localities. Those from Shansi are found to be somewhat
darker and more ochraceous in colour than those from Shensi. In other
respects the specimens from both places agree closely.

The present specimen from Yen-an Fu agrees exactly with those
taken from almost the same locality in March, 1908.

Chinese names "Hao-t'u" meaning "rat-hare" and "Ti-t'u" meaning
" ground-hare."

33. Ochotona annectens. Miller. (Plate 52).

Proc. Biol. Soc, Washington, xxiv., page 54. February, 1911.

<y 194. 116 miles east of Lan-chou, Kansu. Alt. 6300 ft. July iSth,

1909.

,? 225, 226, ? 227, 228, 229, 230. 15 miles north-east of Ching-ning

Chou, Kansu. Alt. 6200 ft. July 27th, 1909.

Type. — Adult male (skin and skull) No. 155, 164, U.S. National Museum.
Collected 15 miles north-east of Ching-ning Chou, Kansu. Alt. 6200 ft.
July 27th, 1909. Original number 225.

184

Diagnosis. — Similar to Ochotona datiurica, Pallas, from the Mongolian Plateau,
but dorsal outline of skull less converse and audital bulloe slightly larger.
Differs from O. bed/ordi, Thomas, of Shensi and Shansi, in smaller
size (particularly of skull) more convex upper cranial outline, and much
smaller audital bulloe.

Colour. — As in the related species the general colour is a light buff darkened by
a plentiful sprinkling of black hair tips, the buff everywhere predominat-
ing, and becoming clearer and more yellowish, along sides, particularly in
region of shoulder. A faintly indicated pale area between ear. Under-
parts and feet dull white with a slight buffy tinge ; throat crossed by a
broad band of dull buff, this area sometimes extends backward along
median line.
Ear with the usual dark marking on outer side.

Measurements in mm. — Type : head and body, i8i ; hind foot, 29 (26) ;* ear 20 ;
skull, condylobasal length, 40*0 (42'4) ; zygomatic breadth, 20*4 (2i'2) ;
interorbital constriction, 4*2 (4*2) ; postorbital constriction, 13*2 (i3'8) ;
mastoid breadth including bulloe, 20*8 (20'o) ; depth of brain case at
middle, ii*o (ii'4) ; nasal, i5'o (i5"o) ; diastema, 9*8 (io"8) ; mandible,
27*2 (3o"2); maxillary tooth-row, alveoli, 7*4 (8"6) ; mandibular tooth-row,
alveoli, 7*4 (8'4),

Specimens examined. — Seven, six from the type locality and one from Ts'ai-chia-
wei, 116 miles east of Lan-chou, Kansu (altitude 6300 ft.). This species
inhabits the deep loess gullies and ravines of central Kansu. Probably
common. Habits similar to those of 0. bed/ordi. Very shy and hard to
secure.

* Measurements in parenthesis are those of an adult male Ochotona bedfordi from Wu-chai Hsien, Shansi (No. 172, 601).

185

APPENDIX III.

INVERTEBRATES COLLECTED ON THE EXPEDITION —
BY ARTHUR DE C. SOWERBY.

IN this branch of zoology the work done was not very extensive, though the
results have proved to be of some interest. The greater part of the work
was carried out by Captain H. E. M. Douglas, V.C., D.S.O., R.A.M.C, who
made collections at T'ai-yiian Fu and in the Chiao-ch'^ng Shan district in
Shansi, and also in northern Shensi.

The collections contained representatives of nine orders, viz. : — Coleoptera,
Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Mallophaga, Diptera, Siphonaptera, Scorpiones,
Aranese, Acari. The Lepidoptera and Neuroptera were collected by Mr.
Grant and myself.

It was unfortunate that the season was so far advanced when the
expedition commenced. As a consequence this work suffered considerably.

The collection was sent first to the Royal Army Medical College, but
was subsequently presented to the British Museum (Natural History) in
exchange for the identification of the specimens it contained. Many species,
represented by single specimens only, have been left undetermined, while the
bad condition of some specimens has rendered their identification impossible.

For the identification of the various species contained in this collection,
thanks are due to the following specialists : —

E. E. Austen (Diptera).

C. J. Gahan (Coleoptera).

G. Meade-Waldo (Hymenoptera).

S. Hirst (Scorpiones and Acari).

— all of the British Museum.

The Hon. N. C. Rothschild very kindly undertook the identification of
the Siphonaptera, while Mr. H. R. Hogg, has been equally kind in working
out the Araneae.* Good results have been obtained in the two last orders,
some eight new species having been described.

Altogether the following new species were contained in the collection.

In the Acari, two undetermined species belonging to the genera
Hasmaphysalis and Leiognathus.

• Appendices IV. and V.

186

In the Araneae, five species —

1. Lycosa clarki.

2. Lycosa ordosa.

3. Evippa douglasi.

4. Pardosa shansia.

5. Pardosa sowerbyi.

In the Siphonaptera, three species —

1. Ceratophyllus subcsecatus.

2. Neopsylla anoma.

3. Vermipsylla dorcadia.

In the case of the two new species of Acari, Mr. Hirst has been unable to
publish descriptions, but he hopes to do so later.

The chief interest attached to the collection is the locality in which it
was made. No previous collections have been made in the same district.

Most of the species are representative of very widely distributed genera.

On the return journey from Lan-chou Fu to T'ai-yiian Fu, Mr. Grant
and I made a collection of butterflies and dragonflies. This was forwarded,
with the mammals, to the Smithsonian Institution. A description of this
journey and the country where these insects were most prevalent appears in
another chapter so it need take up no space here. At the end of the present
chapter appears a list of the butterflies. I received no report on the collection
from the Smithsonian Institution, and have been forced to make up the list
myself, trusting largely to memory, and to the coloured plates and descriptions
in Leech's " Butterflies of China."

In northern Shensi where the climate is dry and vegetation scarce,
butterflies and dragonflies are comparatively rare, while scarcely any were
seen west of Ching-ning Chou in Kansu. In the mountains of Shansi
butterflies are plentiful and the marshes and rivers of the plains in the same
province support many species of dragonflies. Nowhere however, on the line
of march, were either of these orders seen in such quantities as in the loess
valleys of eastern Kansu and central Shensi.

Whether any of the species collected in these localities are new I cannot
say.

Specimens of a fresh water crab were obtained by me in the mountain
streams south of Hsi-an Fu in Shensi and also near T'ai-pei-ch'6ng in eastern
Kansu. They belong to the genus Poiamon.

187

List of Insects, etc.. collected in N. China
By Captain H. £. M. Douglas, V.C., D.S.O., R.A.M.C.

DiPTERA.

By E. E. Austen, F.E.S.
Fam. Mycetophilidae (Fungus Midges).
Sciophila sp. incert. (a fragment).

Yiin-t'ing Shan : in open ground 6,974 ft., 5-X-1908.

Fam. Bibionidae.

Bibio sp. incert. (Near B. johamis L.) i ?

Yiin-t'ing Shan : in village 6,974 ft., 5-X-1968.

Fam. Chironomidae (Midges).
Chironomus sp. incert. i $

T'ai-yiian : in grass, near pond (no date mentioned).

Fam. Culicidae (Mosquitoes).
Culex fatigans Wied i ?

T'ai-yiian Fu : in Chinese courtyard, 9-VIII-1908.
Grabhamia sp. incert. i ^ 6 $ ?

T'ai-yiian : feeding on horse, 28, 29-VIII-igo8 ; in grass, near pond,
30-VIII-1908.

Some 9 or 10 other mosquitoes, including i Anopheles (sensu stricto)
were brought back, but the condition of these specimens is such as to
render definite determination impossible.

Fam. Stratiomyidae.

Stratiomys sp. incert. 2 larvae.

Yii-lin Fu : 14-XI-1908. The larvae of species belonging to the
genus Stratiomys are aquatic.
Fam. Asilidae (Robber-flies).

Genus et sp. incert. allied to Cyrtopogon. Lw. i <?

Kan-ts'ao-kou : caught in open ground, 4,226 ft., 20-X-1908.

Fam. Syrphidae (Hover-flies, etc.).
Catabomba pyrastri L,. 1 ?

Yii-lin Fu : on sand, 3,169 ft., 11-XI-1908.

A common and very widely distributed palaearctic hover-fly,
which also occurs in N. America.
Sphaerophoria sp. incert. 2 ^ ^ i ?

T'ai-yiian : in grass, near pond, 24-VIII-1908.

188

Eristalis tenax L. (the Drone fly) i $

Yii-lin Fu : on sand, near river, 3169 ft., 15-XI-1908.

This very common and widely distributed species, to which it is
believed that the Bugonia-myth* of the ancients referred, besides being
found in most parts of Europe, is known to occur in India, China,
Japan, South Africa, and North America, and in recent years has
become fairly common in New Zealand.

Fam. Tachinidae.

Pycmsoma remuria Walk, i ?

Yiin-t'ing Shan, 14-X-1908.
Lucilla sp. incert. i $

Yiin-t'ing Shan. 14-X-1908.
Calliphora sp. incert. (Blow-fly) i ?

Yii-Hn Fu. 15-XI-1908.
Hypoderma sp. incert. (a Warble-fly, allied to H. diana, Brauer), 9 larvae from
beneath the skin of a roebuck.

Yen-an Fu. 19-XII-1908.

Fam. Muscidae.

Musca domestica L. (the common House-fly) i (? i ?

Yun-t'ing Shan. 8-X-1908.

This species, which has undoubtedly been carried about the world
by human agency, is now almost universally distributed.
Muscina stabulans Fin. 3 <? (?
Yii-lin Fu. 15-XI-1908

A common palsearctic species, which also occurs in North America ;
frequently found in houses in England.
Fam. Scatomyzidae.

Scatophaga sp. incert. (a Dung-fly) 4 3^ 3' 5 ? ?

Yiin-t'ing Shan : in village 6,974 ft., 5-8-X-1908.
Fam. Helomyzidae.

Genus ef sp. incert. 1 $

Yii-lin Fu. i6-XI-i9o8.
Fam. Hippoboscidae.

Hippobosca capensis von Alfers (The Dog-fly) 2 <? (? 3 ? ?
T'ai-yiian Fu : from dog. 11-17-VIII-1908.

This species is a parasite of domestic dogs from South Europe to
North China. It also occurs in parts of Africa.

• The ancient belief that bees were generated in decaying carcases of cattle, etc. (c.t., Judges xiv., 12 — 18, and Virgil's
Fourth Georgic). The facts ate, that the fly Eristalis tenax resembles the honey-bee, and that its larvae are carrion-eaters ;
hence when they have finished a carcase they pupate beneath the skin and dibris that remain, emerging eventually as perfect
insects in crowds which were mistaken for swarms of bees.

189

COLEOPTERA.

By C. J. Gahan, M.A., F.E.S.

Fam. Tenenbrionidae.

Anatolica sp. incert. Several specimens from YU-lin Fu, Shensi,
on border of Ordos Desert, 12-16-XI-1908. Impossible at present to
identify species. New to British Museum collection.

Extremely common amongst the sand hills of the Ordos, and
together with the four following species, forms the chief food of the
Ordos hedgehog {Erinaceus miodon).

Anotolica augustata St. Two specimens from YU-lin Fu, Shensi,
on border of Ordos Desert, 12-16-XI-1908.

A larger species than the above, and equally common.

Blaps rugosa Gebl. One specimen from Yu-lin Fu, Shensi, on
border of Ordos Desert, 12-16-XI-1908.

A very common species, chiefly found in old buildings, but also
in open country.

Akis fumestra Fald. One specimen from Yii-lin Fu, Shensi, and
one from T'ai-yuan Fu, Shansi. No date.

As common as Blaps, but found more often in open country.

Fam. Meloidae.

Meloe sp. incert. One badly damaged specimen labelled N. China.
Very common throughout North China, frequenting low shrubs and
bushes. Sometimes seen in great numbers.

Fam. Chrysomelidae.

Chrysomeh sp. incert. One specimen from Yun-t'ing Shan
mountains, 90 miles west of T'ai-yilan Fu, Shansi, 8-X-1908.
A small herbivorous beetle.

In addition there are a few species of Carabidae, predaceous beetles
depending for their subsistence upon their power to run down and
kill animals weaker or less protected than themselves : and of
Staphylinidas, commonly called *' cocktail beetles," usually found in
rubbish heaps, or where decaying animal or vegetable matter exists.
These few species cannot be determined.

190

Hymenoptera.

By G. Meade-Waldo.
Fam. Vespidae.

PoUstes j'adwigae D.T. One specimen from T'ai-yuan Fu, Shensi.

This species was first described as "faponicus" but later was
changed to j'adwigae by Dalla Torre. A rare species, of which the
British Museum possessed but one specimen previous to the present
addition. A much darker species than P. hebraeus F., of which it is
possibly a subspecies.

PoUstes hebraeus P. Two specimens from Yii-lin Fu, Shensi, on
border of Ordos Desert.

This species is much commoner and more widely spread than
P. j'adwigae and may be found all over North China. Inhabits towns
and villages, gathering material for its nest from the paper windows
of the houses.

Fam. Sphegidae.

Ammophila tydei Guill. One specimen from Yu-lin Fu, Shensi, on
-border of Ordos Desert.

A sand-loving race. In the British Museum collection there are
specimens from Sfax in Tunis, Spain, Madeira, Cyprus, Teneriffe,
Karachi, in North- West India, and from South-Western Persia.

Fam. Pompilidae.

Pompilus sp. incerf.

Fam. Apidae.

Sphecodes sp. incert. i ^

Fam. Formicidae.

Camponoius sp. incert.

Fam. ICHNEUMONIDAE.

Coelichneumon sp. incert.
Ophion sp. incert.

Both these genera are widely distributed, and the species, which
• it is impossible to identify, are not unlike those found in Europe and

even in Great Britain.

Hemiptera.
Lygaeus equestris Linn. Several specimens from Yii-lin Fu,
Shensi, on borders of Ordos Desert, 11-XI-1908.

191

A very common and widely distributed form, recorded from both
the old and new worlds.

Corizus hyalinus Fab. Several specimens from Yiin-t'ing Shan
Mountains, 90 miles west of T'ai-yiian Fu, Shansi, 8-X-1908.

A widely distributed species. Specimens from Mexico City,
West Indies, and Budna and Cattaro in Dalmatia being in the
British Museum.

Tettigoniella viridis Linn. Several specimens from T'ai-yiian Fu,
Shansi, 26-VIII-1908. Taken near river.

Commonly known as Cuckoo's spit, owing to the larva
surrounding and protecting itself with a little mass of froth, which
is lodged in the fork at the base of leaf-stem or grass-blade. In
China this species is commonly found in chrysanthemum gardens.
It appears in great swarms in the autumn, and may be seen in clouds
round lamps at night.

Mallophaga.

Hsemobothrion sp. incert. Several specimens of an indeterminable
species of this large bird-louse were taken off an eagle.

SCORPIONES AND ACARI.

By S. Hirst.
Fam. BuTHiDAE.

Buthus martensi Karsch. Yii-lin Fu, Shensi.

Very common throughout North China. Found in old buildings,
used and dis-used, as well as in open country.
Fam. IxoDiDAE (Ticks).

Argas reflexus Fabr. Yii-lin Fu, Shensi.

Two specimens from wall of temple.
Haemaphysalis. Yen-an Fu, Shensi.

A number of specimens taken from a roedeer {Capreolus bedfordi).
A very common species in North China. Closely related to H. Japonica
Warb., but somewhat smaller in size.
Fam. Gamasidae (Gamasid mites).

Leiogmthus. Yu-lin Fu, Shensi.

Several specimens taken from the body of a mole-rat {Myospalax
cansus), a rodent with the underground mode of life of a mole. These
mites are somewhat uncommon, as many mole-rats were examined
for them without any more being found.

192

Laelaps agilis Koch. Yen-an f'u, Shensi.

Several specimens taken from Mus confucianus luticolor, a rat
related to the common sewer rat, on which Laelaps agilis usually
occurs. These specimens cannot be separated from the above
species, though in some respects they differ slightly.

Lepidoptera and Neuroptera.

By A. DE C. SOWERBY.

1. Mycalesis gotama. Several specimens. Very common, especially on loess

hill tops.

2. Mycalesis sericus. Several specimens. Also very common.

3. Lethe rohria. Several specimens. Common.

4. Athyma sulpitia. Two specimens. Very rare. Found only amongst bushes

on hill side.

5. Callerebia phyllis. Common in loess gullies near Yen-an Fu, Shensi.

6. Melanargia halimede var. montana. Rare.

7. Pararge deidamia. Very common everywhere.

8. Apatura here. Common only in valley-bottoms near Yen-an Fu, Shensi.

9. Argynnis aglaia. Not very common.

10. Grapta c. aureum, var pryeri. Common.

11. Chrysophanus dispar ? and $ . Very common. Recorded from Kansu by

Potanine.

12. Lycaena argus ? and S • Common everywhere.

13. Sericinus telamon. var. telamon. Very common in certain valleys of Eastern

Kansu.

14. Sericinus telamon, var. greyi. Less common. Inhabits same district as 13.

15. Colias hyale. Very common everywhere.

16. Papilio machaon. Comparatively common. A few specimens caught in

well watered valleys.

17. Gonepteryx rhamni. A yellow leaf-like butterfly. Fairly common in valleys.

18. Leucophasia sinapis, var. sinensis. Rare. Very few specimens seen,
ig. Pieris cisseis. Very common.

Amongst the commonest of the dragonflies which were collected were
various species belonging to the genus' Matrona. These beautiful insects, as
stated elsewhere,* abounded in the watery valleys of Eastern Kansu.

• Page 75-
H 193 _

APPENDIX IV.

DESCRIPTION OF THREE NEW SPECIES OF SIPHONAPTERA
OBTAINED BY CAPT. H. E. M. DOUGLAS, V.C, D.S.O., R.A.M.C, ON THE CLARK EXPEDITION IN

NORTH CHINA

BY THE HON. N. CHARLES ROTHSCHILD, M.A. F.L.S.

TTHE collection of fleas contains three species, which all prove to be new.
The most interesting of them is the one found on a roedeer. Its nearest
ally is a flea which occurs in Turkestan on horses, cattle, etc., and does a
great deal of damage. The types of the species are in the British Museum.

I. Ceratophyllus subcaecatus spec. nov. (Fig. i and 2).

^ $ The chief peculiarities of this species are the non-pigmented eye
and the large eighth abdominal sternite of the S^ , which characters remove
the species from true Ceratophyllus. There is, however, in that genus another
species, C. silantiewi Wagner (1898), which is closely related to subcaecatus,
although abundantly distinct. This C. silantiewi has the eye non-pigmented
in the centre and its clasper is very similar to that of C. subcaecatus, the
eighth sternite being small. The two species, however, may easily be
distinguished by the shorter rostrum of subcaecatus, the pointed genal lobe, the
very short bristles of the second segment of the antennae in both sexes (these
bristles being long in the ? of silantiewi), the smaller number of bristles on
the abdomen and by other characters as well.

Head. — Frons vertical from the tubercle downward, the latter a little
nearer to the central sensory organ (pale dot) than to the oral corner. Eye
round, very feebly pigmented, excepting the anterior and postero-inferior
edges, at a certain focus appearing excised. A row of three large bristles
before the eye, the central one slightly nearer to the lowest, in between these
bristles some minute hairs, and in front of the row another row of three, the
uppermost of which is placed close to the antennal groove in the ^ , and is
absent in the $ . Genal lobe more or less pointed. The occiput has one
large bristle above the antennal groove before the centre, and a subapical row
of 6 on each side, of which only the most ventral one is large. Along the

194

antennal groove there is a row of about twelve short hairs in the $ and about
six in the ? . In the ? there is no trace of a suture from the antennal groove
to the vertex. The groove is posteriorly open in both sexes and extends well
on to the propleura in the $ . The bristles of the second segment of the
antenna are minute in both sexes ; the club of the antenna is half as long
again as it is broad in the $ . The maxillary palpus nearly reaches to the
apex of the forecoxa, and the rostrum extends to the trochanter, but not
beyond it, as is the case in silantiewi.

Thorax. — The pronotum bears a comb of i8 pointed spines and a row of
10 to 12 long bristles. The mesonotum has a posterior row of lo to 12
bristles, and before it about 8 to 11 small bristles on the two sides together;
on the inner side, before the apex, there are 6 to 8 bristle-like spines. The
mesopleura have 6 or 7 bristles, and at the upper anterior corner a few small
hairs. The metanotum has 2 rows of bristles, the anterior one containing 9 to
12 and the posterior one 11 or 12. The metepisternum bears 2 bristles,
the sternum i, and the epimerum 6 to 8 (2 to 4, 3, i). Metanotum on each
side with 2 dark brown spines, one such spine being similarly placed on the
2 or 3 anterior abdominal tergites.

Abdomen. — The stigmata are situated above the first bristle of the
posterior row, excepting the seventh segment of the ? , where this bristle is
absent. The position of the spiracles is different in the sexes, the stigma
being close to the row of bristles in the (? , and at a considerable distance in
front of the row in the ? . The numbers of bristles on the tergites are in the
anterior and posterior rows of the two sides together in the specimens before
us : in the a" , 4 to 8, 10 ; 4 to 6, 12 ; 3 to 5, 12 ; i to 5, 12 ; i to 4, 12 ;
2 to 7, 12 ;— in the ? : 6 to 7, 8 ; 4 to 9, 12 ; 2 to 4, 12 ; 2 to 4, 11 or 12 ;
2, 12 ; 2, 2, 10 ; 4 or 5, 8. The sternites bear one row, there being no
additional bristles in front of the row ; the numbers are on the two sides
together, in the <? : 2, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6 ; — in the ? : 2, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8 to 11. The
basal sternite has in addition one or two lateral bristles on each side. There
are two antepygidial bristles in the ^ , the upper one measuring about one-
third of the other. In the ? there are three, the upper being about one-fourth
and the lower four-fifths the length of the central bristle.

Legs. — The hind coxa has about 7 bristles on the outer side, a row of 8 to
10 on the inner, and 5 to 7 at the edge, apart from the apical bristles. The
hind femora bear on the outside i to 3 lateral bristles anteriorly, and one
subapical bristle posteriorly. On the inner surface there is a row of 4 or 5
bristles on the mid femur and of 5 to 7 on the hind femur. The hind tibia

195

bears on the outer side a row of 7 to 10 bristles (inclusive of one placed close
to the apex), and on the inner side an oblique (or broken) row of 4 to 6, there
being also several small bristles at the anterior edge, apart from the thick
apical and subapical ones. The longest apical bristle of the hind tibia extends
to the subapical notch of the first hindtarsal segment, or a little beyond it.
The longest apical bristle of the second hindtarsal segment reaches nearly to
the middle of the fifth in the ? , while in the <? there are three apical and one
subapical bristles on the second segment which extend to near or beyond the
middle of the fifth segment, the third segment also bearing a long apical bristle
in the S . The fifth segment has in all the tarsi five pairs of lateral bristles

\

Fig. 1.

and two short stout apical ventral ones. Lengths of the tarsal segments : —

Foretarsus ... <? 11, 11, 8, 7, 17 — ? 13, 13, 10, 8, 18.

Midtarsus ... <? 19, 17, 10, 8, 18 — ? 23, 20, 13, 9, 19.

Hindtarsus... ^ 43, 30, 17, 10, 20 — 9 50, 36, 18, 11, 22.

Modified Segments. — <? . The eighth tergite (Fig. i, viii. t.) bears about 8

small hairs above the stigma, and is characterised by 16 to 18 strong bristles,

of which 8 to 10 are grouped together on the side of the segment as shown in

the figure. The eighth sternite is not very much smaller than the tergite. It

196

resembles the preceding sternite, but is longest ventrally as shown in the
figure (Fig. i, viii. st.), and bears on each side only one long bristle, which is
accompanied by a few hairs. The clasper (Fig. i, CI.) is not separated by a
suture from the internal portion of the ninth tergite, and this internal portion
of that segment is produced into a kind of manubrium. The manubrium of
the clasper itself terminates in a slender point. The dorsal posterior portion
of the clasper forms a broad process (P), which is about as long as it is wide.
The moveable process (F) is almost shaped like a thumb in side view, the
distal margin being much more strongly rounded than the proximal margin.
The distal margin bears one slender bristle at one-third or one-fourth from the
base and a much longer one beyond the centre or at two-thirds, besides a
number of short ones as indicated in the figure. In the second c? the " finger "
is more rounded at the apex than in the one figured. There is only one long
bristle at the edge of the clasper below the insertion of the finger and several
small hairs. The ninth sternite (Fig. i, ix. st.) is exceedingly slender, the
vertical arm as well as the horizontal one, excepting the apex of the vertical
arm. The distal half of the horizontal arm is about twice the width of the
proximal half, and its peculiar shape reminds one a little of a rocking horse
reversed. This portion of the sternite is elbowed beyond the centre, the apical
two-fifths being curved downwards and bearing at the proximal ventral corner
on each side two long bristles, which are evenly curved and are accompanied
by two more, which are short and spine-like in shape. The tip of the sternite
is truncate, the apical portion being triangular and bearing along the upper
edge a row of hairs on the outer side and two hairs on the inner side, and at
the ventral angle one short spine-like bristle on the inner side. The tenth
tergite is distinctly separated from the ninth by a suture, which is situated at
some distance from the sensory plate. The tenth tergite bears about 6 short
hairs on each side and a row of short bristles along the apical edge. — ? . The
apex of the seventh abdominal sternite is very slightly incurved twice (Fig. 2).
The eighth tergite bears 5 to 7 short hairs above the stigma, and one or two
long bristles, accompanied by one or two small hairs below the stigma. The
apical margin is rounded and slightly undulate, with the lower angle projecting
(Fig. 2). There are only 8 or 9 bristles on the outer side of the lower half of
the eighth tergite and 4 on the inner side. The bristle at the tip of the stylet
is much shorter than the bristles of the posterior row on the sixth tergite, but
longer and thicker than the longest bristle of the anal sternite. This latter
sternite bears ventrally in the centre, where it is slightly elbowed, a cluster of
short, thick, spine-like bristles, which are separated from the subapical

197

bristles by a small gap. The stylet is about twice as long as it is proximally
broad, and bears two bristles besides the apical one. The receptaculum seminis
has a short globular head and a broad tail, which is thinnest at the base.*

Length (mounted specimens) : ^ 2.2 mm. ; $ 2.4 mm.

Two ^ $ and 9 ? ? from Yen-an Fu, Shensi, taken off Mws confucianKS
luticolor on December 22nd, 1908.

" The host is a rock-inhabiting rat, very often with numerous ticks and
fleas. In some cases this rat is trapped in small caves in rocks where human
remains have been deposited, and it is possible that they feed upon these dead
bodies."

" Yen-an Fu, a city situated in North Central Shensi."

Fig. 2.
2. Neopsylla anoma spec. nov. (Fig. 3 and 4).

S ? Similar to N. bidentati/ortnis Wagner (1893), but at once
distinguished by the hind coxa bearing a patch of short spines on the inner
surface.

Head. — Frons evenly but so strongly rounded that the oral corner points
obliquely backwards. Eye absent, being only indicated by a bar projecting

* For the sake of economy of space the receptacle is drawn lying in the eighth segment.

198

from the incrassate margin of the antennal groove. There are two rows of
bristles on the frons, the anterior one containing 6 to 8 and the posterior one
4 longer bristles, one of these 4 being placed at the edge of the antennal
groove. The occiput bears three rows of bristles, the numbers of the bristles
being on each side 3, 5 or 6, 6. The second segment of the antenna bears a
row of bristles, of which the longest is one-third the length of the club in the
(? , while in the $ there are 4 bristles which are as long as the club or nearly
so. The genal angle bears two spines, the outer one being short, broad,
triangular, and crossing the inner one, which is long and narrow. The lobe of
the genal angle itself (partly covered by the spines in lateral aspect) is lanceo-
late. The rostrum is about one-fourth shorter than the forecoxa. The
maxilla reaches to the apex of the third segment of the rostrum, and the
maxillary palpus to the base of the fifth segment.

Thorax. — The pronotum has a comb of 18 spines and a row of 12 or 13
bristles on the two sides together, there being no bristles in front of this row.
The mesonotum has two rows of bristles, the anterior row containing 17 or 18
and the posterior row 12, there being also 3 or 4 additional small bristles in
front of the rows, numerous small hairs at the base, and 10 bristle-like spines
before the apex on the inner side. The mesopleura have seven bristles. The
metanotum also bears two rows of bristles, the numbers being 20 and 12.
The metepisternum has two bristles, the sternum one, and the episternum 11
to 14 (in (? 5, 2, 5 or 6, 2 ; in ? 5, 4 or 5, 2). There are no apical spines on
the metanotum in the two specimens before us.

Abdomen. — The first three or four tergites bear two or three apical spines
on the two sides together. All the tergites have two rows of bristles, there
being usually a few additional bristles in front of the rows, the numbers being
as follows: in the S 2, 16, 15; 2, 14, 18: i, 7, 17; o, 6, 17; i, 4, 18; o, 4
16 ; I, 6, 15 ; and in the ? 5, 15, 12 ; 2, 21, 16 ; 2, 16, 17 ; o, 15, 16 ; o, 15,
15 ; o, 15, 14; 3, 12, 13. The sternites bear one row of bristles and a few
small hairs before the row as follows ; in the c? 2, 4, 6 ; 2, 7, 6, 6 ; 6, 7; and
in the $ 2 ; 5, 7 ; 6, 8 ; 5, 8 ; 14, 12. The first sternite of the ? bears in
addition 2 or 3 small bristles on each side. There are three antepygidial
bristles in the ? , the upper and the lower bristles being about one-third the
length of the middle one. In the ^ there are two bristles above the long one,
the two being about the same in length as the fourth on the one side, while
on the other side the one nearest the long bristle is apparently (its tip being
broken off) nearly as long as the large bristle.

Legs. — The hind coxa bears posteriorly before the apex 3 bristles and

199

about forty bristles on the outer and inner sides together, apart from the short
spine-like bristles of the inner surface and the bristles placed at the apex.
The hind femur has two subapical bristles on the outer side, and one on the
inner side, this side bearing also one or two lateral hairs in the basal half.
The hind tibia has on the outer surface in the <? lo or ii, and in the ? 7 or
8 bristles, the latter arranged in one row only, while in the ^ there are some
bristles ventrally (or artteriorly) to this row. The bristles at the outer edge of
the hind margin are nearly all of the same length and thickness, being all very
strong; they number 11 if the apical ones are included. At the inner edge
there are 4 long bristles, one of them being placed at the apex and extending
somewhat beyond the apex of the first tarsal segment. The first mid tarsal

Fig. 3.

segment is one third longer than the second ; the bristles placed at its hinder
edge are short and thick, as are the corresponding bristles of the hind tarsus,
while the bristles at the anterior edge of the segment are much thinner (apart
from the apical ones) and fewer in number. The longest bristle of the second
hind tarsal segment extends to the apex of the third segment. The fifth
segment bears in all the tarsi 4 pairs of lateral bristles and two short apical
ventral bristles. The lengths of the tarsal segments are in both sexes : —

Foretarsus ... 10, 9, 8, 6, 14.

Midtarsus ... 21, 16, 10, 7, 14.

Hindtarsus ... 30, 22, 15, 9, 16.

200

Modified Segments. — 3" . The eighth tergite, which is quite small in this
genus, bears about 6 short hairs above the stigma. The sternite, which is
large, is apically truncate-emarginate in side-view, with the angles strongly
rounded oif, and bears along the ventral margin and near it about 15 or 16
bristles, of which 5 or 6 ventral ones are especially large and are arranged in
a row. The clasper (Fig. 3) is about as long above as beneath. Its upper
distal angle is rounded off and the lower angle acute. The upper edge bears
a number of bristles, of which one is considerably longer than the others.
The manubrium is slender, of nearly even width and gently curved upwards.
The moveable process (F) projects but little above the upper angle of the
clasper and extends far down, as is the case also in several allied species. It

Fig. 4.

is almost the shape of a sugar loaf, with the lower end rounded. The bristles
which it bears are all small, the longest one being placed near the apex, and
being about as long as the process is broad at that point. The internal arm
of the gth sternite (Fig. 3, ix. st.) is elbowed and very broad, while the
horizontal arm is narrow, being narrowest about the centre and widening a
little in the apical half, where the gently rounded ventral edge bears a
row of short bristles. One long bristle is placed proximally to the middle
of the horizontal arm and several smaller ones are still further proximal. —
$ . The apical margin of the seventh sternite is incurved below its upper
angle and then excurved (Fig. 4). The eighth tergite bears about 6 short
hairs above the stigma. There is no bristle below the stigma. The lower

201

portion of the segment bears 6 or 7 long and strong bristles, 4 or 5 of which are
placed near the edge, there being 3 to 8 additional smaller bristles proximally to
the large ones. On the inner side there are about 8 to 10 bristles. The eighth
sternite is sharply pointed. The sensory plate is convex as in the allied species
(not in Mesopsylla). The head of the receptaculum seminis is longer than it
is broad, while the tail is about half as long again as the head in the view
represented by our figure.

Length (mounted specimen) : 2.5 mm.

One pair from Yu-lin Fu, Shensi, taken off Myospalax census on November
24th, 1908.

*' Yii-lin Fu, a town situated on border of the Ordos Desert. Surrounding
country very dry and sandy."

" Myospalax consus, a rodent with the underground habits of a mole.
Fleas very rare on the animal."

3. Vermipsylla dorcadia spec. nov. (Fig. 5).

^ ? . As we are preparing a fuller account of this very interesting species,
we confine ourselves here to pointing out some of the more striking characters
by which both sexes of the new species are distinguished from its nearest
known ally, V. alakurt. The tergites of the thorax and abdomen bear two
rows of bristles, the anterior row being dorsally more or less incomplete and
the bristles of both rows being short with the exception of the two bristles
situated on each side below the stigma, which are fairly long. The female has
even less bristles on the tergites than the male, the anterior row being almost
completely absent. The sternites of the abdomen bear only one bristle on
each side. The legs are very different from those of V. alakurt, especially the
tibiae and tarsi, in which character the two sexes are practically identical.
The mid tibia has four and the hind tibia only three pairs of long bristles at
the dorsal edge, including the apical bristles, the other bristles being reduced
to the size of the slender bristles situated on the outer surface, which are no
longer than the lateral bristles of the femora. The thin dorsal bristles and
those lateral ones which are placed between the dorsal edge and the centre of
the tibia are directed backwards. The first segment of the fore tarsus as well
as the mid tarsus is much shorter than the second. The bristles at the hinder
edge of the first hind tarsal segment are thin and short ; this segment is only
one third the length of the hind tibia and has a pale base. The second to
fourth hind tarsal segments have each several apical bristles which are very

202

long and extend beyond the fifth segment, these bristles being thinner and
shorter than the corresponding long bristles of V. alakurt.

Fig. 5.

The species was discovered on a roedeer at Yen-an Fu, Shensi, by Capt.
H. £. M. Douglas on January 19th, 1909. The much distended females were

" taken from the nostrils of the Roedeer Several roedeer were

shot in the district, but nothing more of the kind was noticed."

The males were " taken from the skin of the same Roedeer " on which
the distended females were found.

A small series of both sexes was obtained.

203

APPENDIX V.

ARANEIDAE OF THE CLARK EXPEDITION TO NORTHERN CHINA —
BY H. R. HOGG, M.A., F.Z.S.

T^HE small collection of spiders herein described were taken during the

R. S. Clark expedition to Northern China, in the autumn of 1908 and
early part of 1909, by Captain H. E. M. Douglas, V.C., D.S.O., R.A.M.C.

The districts from which they came were Yiin-t'ing Shan, in the Chiao-
ch'^ng Shan, a mountainous forest-country ninety miles west from T'ai-yiian
Fu, Shansi, and Yii-lin Fu, in North Shensi, a dry sandy area on the borders
of the Ordos desert.

Owing probably to the time of year, the specimens taken cannot be
supposed to represent the Arachnid fauna of the district, an outlying part of
what is known as the Indo Malay. A large proportion of the number have
not reached the adult stage.

They comprise eight species of four families, and two of the latter,
Argiopidae and Drassidae, are represented by a single specimen only of the
genera Araneus, Clerck, and Drassodes, Westring.

There are three specimens of Thomisidae of the genus Diaea, Thorell, the
remainder being all Lycosidae of the genera Lycosa, Latreille, Pardosa,
C. Koch, and Evippa, Simon.

Evippa is a small genus whose members are recorded fr6m the deserts of
N. Africa, Palestine, and China; but the distribution of the others are
world-wide.

The Drassodes appears to agree closely with D. lapsus, described by
Rev. O. P. Cambridge, from Yarkand,* and the Diaea is perhaps D. subdola
Cambr., but none of the others seem to have been previously noted from
India, China, Burma, or the neighbourhood. The known species of Araneus
and the Lycosidae are so numerous, and many so widely spread, that they
may have been recorded from even so far as Japan on the one side, or Western
Europe on the other. As I cannot trace them I have taken them to be new
species.

• Second Yarkand Mission, pt. VIII., Arachn : O.P. Cambridge. 1885.

204

Family Drassidae, Sub-fam Drassodinae, Group Drassodeae,

Genus Drassodes, Westring.

D. ? LAPSUS. O.P.Cambr.

Female. — The Cephalothorax is bright orange yellow thickly covered with
downlying grey plumose hair interspersed with a few upstanding hairs or
bristles. The Mandibles, somewhat darker orange, are thickly covered with
short upstanding grey bristly hair. Fangs reddish yellow.

The Lip, Maxillae, Sternum, and Coxae all orange yellow with rather long
grey bristly hair, thickest on the latter. The Legs and Palpi similar, but
rather paler. The Abdomen above is yellow at the base, the remainder pale
yellow grey with brownish grey thin short hairs. Underneath it is a pale
yellow, almost white at the edges, with short downlying grey hair in transverse
ridges. The Spinnerets darker yellow, one jointed, cylindrical.

The Cephalothorax is convex, rounded at the sides and straight in front,
where it is rather more than half its greatest breadth, which is two-thirds its
length.

The front row of Eyes is straight, the median pair half their diameter
apart, and the same distance from the margin of the Clypeus. The laterals,
touching them, are nearly the same diameter, but placed sideways look oval.
The rear row of eyes are sessile, the median, oblong, are half their shorter
diameter apart at the upper corners, and their long diameter away from the
laterals, the whole row being procurved and slightly longer than the front.
The front and rear median are rather more than the diameter of the former
apart, the long diameter of the rear ones being slightly shorter.

The Mandibles are kneed at the base and straight at the sides, as broad
in the front as at the base. The fangs are broad at the base, thence tapering to
a fine point. There are two quite small blunt teeth on the inner margin of
the falx sheath.

The Lip is longer than broad, tapering from the base to a narrow rounded
upper margin. It is two-thirds the length of the Maxillae. The latter are
rounded both at the base and in front, impressed in the middle and slope over
the lip.

The Sternum is oval and flat, with thick upstanding bristles all round the
margin and downlying flat hairs in the middle. The rear Coxae are close
together.

The Legs are short, fairly thick in the femoral joints, tapering to the
tarsi, which are quite fine. The front two pairs are without spines, and have
scopulae, thin in the middle, on the tarsal and metatarsal joints. The Tibia

205

and Metatarsus of the rear pairs are thickly bespined, with a bunch at the
posterior end of the latter, but have no scopulae.

The Abdomen is oval, rather flat above and below, thickly covered with
short fine hair. The Epigyne consists of two nearly circular hollows, open on
the outer sides and separated by a flat longitudinal bridge. The Spinnerets
are one jointed cylindrical, the inferior pair longest three-fourths their
diameter apart.

The measurements in millimetres are as follows : —

Long.

Broad.

Ceph.

2i

If (I

in front).

Abd.

4

2i

Mand.

I

)xae.

Tro. & Fem

I. Pat. & Tib. Metat. & Tar.

3

4

2l

2j

2 =

7l

i

2

2

If =

6i

i

If

If

2 =

6

1

2

2*

2i =:

7l

Legs I

2

3

4

(Palpi : Pat. longer than Tars.).
I female from Yii-lin Fu, North Shensi.

Family Argiopidae, Group Argiopeae.
Genus Araneus, Clerck. ? sp.

Cephalothorax pale yellow on the cephalic part, dark yellowish grey on the
thoracic, scantily clothed with short white hair. The Mandibles are yellow
blotched with grey, similar white hair, and fangs yellow brown. Maxillae
yellow with grey fringes. Lip and Sternum yellow brown with grey hair and
a pale longitudinal median stripe on the latter. The Legs pale yellow with
white hair on the upper joints, brown bristles on the tarsi, which are them-
selves brown at the anterior end. The Abdomen is greyish green all over, the
Spinnerets olive green.

The Cephalothorax is convex and one-fourth longer than broad. The
cephalic part obtusely rounded in front and straight at the sides, the
thoracic part rounded at the sides. The rear row of Eyes is straight, the rear
median pair equal in size to the front median are only half their diameter
apart. The front pair are one-and-a-half diameter apart and the same distance
from the rear, thus forming a trapezium considerably broadest in front. The
front laterals are rather smaller than the median, and two diameters of the
latter away from them. They are half their diameter from the rear laterals,

206

which are three diameters of their median distant from them. The Clypeus is
the breadth of a front median eye. Both lateral eyes are nearly sessile:

The Mandibles are slightly kneed at the base, the fangs short and weak.
The Lip is broader than long, less than half the length of the Maxillae, which
are rather widely divergent at their anterior ends. The Sternum is broad shield
shaped, convex, hollowed at the margin for the coxae, and pointed at the
rear end, where the coxae are contiguous.

The Legs are tapering to the tarsal joints^ which are fine, cylindrical, and
rather short. The tarsal joint of the Palpi is flat and dilated at the base, and
the palpal claw has about four pectinations. The tibial and patellar joints are
of equal length.

The Abdomen is nearly globular, but one-fifth longer than broad, the
surface is silky and rather finely granulated. The Spinnerets conical, two
jointed, rather large.

The measurements in millimetres are as follows : —

Long. Broad.
Ceph. 2 ij (f in front).

Abd. 2 J 2

Mand. f

Coxae. Tro. & Fem. Pat. & Tib. Metat. & Tar.
Legs If if

2 f li

3 I I

4 f li
Palpi i i

One non-adult female from Yiin-t'ing Shan, North China, to which it is
not desirable to attach a name, although the species belongs to a series in the
genus of the type represented by A. hirtus C. Koch.

Family Thomisidae, Sub-family Misumeninae, Group Diaee^e,
Genus Diaea, Thor. Species ? subdola, Cambr.

The Cephalothorax has a wide oblong area of pale yellow reaching iirom
the margin of the Clypeus to the top of the rear slope. A similarly coloured
narrow stripe passes round the edge of the cephalic part with fine white hairs
thereon, the space intervening between the two being blotchy brown. The
Mandibles, Lip, Maxillae, and Sternum bright canary yellow ; Legs and Palpi
the same, with clusters of brown spots on the femora and tibiae, grey spines
and grey scopulae on the tarsi. The Abdomen is pale yellow on both upper

207

ll

If -

- 5f

li

li =

- 4l

I

I

- 3f

li

li =

= 4*

^

i -

- If

and under sides, including the Spinnerets ; it is sparsely clothed with short
flat white hairs. On the underside are two longitudinal rows of impressed
spots.

The Cephalothorax is glabrous, as broad as long, tapering to a bluntly
rounded front, it is strongly convex, much rounded at the sides of the thoracic
part, a very distinct broad fovea separating the cephalic part from the
thoracic. Viewed from above both roWs of Eyes are recurved and ail about
equal in size ; the front median are twice their diameter apart and rather more
than their diameter from the laterals. The rear row is longer than the front.
The median eyes are four times their diameter apart, and more than half that
distance from the laterals. The two rows are three diameters apart, and the
Clypeus as wide as a back and front median eye and the space between.

The Mandibles are conical with thin weak fangs. The Lip is as broad as
long, tapering from the base to a rounded point, and more than half the length
of the Maxillae which lean over it. The Sternum is as broad as long, straight
in front, and passing with a straight stem between the rear coxae, which are
widely separated.

The A hdomen is ovate, smallest and nearly straight in front, and almost
circular at the rear.

The Legs are long and fine. Scopulae on all tarsi, two spines above on
the femora of the rear two pairs.

The measurements in millimetres are as follows : —

Long. Broad i

Ceph. I I (J in front).

Abd. 2 2

Mand. §

Coxae. Tro. & Fem. Pat. & Tib. Metat. &Tar.
Legs

I

i

2i

2|

2|

- 8J

2

I

2|

3

3

9

3

I

If

ij

If -

5

4

i

2

if

If =

= 51

i

f

^

1 -

= If

Palpi

Two females from Yiin-t'ing Shan, Shansi, North China, ninety miles
west of T'ai-yiian Fu.

This species resembles in size and some points the Rev. O. P. Cambridge's
Diaea subdola from Tarkand (loc. cit.), but his description is too meagre to
render it certain.

208

Family Lycosidae, Group Lycoseae, Genus Lycosa Latr.

l. clarki sp. n.

The Cephalothorax is orange yellow, with white downlying hair,
darkening into brown in the well marked fovea separating the cephalic and
thoracic parts, round the margin of the thoracic part, and in a row of rather
large spots a little above the margin. The sides of the Eyespace are black,
but not the middle part. The Mandibles are yellow brown with short white
hairs. The Maxillae are yellow with long upstanding brown hair. Lip yellow
brown. Sternum and Coxae bright yellow with brown upstanding hair,
the other joints of the Legs canary yellow with white hair and faint grey rings,
the hair darkening to grey on the tarsal joints.

The Abdomen is yellow on the upper side, mottled with rather large
brown spots and short downlying white hairs, underneath pale yellow covered
with rows of rather coarse downlying white hair.

The Cephalothorax is rather broad in front, rounded at the sides with a
short thin longitudinal fovea at the top of the rear slope. The front row of
Eyes are straight, the median pair larger than the side, half the diameter of the
latter away from them, and twice that distance from one another. They are
their own diameter from the margin of the Clypeus, and two-thirds that
distance from the eyes of the second row. The latter are nearly twice the
diameter of the front median, and their own diameter apart. They are the
same distance from the rear row, which are rather smaller, and three of their
diameters apart.

The Mandibles are as long as the front of the Cephalothorax is broad.
They are sparsely covered with fine hairs, thickest at the outer margin. The
fangs are long, not much curved. On the inner margin of the falx sheath
are two equal teeth followed by one small.

The Lip is as broad as long hollowed in front, about half the length of
the Maxillae which are broadest in front where they nearly meet.

The Sternum is convex ovate pointed at the rear end, where the Coxae do
not quite meet. There is also a space between the second and third pairs.
It is moderately covered with downlying fine hair and upstanding bristles at
the sides.

The Legs are of moderate length and tapered to a fine point at the tarsus,
there are no scopulae and the front two pairs have only a few short spines on
the tibia. The two rear pairs rather long spines. The superior claws are
pectinated at the basal end, the lower smooth.

o 209

The Palpi are short, the femoral joint curved inwards and widening
anteriorly, the tibial joint is as long as the patellar.

The A hdomen is oval and is thickly covered with short downlying hair, the
Spinnerets are two jointed and of moderate length. The male and female are
coloured alike.

The measurements in millimetres are as follows : —

Long. Broad.

Ceph.

3

2^ di

in front).

Abd.

4

2^

Mand.

li

Coxae.

Fem.

Pat

. & Tib.

Metat. & Tar.

I

1

2|

2k

2i

8^

2

i

2|

2i

2i

7i

3

i

2

2

3 ^

7l

4

1

3

3

4i

Hi

i

li

I

1

3i

Legs

Palpi

A few specimens from Yii-lin Fu on the borders of the Ordos desert.

Lycosa, ordosa sp. n.

The Cephalothorax is dark yellow brown, black on the eye area, thickly
covered with downlying white hair on the slightly lighter median stripe,
reddish on the side slopes, and white again on the marginal border. The
Mandibles are brighter yellow brown with upstanding white bristles on the
basal half, brown bristles on the lower half, and black fangs. The Lip is dark
yellow brown, paler at the front margin, the Maxillae brighter yellow, both
with long upstanding hairs and bristles. The Sternum is black brown, with
a short wedge shaped longitudinal, yellow patch in front, and long upstanding
bristly hairs. Legs bright orange, thickly covered with downlying white hair,
grey rings on the femoral joints and brown spines. The Abdomen both on
upper and under surfaces is darkish yellow thickly covered with flat white
pointed hairs. The Spinnerets rather darker yellow brown.

The Cephalothorax is convex rounded at the sides square in front with a short
narrow longitudinal fovea at the top of the rear slope. The front row oi Eyes
are slightly procurved, the median larger than the side — rather more than half
their diameter apart, and less than half of the same from the laterals. The
Clypeus is three fourths the diameter of the front median and they are the
same distance from the eyes of the second row. These are nearly twice
the diameter of the front median and slightly more than their own diameter

210

apart. The e)'es of the rear row are the same distance away, a little smaller
and twice as far apart as their distance from the second row.

The Mandibles are kneed at the base, have stout moderately long fangs,
and two equal sized teeth on the inner side of the falx sheath.

The Lip is as broad as it is long, hollowed in front, and half as long as the
Maxillae which are upright, broad in front, and have a few upstanding hairs
on the outer side.

The Sternum is broad, truncate in front and pointed at the rear, where the
coxae are contiguous.

The Legs are moderately thick at the base, tapering to the tarsal joint,
the femora bent to the side of the body, no scopula but numerous upstanding
bristles on the tarsi of III. and IV., a scopula on tarsus I. and II., and spines
on all legs. There are two spines above on the femur of all legs, two single
and two pairs above on tibia III. and IV., one inside the patella of III. and
IV.

The Abdomen is oval, the Spimterets two jointed, the first cylindrical the
second hemispherical.

Measurements in millimetres as follows : —

Long, Broad.

3i 2 J (if in front).

4 2j

If

Pat. & Tib.

Legs I I 3i 3i

3

2i
4

Palpi i ij li

Three males not quite adult and several females doubtfully so from
Yii-lin Fu, N. Shensi.

Group Pardoseae, Genus Pardosa.
p. shansia sp. n.

The Cephalothorax is black brown with a grey haired marginal stripe, a
median grey longitudinal stripe on the thoracic part only, and grey haired side
stripes radiating from the thoracic fovea. The Mandibles are black brown with
reddish hairs on the basal half, dark brown on the anterior, fangs black. The

211

Ce

ph.

Abd.

Mand.

Coxae.

Tr.

& Fem.

I

I

3i

2

I

3i

3

I

3

4

li

4

i

li

at. & Tars.

3^ -=

Hi

3* =

II

3 -=

9i

5i =

I4l

li =

4i

Lip and Maxillae are black brown. The Sternum and inner part of the
Coxae intensely black with long dark brown hairs, but at the anterior end of
the Coxae pale yellow grey hair. The Abdomen is without pattern above, the
skin dark brown, the hairs sandy yellow. Underneath, a broad black area
extends from the epigyne to just in front of the spinnerets. The sides and
rear are yellowish grey. The Legs and Palpi have the femoral joint red
brown with yellowish grey hair, the other joints black brown with the same
coloured hair over the main portions, but a black haired spot on the inside of
the patella, at the anterior end underneath the tibia, and a black bare streak
along the inner side of the Metatarsus. The Scopula on the Tarsus and
Metatarsus of the front two pairs is grey, that on the rear tarsi black, spines
black.

The Cephalothorax, 2mm. longer than broad, is convex, rounded at the
sides, the cephalic part raised. At the Clypeus it is nearly two thirds the
greatest breadth of the thoracic part but only half that width at the upper
eye space which is the same height above the clypeus margin. The front row
of Eyes is straight, the median larger than the side, half their diameter from
one another and rather more from the second row pair, slightly less from the
laterals. The Clypeus is the breadth of a front median eye. The diameter of the
eyes of the second row is equal to the breadth of one of the front median
eyes together with its distance from its lateral. They are not quite their
diameter apart, and the whole row is shorter than the front row. They are
their diameter distant from the third row pair, which are oval when viewed
from above, as broad as the front median, and 3J times that distance apart.

The Mandibles are stout and broad, rather flat at the base and clothed with
long shaggy bristly hair. The fangs are stout and blunt. Low down on the
inner margin of the falx sheath are three large blunt equal size teeth, and on
the outer margin one smaller and then one larger also low down. The Lip is
rather cup shaped, broader than long, hollowed in front and less than half the
height of the Maxillae which are upright, convex, rounded at the upper and
outer margins and thickly covered with long stout bristles.

The Sternum is a broad shield shape straight in front pointed at the rear
where the Coxae are close together ; it is thickly covered with long upstanding
bristly hair. The Legs are moderately long and stout, they are thickly covered
with very bristly hair, more especially on the underside of the femora. There
are thick scopulae on the tarsi and metatarsi of the front two pairs, and on
the tarsi only of the rear two pairs. There are no spines on the upper side of
any of the tibial joints, but short stout ones at the side edge.

212

I

3i

8*

2

Si

8

3

3i

8

4

3i

2

lO

5

10

=

30*

9i

=:

29

9

==

27*

12*

=

34*

3

—

14*

The Abdomen is oval and convex, fairly thickly covered with short smootti

downlying hair on the upper side, thick and coarser at the sides and underneath.

The Spinnerets are two jointed, the lower joint broadly cylindrical the

upper hemispherical. The Epigyne is roughly triangular the upper edge

straight with a median ridge* descending therefrom into a sloping hollow.

The measurements in millimeters are as follows : —

Long. Broad.
Ceph. II 9 (2| to 5* in front).

Abd. 14 10

Mand. 5

Coxae. Tr. & Fem. Pat. & Tib. Metat. & Tar.

5* 4*
Legs 13* 8* 8*

8

7

8*
Palpi 2 5 '4*

(Pat. shorter than Tibia).
One female from the mountainous forest country of Yiin-t'ing Shan,
N. China. Captain Douglas, V.C.

Pardosa, sowerbyi sp. n.

On the Cephalothorax is a red brown median stripe from the rear row of
eyes to the rear and a similarly coloured marginal stripe, both with white
downlying hair ; between these on the sides it is black brown with dark
brown hair on the upper part, on the lower margin reddish, and the same
at the sides of the eye space. The eye space itself is black brown. The
Mandibles are red brown with short greyish yellow bristles at the base and
outer margin, and longer upstanding brown hair on the remainder, the
fangs are red at the base, darker at the point, but nearly black in the middle.
Lip and Maxillae are orange with paler edging. Sternum rich yellow brown
at the sides with a paler longitudinal median stripe thickly clothed with
white, and a few brown bristly hairs. The Coxae and Femora underneath are
bright orange with white hair and grey spines ; the upper sides of the legs are
dark brown with brown and white hairs. There is a grey Scopula on the tarsi
and lower end of the metatarsi of the front two pairs, and brown hairs on the
two rear pairs. The Abdomen is a uniform red brown above with downlying
short reddish yellow hair, black brown at the sides, underneath pale

213

yeiiow-brown, thickly covered with downlying white hair interspersed with
long upstanding brown hair. The spinnerets are brown with yellow tips.

The Cephalothorax is strongly convex, straight in front and straight along
the median line ; from the second row of eyes to the rear slope there is a long
deep fovea. The Eyes of the front row are slightly procurved, the median
only a little larger than the side, they are about their diameter apart, and the
row is shorter than the second row. The Clypeus is a little broader than the
front median eyes, but the latter are nearly twice their diameter from the
second row. The latter are more than one and a half times their diameter
apart, and the same distance from the third row of eyes, which are two-thirds
as broad as those of the second, and five times their diameter apart.

The Mandibles are long and stout, but not much curved at the base.
There are two very large teeth on the inner margin of the falx sheath. The
Lip is straight but slightly hollowed in front, rounded at the sides, not quite
as long as broad, and a little less than half the length of the Maxillae.

The Sternum is ovate, rather pointed at the rear where the rear Coxae are
contiguous.

The Legs are fairly long and powerful, with very long stout spines above
on Metatarsus iii. and iv., and a single long spine on the inside of the patella
of same, and two above on the femur. There is a scopula on the Tarsus
and lower end of the Metatarsus of the front two pairs, but none on the rear
pairs. The claws are strong and well pectinated.

The Abdomen is oval, only slightly rounded in front. The Spinnerets
cylindrical, two jointed, the second joints being apparently protusible.

The measurements in millimetres are as follows : —

Female. Male.

Long. Broad. Long. Broad.

Legs

Ceph.

4J

3 (2

in front).

Ceph.

3

2j(li

in front)

Abd.

5i

3

Abd.

6i

3

Mand.

2

Mand.

li

Female.

Coxae.

Tr.

& Fem. Pat.

& Tib. Metat. & Tar.

S I

li

4

4

4*

:==•

I3l

2

li

3i

3J

4

=

I2i

3

I

3i

3

4

=:

III

4

li

4i

4

4.2
6

=

i5i

)i

1

li

li

I

==

4i

Palpi

214

Coxae,

Legs I

li

2

I

3

I

4

li

Palpi

1

Mate (not quite adult).
Tr. & Fem. Pat. & Tib. Metat. & Tar.

3i 3i 4 = i2j
3 3 3^ = loi
3 3 3i = loi

5 4i ^g" = i6i

ij li ij ^ 4l

I Male, I Female and three quite small from Yiin-t'ing Shan, Shansi,
N. China. I have named them after Mr. A. de C. Sowerby.

Genus Evippa, Simon.

E. DOUGLASI NOV. SP.

Female. — The cephalic part of the Cephalothorax is black brown with
flat downlying white or reddish hairs. The thoracic part is dark yellow
brown in the median area, with two broad black patches reaching therefrom to
the margin, and a thin paler streak quite at the margin, the whole covered
with thick downlying reddish white hair. The Mandibles are dark yellow
brown with long white bristly hair on the upper half, nearly smooth with long
brown bristles on the lower, the fangs reddish yellow. The Lip and
Maxillae have broad pale yellow margins, the outer and lower parts yellow
brown, with thin upstanding brown hair. The Sternum is deep chocolate
brown with downlying flat white hair. The Legs and Palpi are bright yellow,
with a black streak on the inner side of the femur and small black spots on
the other joints, on the upper surface are black spots in transverse bars.
The Abdomen on the upper side is pale greyish yellow, thickly mottled with
black spots, a black median scolloped pattern pointed at the rear end reaches
from near the base to half-way down, at the sides of the last scollop are two
pairs of black spots, and below them two pairs of transverse bars made up of
smaller spots. It is thickly covered with short thick hair white and reddish
white. The sides and underneath are yellow mottled with black spots, short
thick downlying white hairs and upstanding brown bristles.

The cephalic part of the Cephalothorax, which is square in front and
straight at the sides, rises abruptly from the thoracic at an angle of 45 degrees
and is separated therefrom by a deep and broad crescentic fovea. The
thoracic part is convex and rounded at the sides with a deep longitudinal
fovea running from the junction with the cephalic to the rear slope. The
hairs are flat and wedge shaped. The front row of Eyes is procurved, the

215

median pair, their diameter apart are one and a half times the diameter of the
laterals, from which they are distant the diameter of the latter. The second
row pair are twice the diameter of the front median, one and a half diameters
apart, they are twice their diameter from the rear pair, which are slightly
smaller and four times their own diameter apart. The Clypeus is rather wider,
than the front median eyes. The Mandibles are longer than the breadth of the
front margin of the Cephalothorax, kneed at the base and thickly covered
on that portion with long upstanding thick bristly hair, the lower part is
narrower and nearly smooth. On the inner margin of the falx sheath are
two teeth.

The Lip is nearly twice as broad as long, hollowed in front and with a
rather wide sloping front margin. The Maxillae are upright, broad, rather
square at the top, and the palpal trochanters rather remarkably long. The
Sternum is broadly ovate, straight in front and pointed at the rear. It is
thinly clothed with flat plumose bristles.

The A hdomen is ovate, truncate in front, the Spinnerets remarkably short,
conical, and flat at the anterior end.

The Legs and Palpi are fine and only moderately long. The distal end of
the tarsal joint has a sloping troncature, the superior claws being long and
only slightly curved, the outer one has two or three short pectinations right at
the base ; a slight compression of the sides, and a ring of bristles therefrom,
conveys the impression of an onychium, which, however, seems to me to be
false. Several not quite adult males are of the same colouration as the
females.

The measurement in millimetres are as follows : —

Long

Broad.

Ceph.

a*}3*

3 (liin

front).

Abd.

2

3

Mand

..

2

Coxae.

Tr. ,

& Fem.

Pat.

&Tib

. Metat. & Tar.

I

li

3l

3l

4

=

I2f

2

li

3f

3l

3f

—

I2i

3

li

3i

3i

3i

=

III

4

li

4i

4i

6

=

i6i

i

2

2

li

=

6

Legs

Palpi

These specimens came from Yii-lin Fu, N. Shensi, on the border of the
Ordos desert.

216

This species is somewhat near Rev. O. P. Cambridge's E. benevola from
Yarkand (Yarkand 2nd Mission, Pt. viii., Arach p. 95). He does not mention
the size of his specimen, but this would appear to differ from it in the darker
colour of the whole of the pars cephaiica, the lighter median area not passing
thereto, the clypeus not so broad as twice the front median eyes, paler lip and
darker sternum. There are no cretaceous white spots on the abdomen, the
median longitudinal marking only reaches half way, and there is no
longitudinal band or other marking on the underside.

I have named it after Capt. Douglas, V.C., D.S.O., R.A.M.C., the
collector of all the specimens brought home.

217

P*L^ dU.

U

VSA/ ''

sr<.

EXPLANATION OF ABOVE DIAGRAMS.

1. Araneus ? sp. X 2 9 '^i profile, nat. size.

2. Pardosa shansia, sp. n. nat. size. 9 2a, eyes. 2b, epigyne. 2c, lip and maxillae.

3. Diaea ? subdola. Cambr. 9x2. 3a, eyes. 3b, leg of 4th pair (enlarged).

4. Pardosa sowerbyi, sp. n. 9 nat. size. 4a, eyes. 4b, lip and maxillae. 4c, teeth on inner margin of falx

sheath.

5. Drassodes ? lapsus. Cambr. 9x2. 3a, eyes. 3b, epigyne. 3c, lip and maxillae.

6. Lycosa clarki, sp. n. 9 X 2. 6a, eyes. 6b, epigyne.

7. Lycosa ordosa. sp. n. 9x2. 7a, eyes. 7b, lip and maxillae.

8. Evippa douglasi. sp. n. 9x2. 8a, eyes. 8b, profile. 8c, lip and maxillae. 8d, tarsal claws.

NOTE. — The original drawing of this plate having been reduced in size by ^rd linear, the sizes shown
herein must be increased by one-half, to agree with above explanation.

218

APPENDIX Vi.

DIARY OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS
MADE ON EXPEDITION IN NORTH CHINA IN I908 AND IQCQ.

PLACE.

tTai-ytian Fu

(Shansi)

Chao-chuang

T'ai-yiian Fu
Chao-chuang

Chao-chuang

T'ai-yiian Fu
Chao-chuang

T'ai-yiian Fu
Chao-chuang
T'ai-yiian Fu
Chao-chuang

T'ai-yuan Fu
Chao-chuang

. «

Xt3

is

Date.

Of^

«

feet.

iqo8

May

2600

16

17

18

• .*

19

20

21

21

22

23

24

24

25

26

3000

27

28

29

30

2600

30

3000

31

June

3000

1

2

3

4

5

6

2600

6

3000

7

8

9

2600

9

3000

10

2600

10

3000

11

11

12

13

14

2600

14

3000

IS

16

» Time of
Observation.

2.00p.m
12.00p.m

4.00p.ni
ll.OOp.m

it

If

"ofe

.E E
•28

2 g;

inches.

OF.

26-87

...

27 04

26 92

2065

2695

207 0

27 03

207-3

2705

207 1

2070

2686

26 84

2068

...

207 1

27"b5

2072

27 05

...

2682

26-82

2068

26-86

2678

206-6

26-83

206-8

2681

2069

2702

2683

2670

Tempeiature.

Dry
Bulb.

o F.

84-4
870
769
720
74 0

830
85-2

560
781

820
770

91-4

890
51-8
800
85- 1

840

84-4

820
750

Wet
Bulb.

OF.

60 0
652

652
62- 1
600
595
632

538

620

650

Max.
o F.

760

82 7
880
900
927
920

78-8

84 0
782

85 7
89- 1
982
864
74-8
860

870

900
920
95 3
897
930
930

Min.
o F.

580

48-2
541
62-2
62 1
64-5

59-4
53 1
586

593
630

53-3
48-4

470

430

483
55-6
568
540
49- 1

REMARKS.

Rain and thunder at 6.00 p.m.
Rain at ll.OOp.m.

Thunderstorm at 5.00 p.m.
Storm at 5.00 p.m.

920
930
930

42-9
480
482

980

47-3

87-*4

587

87-0

45-8

930

51 6

94- 1

53-8

920

480

833

520

4.00 p.m. Heavy gust of wind ; over in

J hour, accompanied by dust.
7.00 a.m. Fresh wind from S.W.
11.00 a.m. Strong wind and dust from

N.W.
5.00 p.m. Wind fell to fresh.
7.00a.m. Ver>' light wind from N.W., no

clouds.
12 noon. Calm, clear sky,
1.00 p.m. Light wind from N.W.
Cirro-stratus clouds, 7.00 p.m. no wind.
7.00a.m. Light N.E. wind, few cumulus

clouds. 2.00 p.m. same.
3.40 p.m. Few drops rain.

7.00a.m. Light breeze N.E, cirrus clouds.

11.00 a.m. Calm. 1.00 p.m. Very light
N.E. wind, cirrus clouds. 8.00 p.m.
Cumulus clouds, no wind.

7.00 a.m. Light N.E. wind, sky over-
cast, cumulus clouds. 11.00 a.m. few
drops rain. 8.00 p.m. Sky still over-
cast.

* In hours and minutes after midnight (a.m.), or after noon (p.m.).
t Latitude 37* 51' 36" N.. Longitude 112* 33' 56* E.

219

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— cow/ww^o^.

PLACE.

T'ai-yiian Fu
Chao-cliuang

T'ai-yiian Fu
Chao-chuang

Tou-fu-ssu

Station H.
Tou-fu-ssa

Station H.
Tou-fu-ssii

el

£•=
<<

Date.

feet.

1908

June

2600

16

3000

17

17

18

19

19

20

21

22

22

...

23

23

23

2600

23

3000

24

...

24

24

25

25

25

26

27

4527

27

28

28

28

28

4984

28

4527

29

29

4984

29

4527

30

Time of
Observation.

10.00 a.m.
12 night

12 noon

9.00a.m,
11.00p.m.

8.00 a.m.

6.00 a. m,

7.00a. m,

8.00 p.m.
7.00a.m.

8.00 a.m.
noon

11.00a.m.
1.00 p.m.
S.OOp.m,

6.00 a. m

3.00p.m.

midnight

8.00 a.m.

12.30p.m
4.00p.m
9.00p.m.

10.00p.m.
8.00 a.m.
S.OOp.m.

6.00 a.m.

3 C

0 «

.s ^
■•3 S

Tempe

Dry

Bulb.

Wet
Bulb.

inches.

0 F.

OF.

0 F.

2685

745

2681

2067

653

613

626

587

2675

2066

87 0

72 9

26 85

2069

720

698

...

744

65.0

27 08

2070

716

635

27 00

207 2

64 0

620

2070

811

676

2681

206 7

795

...

787

690

2068

768

853

79 4

2690

897

...

26 76

2064

701

687

2670

2063

690

680

2667

2062

720

692

2668

2063

685

680

206 5

882

710

26 86

2065

65 0

649

...

206 7

755

65- 1

25-58

204 1

726

66 7

2553

204 1

65-3

620

2551

204 1

750

• *•

750

683

720

64 9

25- 11

203 4

680

25 46

706

644

25 37

820

650

25 05

...

707

2542

624

...

Max.
o p.

797
92 0

963
747

876
859
924

840
757

760

Min.

OF.

783

580
51 3

533
60-8

576
600
589

644

58"6
537
62- 1

620
627
596

REMARKS.

7.00 a.m. Very dull, and few drops rain.
Calm. Gentle shower on and oflF all
day. Cleared up at 9.00 p.m.

8.00a.m. Calm, clear. Noon Light N.W.
wind, clear. 6.00 p.m. Clouding over,
light S.W. wind. 8.00 p.m. Light
N.W. wind, thunderstorm to N.W.
10.00 p.m. Heavy wind, N.E. 12 night
Clear, light W. wind.

8.00 a.m. Calm, cirrus clouds, 12 noon
Calm, cirrus clouds. 5.00 p.m. Cumu-
lus, fresh S. wind, dust. 7.00 p.m.
Thunderstorms to S.W. and N.W.
11.00p.m. Still cloudy.

7.00 a.m. Calm, cumulus clouds. 10.30
a.m. Light wind and rain from S.
Noon Cumulus clouds, light wind
N.E., thunderstorms along hills from
S.W. to N.W. 2.00 p.m. Rain stopped,
heavy stratus clouds. 3.00 p.m. Rain
re-commenced, continued to midnight.

6.00 a.m. Calm, overcast, stratus clouds.

Noon, Cumulus, light N.W. breeze.

6.00 p.m. Strato-cumulus, light E. wind.

7.00 a.m. Very light N.W. wind, cloudless.

Noon Light S. wind, cirrus clouds.

8.00 p.m. Fresh E. wind, sky overcast.

7.00 a.m. Cloudless, very light N.W.
breeze.

Noon Cloudless, very light N.W. breeze.

8.00 p.m. Cumulus clouds, E. wind.

Midnight Steady rain (all night).

8.00 a.m. Steady gentle rain.

Noon Rain stopped, damp, overcast.

1.00p.m. Rain re-commenced. S.OOp.m.
Heavy clouds, no wind.

6.00 a.m. Very misty, mackerel sky.

Noon Cirro-cumulus, light wind N.W.

3.00 p.m. Clear, fresh breeze N.W.

7.00 a.m. Clear, calm. Noon Heavy
stratus clouds, calm. 7.30 p.m. Fresh
S. wind.

7.00 a.m. Dull, rain during night.

Noon Dull, light wind from N.W.

5.00 p.m. Cumulus clouds, calm.

10.00 p.m. Thunderstorm and heavy rain.

7.00 a.m. Cumulus clouds, light N.W.
wind.

Noon Cirro-cumulus clouds, calm.

8.00 p.m. Cirro-Cumulus clouds, calm.

9.45 p.m. Thunderstorm since 5.00 p.m.

River flooded.

8.00 a.m. Stratus clouds, calm.

3.00 p.m. Strato-cumulus, light S.W.
wind.

5.30 p.m. Thunderstorm from S.W,, river
risen from 3 ft. to 8 ft. between
morning and afternoon.

6.00 a.m. Clear, fresh wind W.

220

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— cow/wm^c/.

PLACE.

Tou-fu-ssO
Station H.

Tou-fu-ssti

Chao-chuang

T'ai-yiian Fu

Chao-chuang

Chao-chuang
T'ai-yiian Fu
Chao-chuang

23
§2
«

feet.

Date.

4527
4984

4527

4527

3000

2600

3000

3000
2600
3000

Time of
Observation. I

19-8
June
30
30
30
30

July
1
1

2
2
2

9
9
9
9
9

10
10
10
10

(£2

(A

inches.

11.00 a.m
6.30 am

11.00 am
3.00p.m

9.00a.m
l.OOp.m

8.00 a.m

S.OOp.m

10.30 p.m

10.00 am
1.15p.m.
6.45 p.m

1.30 p.m.

6.00 p.m.
10.00p.m.
10.00 a.m.

5.00 a.m.
11.00a.m.

3.00p.m.
lO.OOp.m.

8.30 a.m.
11.30 a.m.

1.10p.m.

7.00p.m.
lO.OOp.m.

9.00 a.m.
2.00p.m.
5.00p.m,
8.30p.m.

10.30p.m.

midnight
9.30 a.m
1.30p.m
5.30p.m
8.45p.m

5.00a.m.
11.45 a.m.

2.30p.m.

7.00p.m.
lO.OOp.m.

9.30 a.m

10.00 am,

2.30p.m

S.OOp.m

25 45

24 98

25 04

25 55
25 56

26 83
2681

2688
2691
2688

26 79
2674
2676
2681
26 73
2679
2671
26 82

2688
26 88
2683
26 88
2695

27 00
2693

26 98

27 03
2709
27 02
2694
2690
2681
2688

2683
26 87
2682

2683

2694
2688
2683

o F.

204.05

204 -3

2068
2066

2069
207 0

2067
2067
206 7

2066
2066
2065
2068

206 8
2068
206 7
2069
2069

207 0
2069
207 0
207 1
207- 1
207- i
2069
2068
2067
2069

2069
2067

2068

2069
206 7
2068

Temperature.

Dry

Bulb.

OF.

72 0
630
655
773

755
81 2

747
790
738

Wet
Bulb.

o F.

809
860
879
780
750

71 9
84 6
675
653
65 0
650
726
780
761
650

60-8
789

760
720

687
711
760
690

660

634

676
690
677

695
660

700
71 2
708

822
729
687
725
61 4
895
922
722 685

675
668
672

62 2
737
75 0

Max.
OF.

723
705
690
670
676

680
675

64 1
655

65 5
67 0
682
682
680
650

603

700

650
662
68-8
662

812

903

747

868

1000

Min.
o p_

636

64 7

672

708

57-7

REMARKS.

913 610

860

80-5

84 1

770

649

683

60 1

605

Noon Cumulus clouds, light wind W.
5.00 p.m. Strato-cumulus, light wind W.

7.00 a.m. Clear, very light N.W. wind.
Noon same. 6.00 p.m. Calm. 9.00 p.m.

Same as 7.00 a.m.
6.00 a.m. Few cirrus clouds, calm, hazy.
9.30 a.m. Cirro-cumulus, fresh wind S.
3.00 p.m. Thunderstorm in hills to W.
6.00 p.m. Cumulus increasing, strong

wind N.E., thunderstorms E. and

S.E. 10.30 p.m. Overcast, very light

N. wind.
6.00 a.m. Raining, calm.
1.15 p.m. Rain stopped, fresh N.E. wind.
1.45 p.m. Rain re-commenced, stopped

at 5.00 p.m.
8.00 a.m. Cirrus clouds.
1.15 p.m. Clear, fresh S. wind.
6.00 p.m. Thunderstorm on N.E. hills.

Wind N.E. lO.OOp.m. Hazy, calm.
5.00 a.m. No clouds, hazy, very light

S.E. wind. 11.00a.m. No clouds, hazy,

calm. 3.00 p.m. No clouds, hazy, calm.

6.30 p.m. Thunderstorm S. 0.07 ins.

rain. 10.00 p.m. Overcast, calm.
8.30 a.m. No clouds, hazy, very light

wind N.W. 11.30 a.m. Few cirrus,

hazy, light wind S.S.W. 1.10 p.m.

More cirrus, hazy, fresh wind S.S.W.

3.00 p.m. Strong wind W. 7.00 p.m.

Stratus, clear, calm. 10.00 p.m. Light

S. wind. 11.00 p.m. Rain (Rainfall

002 ins.)
8.00 a.m. Stratus clouds, calm.
10.30 a.m. Stratus, calm, light rain.
4.00 p.m. Strong wind from south fol-
lowed by rain. Rain throughout

night (Rainfall 075 ins.)

9.30 a.m. Cirrus, very clear atmosphere.
Noon Cumulus and stratus, light wind
S.W. 4.00 p.m. Thunderstorm S. (0 07
ins. rain). 5.30 to 7.45 p.m. Thunder-
storms all round. 845 p.m. Very
slight rain, N.W., calm. Midnight,
Stars visible, light cumulus, calm.

5.00 a.m. Cirrus, calm (overnight rain
0 01 ins.). 11.45 a.m. Few cumulus,
very light wind S.W. 2.30 p.m. Same.
500 p.m. Few cumulus, calm. 8.00 p.m.
Few cumulus, very light wind S.W.
10.00 p.m. Calm, cirrus, moonlight.

10.00 a.m. Stratus and cumulus, light
wind S. 2.30 p.m. Cirrus, light wind
S. 8.00 p.m. Clear, very light wind
(Overnight rainfall 002 ins.).

221

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— cow/wwea.

8-^

2 S

Date.

Time of
Gbservation.

si

° c
".2

si

Temperature.

PLACE.

Dry
Bulb.

Wet

REMARKS.

<<

£2

(A

«k"

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

Chao-chuaug

3000

1908
July
11

8.30 a.m.

2690

2069

773

725

906

583

8.00 a.m. Light breeze N.W., few cirrus

"

11

2.00p.m.

2686

2067

870

759

clouds. 2.00 p.m. Overcast, light wind
W. Midnight, cirrus, few stars visible,
calm.

12

10.00 a.m.

2691

206-9

840

747

92-5

58-7

8.00 a.m. Clear, very light W. wind.

12

1.00p.m.

26 84

206 7

838

71 1

10.00 a.m, N.W. Noon, Cirrus, very

12

1.50 p.m.

2684

206 7

722

64 0

light N.W. wind. 1.00 p.m. Thunder-

12

8.00p.m.

2685

2068

74 0

695

storm from E . , few heavy drops.

12

11.00p.m.

26 89

2068

690

64-4

'"

1.20p.m. Thunderstorm from W. N.W. .
heavy rain. 8.00 p.m. Light cirrus,
calm (Rainfall 025 ins.).

13

8.00a.m.

26 89

2069

745

700

905

61 1

8.00 a.m. Cirrus, very light wind W.

13

10.00a.m.

2691

2068

857

750

...

10 a.m. Cirro-cumulus, light wind, W.

13

noon

2687

206 7

840

765

...

Noon, Overcast, cumulus, light wind.

13

2.00p.m.

2683

2067

85- 1

754

W. 2.00 p.m. cirro-cumulus, light

13

4.00p.m.

2680

206 7

82 1

74-2

wind N.W., thunderstorm in N.

13

6.15p.m.

26 84

206 7

686

659

4.00 p.m. Nimbus, overcast, heavy rain

13

8.00p.m.

26 89

2069

67- 1

642

from N. ; over at 4.30 (0-45 ins.).

13

10.00p.m.

2690

2069

65- 1

63 5

5.00 p.m. Thunderstorm from S.W.
over at 5.50 (013 ins.). 6.00 p.m.
Thunderstorm from N.W. 8.00 p.m.
Still raining gently, thunderstorms all
round (007 ins). 9.30p.m. Overcast,
calm (002 ins.). Total rainfall in 8
hours = 067 ins.).

14

5.30 a.m.

26 83

2068

652

64 8

802

61-9

5.30 a.m. Strato- cumulus, very light

14

9.30 a.m.

2684

206 7

75 3

71 2

wind N. 9.30 a.m. Strato-cumulus

14

11.30 a.m.

2682

206 6

723

65 5

...

from S.W.. light wind N.W. 11.00a.m.

14

1.30p.m.

2685

206 8

637

62- 1

Overcast, fresh wind W., thunder in

14

8.00p.m.

2681

206 7

643

632

N.E. and S.E. 1.30 p.m. Heavy rain
from E., over at 2.30 (019 inches).
6.00 p.m. Cleared, nimbus and cirrus,
calm. 8.00 p.m. Clear overhead, calm.
10 p.m. Clear, calm, starry.

,,

15

7.00 a.m.

26 84

2068

626

605

...

554

7.00 a.m. Cirro-stratus, overcast, very

••

15

9.15 a.m.

2687

2067

723

67 8

...

light wind N.E. 9.15 a.m. Cirro-
cumulus, light wind N.E.

,,

...

16

10.00p.m.

2689

2068

74 0

67- 1

61 1

8.00 a.m. Cumulus, calm.

T'ai-yiian Fu

2600

16

...

...

86 0

T'ai-yiian Fu, 6.00 p.m. Clear. 10.00 p.m.
Overcast.

,,

17

11.00 a.m.

2685

206 8

725

70 1

756

700

9.00 a.m. Raining gently, commenced at

,,

17

2.00p.m.

2684

206 75

71 6

687

7.00 a.m. Noon, Raining gently.

,,

17

5.00p.m.

2682

206 8

71 0

670

6.30 p.m. Raining hard. Midnight.

,,

17

10.00p.m.

2683

2067

67- 1

65- 1

Raining gently (052 ins.).

,,

18

10.30 a.m.

26 75

206 7

66'6

65 0

740

64"8

9.00 a.m. Raining hard, all night.

,,

18

1.00p.m.

26 74

206 6

688

670

10.00 a.m. Rainfall since midnight

,,

18

5.30p.m.

2671

2066

695

675

(2.89 ins.) 1.00 p.m. to midnight still

,,

18

8.30p.m.

26 73

206 7

682

653

raining. Total rainfall for 24 hours

,,

18

midnight

26 72

2066

655

637

...

= 3'66ins.

,,

19

10.00 a.m.

26 70

2065

700

661

832

64-6

10.00 a.m. Overcast. 2.00 p.m Same.

,,

19

2.00p.m.

26 67

206 5

800

699

5.30 p.m. Rain. Total rainfall since

••

19

7.00p.m.

2668

206 4

74 1

692

midnight 013 inches. 7.00 p.m. Light
wind N. 9.00 p.m. Calm, clear.

,,

20

10.30 a.m.

2673

2067

789

715

865

67 4

10.30 a.m. Clear, light N.E. wind.

,,

20

2.30p.m.

26 68

2065

838

736

2.30 p.m. Thunder in N.E.

,,

20

6.30p.m.

2671

2067

755

693

6.30 p.m. Few cirrus clouds.

,,

21

12.30 a.m.

2677

2067

702

668

88 2

66 6

12.30 a.m. Clear, calm.

,,

21

10.00 a.m.

2677

2067

79- 1

700

2.30 p.m. Cirrus, light wind W.

,,

21

2.30p.m.

26 73

2066

870

750

6.30 p.m. Calm, clear.

••

21

6.30 p.m.

2673

2065

80-9

735

...

Midnight, Calm, clear.

222

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— co/?//ww^d/.

§3

eS'g

•sji

Temperature.

Date.

Time of
Observation.

11

^1

PLACE.

Dry

Wet

REMARKS.

«

£3

Bulb.

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

1908

July

T'ai-yiian Fu

2600

22

11.30 a.m.

2675

2061

87- 1

765

932

71 0

22

3.30p.m.

26 67

206-5

932

77 9

3.30 p.m. Clear, light wind N.W.

22

7.30p.m.

2668

2O6-4

84-2

752

...

22

11.30p.m.

26-71

2065

78-5

23

9.00 a.m.

26-74

206-7

880

75 '5

93-5

732

9.00 a.m. Few cirrus, light wind W.

23

5.00 p.m.

26 70

206-5

935

700

• ••

5.00 p.m. Clear, light wind N.E.

23

midnight

2677

206-7

74-5

673

Midnight, clear, calm.

24

1.00p.m.

26-79

2O6-7

928

702

95 0

760

24

5.30p.m.

2678

206 7

895

700

24

midnight

2687

2069

762

660

25

11.30 a.m.

26-86

2069

890

69-2

97-'5

71-3

25

11.30p.m.

2688

207 0

75-5

704

• ••

26

11.00 a.m.

26-88

207 0

890

724

9"8-2

71-5

11.00 a.m. Few Cirrus, light wind N.P^.

26

4.30p.m.

26-82

2067

982

75-3

...

4.30 p.m. Overcast, light breeze S.W.

26

11.00p.m.

2686

2068

780

71 9

11.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

27

10.00 a.m.

2686

2069

860

75-4

98 0

72 9

10.00 a.m. Cirrus over stratus, calm.

27

3.00p.m.

26-80

206 7

920

78- 1

3.00 p.m. Overcast, wind S.E.

27

5.00p.m.

2679

206 6

91 0

760

5.00 p.m. Cirro-cumulus, light wind S.W.

28

11.00 a.m.

26-73

206-5

86-2

785

96-1

74 1

1 1 .00 a. m . Nimbus and stratus, wind S.W.

28

3.00 p.m.

26 68

206 4

878

76-5

3.00p.m. Overcast, slight rain, wind S.W.

28

7.00p.m.

26-78

206 5

82-8

71-2

...

7.00 p.m. Nimbus, threatening rain, wind

W.
10.30 p.m. Rain 0 004 ins.

28

10.30p.m.

26-81

2O6-7

78-5

67-6

29

9.30 a.m.

26 92

207 0

77-2

69-9

9.30 a.m. Stratus, light wind W.

...

29

noon

2692

206 9

855

720

• ■•

Noon Few cirrus, calm.

29

S.OOp.m,

2690

2069

78-5

700

...

8.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

30

10.30 a.m.

26 90

2069

83- 1

730

93-4

71 0

10.30 a.m. Cirrus, light wind W.

30

1.30p.m.

26-86

206 8

895

730

1.30 p.m. Clear, fresh breeze.

30

7.30p.m.

26-83

206-8

82- 1

700

7.30 p.m. Clear, calm.

31

10.30 a.m.

26-88

206 9

835

720

98-0

702

10.30a.m. Cirro-cumulus, light windS.W.

31

7.30p.m.

26-85

2068

877

76- 1

7.30 p.m. Cirro-cumulus, calm.

Aug.

1

9.00 a.m.

2702

207-2

73 1

691

703

9.00 a.m. Rain from S.E. (005 ins.).

1

4.00p.m.

26-92

207 0

87-8

71 0

4.00 p.m. Cirro-cumulus, calm.

1

9.00p.m.

26-98

207 1

800

74-5

8.00 p.m. Rain (027 ins.). 9.00 p.m.
Clear, calm.

2

9.00p.m.

26-97

...

• ••

...

94 3

77-7

3

9.00 a.m.

27 02

207-3

840

740

95-6

78-3

4

9.45 a.m.

27 00

207 1

853

75-3

793

4

noon

26-98

91 -8

760

...

5

4.00p.m.

26 87

970

760

100.0

79-3

6

10.15a.m.

2689

928

77-7

985

81-2

6

12.45p.m.

2686

902

762

6

5.00p.m.

2682

96-4

77-2

6

10.30p.m.

2687

86-6

75-5

7

9.45 a.m.

26-90

89-3

77-5

81-'l

7

12.30p.m.

26-86

95-3

790

8

8.00 a.m.

26-89

81-4

760

1004

79-8

9

10.00 a.m.

2691

920

77-2

960

81-4

4

9

noon

26 88

93-5

77-7

...

9

6.15p.m.

26-91

880

770

.. •

10

noon

2693

87- 1

.*.

87-2

Rainfall. Oil ins.

10

S.OOp.m.

26-90

78-3

74- 1

■ ••

11

8.00 a.m.

26-92

738

698

73-8

Rainfall, 029 ins.

11

1.30p.m.

26-91

720

680

...

11

6.30p.m.

26 92

700

660

12

7.30 a.m.

26-92

68-2

660

85-'9

67-6

12

8.30p.m.

26-92

76-5

13

8.30 a.m.

2693

76-9

68-5

9'o-'6

680

13

5.00p.m.

2688

81 -3

710

223

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— cow/wwerf.

rt'v

°s'

Temperature.

xi

ts

'"Si

PLACE.

2 a
a!5

Date.

Time of
Observation.

Dry

Bulb.

Wet

REMARKS.

«

^^

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

0 F.

OF.

OF.

1908
Aug.

T'ai-yiian Fu

2600

13

9.30pm.

2693

800

...

14

7.00 a.m.

2696

766

720

93 1

753

14

7.30p.m.

2691

825

...

15

7.30a.m.

2690

787

733

8*9-0

Rainfall, 06 ins.

15

9.30p.m.

26 87

760

16

9.30 a.m.

2691

780

702

73-8

Rainfall. 019 ins.

16

11.30 a.m.

2691

72-8

69-2

r

16

5.00p.m.

2691

730

680

16

9.30p.m.

26-95

71-8

17

9.15 a.m.

2699

75-9

7'3-'o

85 7

708

17

1.30p.m.

26 98

840

75- 1

17

8.45p.m.

2701

740

18

10.15a.m.

27 03

780

707

880

69 7

18

2.15p.m.

26 97

86-5

74-5

...

...

19

1.30p.m.

2697

843

730

870

74-3

19

5.30p.m.

26 95

830

750

...

20

9.30 a.m.

27 04

800

87-'4

72-3

20

noon

27 00

83-8

750

...

...

20

2.00 p.m.

26 97

870

20

4.30p.m.

26 96

860

780

21

11.15 a.m.

27 08

750

61 0

87-3

71-8

21

5.25p.m.

27 07

665

605

21

9.30p.m.

2712

645

600

22

11.20 a.m.

27 07

690

63-2

87 0

63 0

Rainfall. 0.09 ins.

22

5.00 p.m.

27 05

700

23

11.00a.m.

27 02

700

64-5

720

e's'o

23

7.50p.m.

2696

690

640

...

24

11.00 a.m.

27 02

74 0

65 0

790

650

24

4.30p.m.

2690

71-5

650

25

10.00a.m.

26-96

705

650

640

25

2.30p.m.

26-87

84-5

690

26

11.00 a.m.

26 96

780

690

850

620

26

6.00p.m.

2691

825

660

26

10.00p.m.

26-98

720

630

27

9.30 a.m.

2703

74-5

66-5

...

69-0

27

6.15p.m.

26-97

835

675

27

10.00p.m.

26 99

74-5

66 5

28

9.30p.m.

27 12

75-5

650

880

61 3

28

6.00 p.m.

2701

85-5

66-5

28

10.00p.m.

27 03

770

680

29

9.30 a.m.

2710

70.5

660

900

650

29

12.30p.m.

27 07

850

70 0

29

6.00p.m.

27 05

803

690

30

10.00 a.m.

27- 17

705

700

900

660

30

12.30p.m.

27- 16

77-3

680

...

30

6.00p.m.

2707

800

700

30

9.30p.m.

27 13

720

670

...

31

9.30 a.m.

27 08

735

643

82-5

685

Rainfall, 034 in.

31

12.30p.m.

2701

71 5

650

31

6.00p.m.

2699

695

650

...

31

10.30p.m.

27-01

680

650

...

...

Sept.
1

10.00 a.m.

2713

73 5

670

67 0

1

2.10p.m.

26 99

79-5

705

1

9.30p.m.

26 97

725

655

2

9.00 a.m.

26 97

680

650

82-3

68 0

Rainfall. 0 91 ins.

2

12.20 p.m.

26-93

680

650

2

5.30p.m.

26-88

660

630

3

10.45 a.m.

26-93

71 5

660

63 0

3

7.30p.m.

26 93

78-9

650

224

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— co«^/««e^

ii

Date.

Time of
Observation.

o6*

Temperature.

REMARKS.

PLACE.

Dry

Wet

«

^^

«K

Bulb.

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

1908

Sept

T'ai-yuan Fu

2600

4
4

6.45 a.m.
2.45 p.tn.

2695
2698

630
850

62-5
660

655

,,

5

10.30 a.m.

27 07

725

658

ss'o

61-5

,,

5

1.30p.m.

27 03

825

67-5

,,

...

6

9.30 a.m.

2710

...

760

67-5

86-0

670

,,

...

6

8.00p.m.

27 04

704

680

,,

...

7

9.00 a.m.

27 06

684

660

79-4

640

Rainfall. 0 16 ins.

,,

7

7.00p.m.

27 06

685

600

,,

8

9.00 a.m.

2717

690

59-8

7'2"o

570

,,

...

8

7.00p.m.

2710

680

580

,,

9

9.00 a.m.

2713

620

560

788

570

,,

...

9

7.00p.m.

2704

...

71 5

61 0

• ••

,,

10

9.00 a.m.

2702

650

590

61 0

,,

10

7.00p.m.

2679

680

600

...

,,

11

9.00 a.m.

27 02

...

680

55-5

79 0

570

,,

11

8.00p.m.

2697

690

590

...

,,

...

12

9.00 a.m.

27 02

700

570

81 0

570

,,

...

12

8.00p.m.

2696

700

600

,,

13

9.30 a.m.

27 06

700

600

830

585

,,

...

13

8.00p.m.

27 02

725

640

,,

14

9.00 a.m.

27 02

71-5

635

830

685

Rainfall, 001 ins., between

5.00 and

,,

14

7.00p.m.

26-97

67 0

640

6.00 p.m.

,,

15

9.00 a.m.

27 02

650

56-5

78-0

615

Rainfall. 0 93 ins.

,,

16

9.00 a.m.

27 06

...

59-5

51 0

750

51 0

,,

...

16

7.30p.m.

27 04

690

59-5

,,

17

9.00 a.m.

27 09

650

560

750

550

,,

17

7.00p.m.

27 03

71 5

500

,,

18

9.00 a.m.

2714

65 0

58-5

780

55 -5

Rain during night.

,,

18

7.00p.m.

2710

67 0

570

...

,,

...

19

9.00 a.m.

27 07

660

530

78-0

550

,,

19

7.00p.m.

27 04

69-5

630

,,

20

9.00 a.m.

27 04

66-5

590

725

580

,,

20

7.00p.m.

26 96

710

570

• ••

• •■

,,

21

10.00 a.m.

2713

640

51-5

780

54-5

,,

21

7.00p.m.

2713

62-5

500

• •■

,,

22

9.00 a.m.

27 20

595

760

47-5

,,

...

22

7.00p.m.

2715

68-5

57 5

• .•

,,

...

23

9.00 a.m.

27 22

64-5

54-5

754

465

,,

...

23

7.00p.m.

2715

680

59-5

,,

24

9.00 a.m.

27 14

63 0

545

742

545

,,

24

27 09

70-5

590

J J

25

9.00 a.m.

27 14

625

530

765

50-5

^ J

...

25

8.00p.m.

2706

700

615

,,

26

9.00 a.m.

27- 10

64 5

585

87 5

se-'s

, ,

26

7.00p.m.

27 06

73-5

66-5

J J

27

9.00 a.m.

27 10

65 0

56-5

81 0

56 0

,,

27

8.00p.m.

27 14

71 0

650

^ J

28

8.00 a.m.

2716

61 5

560

75-5

52-5

Nan-shih...

2875

28
28

2692

267-1

650
53.4

545
...

No clouds.

J J

29

7.00 a.m.

27-07

...

450

410

750

365

Hsieh-tao

3304

29

12.30p.m.

25-50

590

...

SMng-yi

5816

29

4.30p.m.

24-90

2027

583

480

No clouds, light wind W.

,,

30

6.30 a.m.

24-82

365

35 0

640

34-5

Ku-chao

2974

30

Oct.

6.00p.m.

26-56

...

600

490

No clouds, strong wind B.

,,

1

9.30 a.m.

26-65

530

450

347

10.00 p.m. Sky clear.

,,

1

2.00p.m.

26 78

2660^

628

^ J

1

6.00p.m.

26-50

630

490

••

2

6.30 a.m.

26-84

400

360

es'o

390

6.30 a.m. Cirro-cumulus, late;

CU.IjUi.

225

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS -cow/wueo'.

^4

1

OS
bCv

Temperature.

PLACE.

23

«

Date.

Ttme of
Observation.

11

Dry
Bulb.

Wet

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

REMARKS.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

IQo8

Oct.

Tsa-k'ou

4112

2

6.30p.ni.

25-72

204 1

550

470

...

6.30 p.m. Clear.

,,

3

6.30 a.m.

25 79

370

340

630

37 0

Light wind W.

Mountain Pass ...

6022

3

noon

2421

2008

602

Cirrus until 5.00 p.m., then cumulus.

Mi-yiieh-ch'^ng ...

4447

3
3

6.00p.m.
7.00p.m.

25 60

203-8

535
51 5

485

1 1 •••

...

4

6.30 a.m.

25 64

203 9

38-6

34 -0

6"2-'o

36-6

Mountain Pass ...

7032

4

2345

445

JYiin-fing Shan...

6950

4

4.00 p.m.

23 59

1998

42-2

400

^,

5

9.00 a.m.

23 57

490

450

34 5

Rain since 5.00 p.m., October 4th.

,,

5

6.00p.m.

23 53

199 9

440

41 5

Clouds and mist all day.

,,

...

6

9.00 a.m.

23 66

51 0

460

570

360

Cumulus all day, diffused light, darkened

,,

...

6

4.00p.m.

23 53

540

• ..

at 4.00 p.m.

,,

6

6.00p.m.

470

,,

7

9.00 a.m.

23 66

51 0

460

59-0

31 0

Cirro-cumulus and cumulus all day.

,,

7

6.00p.m.

23 62

380

340

,,

8

8.00 a.m.

2361

400

360

54 0

26 0

Cirrus and cirro-cumulus all day.

, ,

8

7.00p.m.

23 58

405

370

,,

9

10.00 a.m.

23-53

445

410

590

29-5

Cumulus all day."

,,

9

6.00p.m.

23 49

390

360

,,

10

10.00 a.m.

2347

520

400

600

32-2

Cirrus and cirro-cumulus.

,,

10

6.00p.m.

23 54

38-4

34-5

3.00 p.m. Clear.

,,

...

11

9.00 a.m.

23 66

500

430

600

2*9"5

,,

...

11

7.00p.m.

23 60

364

340

,,

12

10.00 a.m.

23 65

490

440

610

330

Cumulus all day, heavy snow during the

,,

12

6.00p,m.

23 62

435

390

night.

,,

13

10.00 a.m.

23 56

460

440

60 0

32 0

Rain and mist all day.

,,

...

13

7.00p.m.

23-45

420

41 0

*. .

,,

...

14

10.00 a.m.

23 54

490

450

59-0

360

,,

14

7.00p.m.

23 58

380

350

,,

15

10.00 a.m.

23-64

452

430

550

330

Cirro-cumulus.

,,

15

6.00p.m.

23 56

435

400

2.00 p.m. Cumulus.

,,

16

6.30p.m.

23-57

199 95

422

380

59 0

40-0

Cumulus. 9.00 a.m. Few light cirrus.

Ma-ffeng

4445

16

5.00p.m.

25 60

203 9

590

520

3.00 p.m. Large cumulus, light wind E.

ji

17

6.30p.m.

25 59

400

36 0

59 0

390

Few cirrus all day.

J J

...

17

2039

45-5

Light wind.

Mountain Pass ...

...

17
17

24 69

202 5

61 5
650

Sung-chia-k'ou ...

3906

17

5.00p.m.

2606

628

560

.«•

,,

18

6.30 a.m.

2606

44-5

400

63 0

420

Clear, light variable wind.

, ,

18

204-7

470

Lin Hsien

3269

18

7.00p.m.

26-79

51-5

4'6-'o

Clear, no wind.

,,

19

9.00 a.m.

26-84

485

400

67-4

32 0

Clear.

,,

19

7.00 p.m.

2676

51 0

450

3.00 p.m. Cirrus.

,,

20

6.30 a.m.

26 77

34 0

330

65 0

32 0

4.00 p.m. Cumulus.

KLan-tsao-k ' ou

4664

20
20

5.00p.m.

25 52

2036

58-2
580

520

Light wind.

,,

21

10.00 a.m.

25-52

560

490

650

390

Rain during day.

,,

21

6.00p.m.

2541

500

45-2

.

-••

,,

...

22

10.00 a.m.

25 44

490

490

55-0

41 0

10.00 a.m. Rainfall for preceding 24

,,

...

22

5.00p.m.

25 45

51 0

500

...

hours, 177 ins. Rain all day.

,,

...

23

10.00 a.m.

25 58

54-2

49-0

10.00 a.m. Rainfall for preceding24 hours.

,,

...

23

6.00p.m.

25 57

520

460

0'20ins., cumulus over nimbus, all day.

,,

...

24

10.00 a.m.

25 -73

370

560

340

Three hours rain over night followed by

,.

24

6.00p.m.

25 50

51 0

460

snow storm and gale, cumulus all day.

,,

...

25

10.00 a.m.

25 64

450

400

56 0

260

Clear, no wind.

,,

25

6.00 p.m.

25-47

420

380

• ••

,,

26

10.00 a.m.

25 60

370

360

52 -0

35 0

Cumulus, mist, rain. 10.00 a.m. Clear.

,,

26

6.00p.m.

25 49

332

320

Strong wind W. all day.

,,

27

7.00 a.m.

25 57

235

520

21 0

Cloudy, light variable wind.

Mountain Pass ...

5377

27

24-78

295

I Latitude, 37° 54' N.

Longitude. 111° 33' 48'' E.
226

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— continued.

.

"'

(^ .

. V

t^

o 5;

Temperature.

n

Date.

Time of
Observation.

1.2

.sl

PLACE.

Dry

Wet

REMARKS.

«

£2

(Sir

Bulb.

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

IQo8

Oct.

Ts'ai-chia-wei

3396

27

5.00p.m.

26 70

2060

42-5

390

,,

28

7.30 a.m.

2675

330

49*0

2*3'5

Cirrus. 9.00 a.m. Clear, light variable

Huang-ho-yeh ...

2406

28

6.00p.m.

27 68

207 7

465

4d'o

...

wind.

(Shensi, on

Yellow River)

29

8.00 a.m.

27 76

320

520

25 0

Clear, light variable wind.

Liu-chia-mo

3103

29
29

6.00p.m.

26 96

2063

430
370

380

...

,,

...

30

8.00 a.m.

2682

360

54-0

2'3'o

Hoar-frost during night.

,,

30

206 3

370

Clear, light variable wind.

Chin-chia-k'ou ...

3390

30

7.00p.m.

2656

205 6

430

370

,,

31

8.00 a.m.

2661

325

55 0

235

Hoar-frost during night, clear.

Chiu-ts'ai

3328

31
31

Nov.

5.00p.m.

26 62

2058

545
455

4"8'o

3.00 p.m. Cirrus, light variable wind.

,,

1

8.00 a.m.

26 66

400

360

590

335

Heavy dew during night, haze.

Yang-chia-tien ...

3634

1

6.00p.m.

26 36

445

400

3.00 p.m. Clear, light variable wind.

,,

2

205 4

372

560

310

4.00 a.m. Light rain, later heavy mists

,,

2

10.00 a.m.

2638

412

390

...

till noon, followed by clear sky.

,,

2

5.00p.m.

2634

492

44 0

Light variable wind.

, ,

3

8.00 a.m.

2634

34 0

330

61 0

29'o

Hoar-frost during night, cumulus.

Liu-chien-hua ...

3418

3

6.00p.m.

460

420

10.00 a.m. Stratus. 11.00 a.m. and 3.00
p.m. Little rain, strong wind E.

,,

4

10.00 a.m.

2639

450

410

560

Cumulus all day, dust haze.

,,

...

4

6.00p.m.

26 32

440

41 0

Strong wind W.

1 J

4

205 4

385

,,

5

8.00 a.m.

26 38

360

34 0

5'2"o

350

Dust haze all day, light variable wind.

*Yu-lin Fu

3169

5

5.00p.m.

26 66

450

405

,,

6

10.00 a.m.

26 65

400

35 0

5'6'o

2'3'o

Clear, light wind N.

,,

6

5.00p.m.

26 55

44-4

390

...

...

,,

7

10.00 a.m.

2654

365

340

570

235

Slight hoar-frost during night.

,,

7

6.00 p.m.

2652

44 0

400

Clear. Noon Light wind N.

,,

8

9.00a.m.

2669

314

55 0

270

Few cirrus all day.

,,

...

8

6.00p.m.

26 68

382

360

Light wind N.

,,

9

10.00 a.m.

26 72

370

35 0

s'eo

27'o

Slight hoar-frost during night.

,,

9

6.00p.m.

26 68

422

370

Clear, light wind N.E.

,,

10

10.00 a.m.

26 74

382

360

57'o

25-0

Slight hoar-frost during night.

,,

10

5.30p.m.

2668

405

360

Clear, light wind N.R.

^ ,

11

10.00 a.m.

26 78

36 0

340

5'5'o

250

Clear, light wind N.

^ ^

11

5.30p.m.

26 76

430

380

J ,

12

10.00 a.m.

2672

31 0

5i20

150

Clear, light wind S.

,,

12

5.30p.m.

2662

320

,,

13

9.30 a.m.

2666

34 0

49'o

2l'5

Clear, light wind N.

^ J

13

5.00p.m.

2659

420

380

J J

14

10.00 a.m.

2660

370

34 0

5'()'o

210

Clear, light wind S.

^ J

14

5.00p.m.

26 60

44-5

400

,,

15

10.00 a.m.

2664

35 0

330

s'o'o

220

Slight hoar-frost during night.

"

15

5.00p.m.

26 64

450

380

2.30 p.m. Heavy cumulus, light wind

N.E.

J J

16

10.00 a.m.

2670

34 0

460

200

Clouds disappear at 9.00 a.m.

^ J

...

16

6.00p.m.

2670

300

Light wind N.

,,

...

17

9.30 a.m.

26 64

330

...

4'6'o

200

Slight hoar-frost during night.

,,

...

17

5.00p.m.

26 52

430

380

Cirrus. 2.00 p.m. Clear, light wind W.

,,

18

10.00 a.m.

26 36

350

330

47-0

2'()'o

Clear, light wind S.

18

5.00p.m.

26 34

475

41 0

][

19

10.00 a.m.

26 40

415

360

54"5

2'5"o

Hoar-frost during night, clear, light

"

19

5.30p.m.

26 48

480

400

wind N. 2.00 p.m. Cirrus, strong
wind N., dust haze.

J ,

20

11.00 a.m.

2658

34 5

540

235

Slight hoar-frost during night, clear.

j^

20

6.00p.m.

2658

340

...

Evening. Few cirrus, light wind S.

"

...

21

10.00 a.m.

2672

360

34'0

450

2*3*5

Cirrus and cumulus. 2.00 p.m. Clear.

* Latitude 38«» 16' 54"

N., Longitude 109'
227

44' 59" E.

kETEOROLOGiCAL OBSERVATIONS— cow/Zw^f/.

y

Date.

Time of
Observation.

£«

S c
» o
S'5

-1

11

Temperature.

PLACE.

Dry
Bulb.

Wet

REMARKS.

<<

£.2

^^

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

°F.

OF.

0 F.

igo8

Nov.

Yii-Hn Fu

3169

21

6.00p.m.

26 72

300

...

...

Strong wind N.

22

10.00 a.m.

26 72

...

320

420

135

Slight hoar-frost during night.

...

22

6.00p.m.

2668

32-5

.. .

Clear, light wind S.

23

10.00a.m.

2662

260

...

420

140

Slight hoar-frost during night.

23

6.00p.m.

2654

...

370

34 0

Clear, light wind N.

24

10.00 a.m.

2656

350

330

430

210

Slight hoar-frost during night.

24

6.00p.m.

2644

...

41 0

350

...

Clear, light wind W.

...

25

10.00a.m.

26 58

31 5

47.0

21.0

Slight hoar-frost during night.

25

noon

26-56

32-5

...

Dust haze all day.

25

6.00p.m.

2664

275

Strong wind N.W.

...

26

10.00 a.m.

2678

...

250

...

360

20-0

"Wind till 2.00 a.m. Clear.

26

6.00p.m.

26 72

...

220

...

...

Light wind N.

...

27

9.30 a.m.

26 64

270

...

360

125

Clear, light wind N.W.

27

6.00p.m.

26 60

250

...

...

28

10.00a.m.

26 64

270

370

250

Clear, light wind N.

28

6.30p.m.

26 62

285

29

10.00 a.m.

26 60

...

305

.. .

360

190

3.00 p.m. Cirro-cumulus and cumulus.

29

6.00p.m.

26 68

330

...

Light wind N.

...

30

10.00 a.m.

26 88

...

275

46-0

190

Few cirrus. Noon Clear.

...

30

6.00p.m.

26 76

250

...

Light wind N.W.

...

Dec.
1

10.00 a.m.

2674

...

220

380

140

Clear, light wind N.

...

1

6.00p.m.

26 66

...

27-5

• ••

...

...

2

10.00 a.m.

26 54

...

290

...

420

17 0

Clear, light N.W.

...

2

6.00p.m.

2664

...

300

...

3

10.00a.m.

26-54

...

290

360

170

Clear, light variable.

3

6.00p.m.

26 36

34 0

4

10.00 a.m.

26 28

350

330

2'3-0

Cumulus. 10.00 a.m. Clear, slight dust

...

4

6.00 p.m.

26 40

...

400

350

...

haze, moderate wind N. 2.00 p.m.
Calm.

...

5

8.00 a.m.

26 38

210

...

420

I8-5

Cirro-cumulus all day.

Yii-ho-p'u

2777

5

8.00p.m.

26 72

360

340

...

Light wind S.

...

6

7.00 a.m.

27 02

206 7

270

...

27 0

Cirrus all day.

Mi-chih Hsien ...

2468

6

7.00 p.m.

2740

207 3

360

• •■

Moderate wind N.

,,

...

7

10.00 a.m.

27 65

260

420

120

Cirrus all day.

,,

7

6.00p.m.

27 50

280

Light wind N.

,,

...

8

10.00 a.m.

27 53

...

280

...

...

Heavy cumulus all day.

,,

...

8

6.00p.m.

27 48

...

290

• •.

Light wind N.

,,

...

9

7.00 a.m.

27 38

300

400

250

Heavy cumulus all night, stratus and

Sui-t4 Chou

2330

9

5.30 p.m.

2751

207-6

340

nimbus. 4.00 p.m. Few cirrus,
moderate wind S.E.

,,

...

10

10.00 a.m.

27 48

280

...

390

175

Cumulus till 4.00 p.m., clear.

,,

...

10

6.30p.m.

27 42

280

...

Light wind N.W.

.,

11

7.00 a.m.

27-41

24.0

380

230

Cirro-cumulus and cumulus all day.

Shih-ts'ui-yi

3017

11

6.00p.m.

2674

2062

34-5

Light variable wind.

,,

...

12

10.00 a.m.

26 85

36 5

33 0

38-0

180

Cirrus all day.

,,

12

6.00p.m.

2681

...

350

330

...

Light variable wind.

,,

13

10.00 a.m.

2664

320

«••

46-5

1*8-0

Cirrus. 6.00 p.m. Clear.

,,

13

6.00p.m.

2675

28 0

...

...

Light variable wind all day.

,,

14

7.00 a.m.

26 95

190

...

51-5

170

Cumulus. Noon Cirrus.

Ch'ing-chien

Hsien

2583

14

6.00p.m.

27 26

207 3

280

Light variable wind.

,,

...

15

10.00 a.m.

27 05

...

30 0

390

180

Clear, light variable wind.

,,

15

6.00p.m.

26-99

30 0

...

,,

16

7.00 a.m.

2702

190

46-0

160

Nimbus and cumulus all day.

Ma-chia-k'ou

2369

16

6.00p.m.

27 30

2074

34 0

...

■ ••

Light variable wind.

..

17

10.00 a.m.

27-62

...

320

...

400

240

Clear, light variable wind.

,,

...

17

6.00p.m.

27-58

310

...

...

,,

18

7.00 a.m.

27-49

...

125

...

406

11-5

Clear. 2.00 p.m. Few cirrus.

Kan-ku-yu

2527

18

6.00p.m.

2717

207 1

190 ...

...

Light variable wind.

228

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— cow/wwet/.

ii

§2

Date.

Time of
Observation.

Si!

3 a

■& s

0

i

Temperature.

PLACE.

1|

Bul^.

Wet
Bulb.

Max.

Min.

REMARKS.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

1908
Dec.

Kan-ku-yu

2527

19

10.00 a.m.

27- 19

195

280

SO

Slight hoar-frost during night.

*Yen-an Fu

2769

19

9.00 p.m.

26 94

2066

230

Clear, light variable wind,

,,

20

11.00 a.m.

26 78

170

3-5

Clear, light variable wind.

,,

20

6.00p.m.

2672

305

J J

21

10.00 a.m.

2686

265

35 0

18-0

Heavy cumulus all day.

,,

21

6.00p.m.

26-94

32 0

Light variable wind.

,,

22

10.00 a.m.

27 08

21 0

37 0

120

Clear, light variable wind.

,,

22

6.00p.m.

2696

24-5

...

J J

23

10.00 a.m.

2690

200

320

100

Clear, light variable wind.

23

7.00p.m.

26 82

27 5

24

10.00 a.m.

26 90

220

330

180

Few Cirrus during afternoon.

, ,

24

6.00p.m.

2686

300

Light variable wind.

,,

25

10.00 a.m.

2682

260

360

105

Cirrus all day.

, J

25

6.00p.m.

26 76

295

Light variable wind.

,,

26

10.00 a.m.

26 90

205

36 0

105

Cirrus all day.

,,

26

6.00p.m.

26 88

31 0

Light variable wind.

,,

27

10.00 a.m.

2696

270

350

2"2-"5

Cumulus all day.

, ,

27

6.00p.m.

2692

31 0

Light wind S.

,^

28

10.00 a.m.

26 88

210

110

Clear, light wind S.W.

,,

28

6.00 p.m.

2688

34 0

,,

29

10.00 a.m.

2678

170

400

'9-0

Clear, light variable wind.

j^

29

8.00 p.m.

2678

28-5

,,

30

10.00 a.m.

26 92

200

360

90

Few Cirro-cumulus all day.

j^

30

6.00p.m.

2702

300

Light wind N.E.

j^

31

10.00 a.m.

27 26

190

35 0

l'2-"5

Clear, calm.

-

31

6.00p.m.

27 10

190

1909

Jan.

10.00 a.m.

26 90

120

310

10

Heavy cumulus all day.

1

6.00 p.m.

2678

245

...

Light variable wind.

2

10.00 a.m.

26 76

250

190

Heavy cumulus all day.

2

6.00p.m.

2668

31 0

..

Calm.

3

10.00 a.m.

2672

260

340

110

Clear, light variable wind.

3

6.00p.m.

2664

330

4

11.00 a.m.

26 68

21 0

390

11-5

Cirro-cumulus and cumulus all day.

4

6.00p.m.

2674

34-5

Moderate wind N.W.

5

10.00 a.m.

26 84

220

390

220

Cirro-cumulus and cumulus all day.

5

6.00p.m.

2682

295

Light wind N.W.

6

10.00 a.m.

2684

20-5

340

l'3-5

Cirrus and Cirro-cumulus all day.

6

6.00p.m.

2678

27-5

Light variable wind.

7

9.30 a.m.

2686

20-5

3*30

150

Cirro-cumulus and cumulus all day.

7

6.00p.m.

2684

290

...

Light variable wind.

8

10.00 a.m.

2676

180

34 0

90

Cirrus all day.

8

6.00p.m.

26 66

325

• ••

Light wind W.

9

10.00 a.m.

2680

21 0

36 0

11-5

Cirrus all day.

9

6.00p.m.

2680

330

Light variable wind.

10

10.00a.m.

2694

190

380

160

Heavy cumulus and stratus all day.

10

6.00p.m.

27 00

32-5

Noon to 6.00 p.m. Light snow. Light
variable wind .

11

10,00 a.m.

27 08

31 5

360

210

Stratus. Light snow during night and

11

6.00p.m.

27 02

30-5

• ••

all day. Moderate wind S.

...

12

10.00 a.m.

27 02

220

360

200

Little snow during night. Cumulus all

12

6.00p.m.

2706

270

...

day. Moderate wind W.

13

10.00 a.m.

27- 10

270

320

150

Cumulus and stratus. Light fall snow

13

6.00p.m.

27 10

230

...

at 3.00 p.m. Light wind N.W.

14

9.00 a.m.

27 02

10-5

290

85

Few cirrus. Light wind W.

14

6.00p.m.

2698

250

...

",

15

8.30 a.m.

2700

70

290

*5-5

Cirro-cumulus all day.

••

...

15

6.00p.m.

26-82

280

...

...

Light wind N.

• Latitude 36" 35' 33"

N.. Longitude 109*» 26' 49" E.
229

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— coaj/ww^o'.

PLACE.

Yen-an Fu

I/ao-shan ...

Tao-tso-p'u

Fu Chou ...
Ch'ang-ts'un-yi

Hai-shui-sstt
T'ai-pei-ch'6ng

1.2
«

feet.

2769

3207

2843

2912

3045

3174

3528

Date.

19=9
Jan.
16
16

17
17
18
18
19
19
20
20
21
21
22
22
23
23
24
24
25
25
26
26

27
27

28
28
29
29
30
30

31
31

Feb.
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5

6

6

7

7

8

8

9

9

10

10

11

Time of
Observation.

10.00 a.m
6.00p.m

10.00 am

e.OOp.tn
10.00a. m

e.OOp.m

9.00 a.m

e.OOp.m
10.00 a.m

e.OOp.m
10.00 am

6.30 p. m
10.00 am

e.OOp.m
10.00 am

e.OOp.m
10.00 a.m

e.OOp.m
10.00a.m.

e.OOp.m
10.00 am

6.00p.m.

10.00 a.m,
e.OOp.m,

9.00 a.m
e.OOp.m.
10.00 a.m.
e.OOp.m,
7.30 a.m,
e.OOp.m.

10.00 a.m.
e.OOp.m,

7.30 a.m.

e.OOp.m.
10.00 a.m.

e.OOp.m.
10.00 a.m.

6.00 p.m.

7.30 a.m.

e.OOp.m.

7.30 a.m.

e.OOp.m.

10.00 a.m.

6.00p.m.

7.30 a.m.

e.30p.m.
10.00 a.m.

e.OOp.m.

8.00 a.m.

6.00 p.m.
10.00 a.m.

6.00p.m.

8.00 a.m

u

incbe.s.

2684
26 78

2672
26.66

26 86

27 10
2716
27 00
26 98
2696
2695
2694
26 96
26 84
2694
26 86
2678
2672
2686
26 80
26 84
26 74

26 90
26 90

2692
2686
26 86
2675
26 73
2634

26 34
2627

26 28
2668
2687
2682

27 08
2698
27 00
27 02
27 14
27- 12

27 38
27 29
27- 18
2667
26 64
2652
2659
26 30
2652
26-48
2662

®£

Temperature.

1

.E B
"5 i

1

8|

Dry

Wet

«K

Bulb.

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

230

300

160

265

220

320

150

290

260

300

25 0

165

-10

27-0

-3 5

11 0

10

-25

17-5

100

...

Zero

220

• *.

90

15

270

270

180

320

120

360

8*0

305

180

36 0

90

29 0

150

340

60

335

280

360

18-5

340

...

...

140

390

60

295

200

125

355

190

190

370

280

420

150

360

300

380

280

2062

370

...

370

420

230

30-5

...

210

420

90

385

120

400

11-0

206-8

34 0

85

390

80

207 2

250

200

360

40

270

20

300

20

206-2

280

240

340

'4-0

330

150

360

130

205 5

385

21 0

45-0

ii'o

350

...

95

370

90

REMARKS.

Snow during night. Cirro-cumulus and
cumulus. Light variable wind. 2.00
p.m., clear.

Cumulus and stratus all day.

Light variable wind.

Stratus all day. Moderate wind N.W.

Cirro-cumulus all day.

Light wind N.

Clear. Light variable wind.

Clear, calm.

Cirro-cumulus during forenoon.

Light wind S.

Slight hoar-frost during night.

Clear, light wind S.

Slight hoar-frost during night. Clear

2.00 p.m. Hazy, light variable wind.
Slight hoar-frost during night.
Clear, light variable wind.
Slight hoar-frost during night. 4.00

p m.. Cirro-cumulus, light variable

wind.
Slight hoar-frost during night. 2.00

p.m.. Cirro-cumulus, light variable

•wind.
Cirro-cumulus all day.
Light wind N.
Cumulus all day.
Light variable wind.
Slight fall of snow during night, and

during day. Cumulus and stratus,

light wind S,
Hoar-frost during night. Cumulus all

day. Moderate wind S.

Hoar-frost during night. Stratus and

nimbus all day. Light wind S.
Cumulus. 11.00 a.m., clear.
Light wind N.
Clear, moderate wind N.

Slight hoar-frost during night.
Cirrus all day, light variable wind.
Slight hoar-frost during night.
Cumulus and stratus all day,

variable wind.
Slight hoar-frost during night,

cirrus all day, moderate wind N.
Cirrus all day, moderate wind.

light
few

Clear, moderate -wind S.

Cirrus and cirro-cumulus all day.
Moderate wind N.W.
Cumulus, dust haze all day.
Strong wind N.W.
Slight hoar-frost during night.

230

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— com/ww^q.

PLACE.

§3

Date.

Time of
Observation.

Si

'A

n
II

Temperature.

Bolb.

Wet

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

REMARKS.

feet.

inche.s.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

1909

Feb.

Miao-ts'un

4144

11

6.00p.m.

25 78

204-4

280

...

Few cirrus all day, moderate wind N.W.

J ,

12

10.00 a.m.

25 76

25 0

350

20

Clear, strong wind W.N.W.

,,

12

6.00p.m.

2568

31 0

...

...

J J

13

10.00 a.m.

25 53

330

...

105

Clear, strong variable wind.

J J

13

6.00 p.m.

2549

380

...

,,

14

7.30 a.m.

25-52

220

455

21 0

Cirrus and cumulus all day, dust haze.

Ho-shui Hsien ...

4146

14

6.00 p.m.

2619

430

380

moderate wind S.W.

,,

15

7.30a.m.

2625

205 4

180

490

170

Few cirrus and haze all day.

Ch'ing-yang Fu ...

4216

15

6.00p.m

26 29

205-5

44-5

390

Light variable wind.

,,

16

10.00 a. m

2645

300

560

21 0

Few cumulus, noon, clear.

J

16

6.00p.m.

26 32

450

390

Light wind W.

,,

17

10.00 a.m.

26 29

320

500

2*4-'5

Clear, light wind S.E.

,,

17

6.00p.m.

26 13

480

420

,,

18

10.00 a.m.

26 23

360

330

5*2 0

28-5

Clear, light variable wind.

J J

18

6.00p.m.

2615

480

420

,,

19

10.00 a.m.

2655

31 0

...

560

28-0

Cirrus all day, light wind N.W.

,,

19

7.00p.m.

2644

350

,,

20

9.30 a.m.

2645

260

560

190

Cumulus all day.

, J

...

20

6.30 p.m.

26 35

370

3

40

Light wind N.W.

,,

...

21

7.30 a.m.

2641

205-8

260

42 0

250

Cumulus, stratus and nimbus all day.

Pai-ma-p'u

5677

21

6.00p.m.

25 30

203-5

285

Light wind S.W. 11.00 a.m. to 2.00
p.m. snow fell.

, ,

22

8.00a.m.

25 20

203 4

230

360

21 5

Snow during night and forenoon.

Hsi-f6ng-chen ...

5546

22

6.30p.m.

25 30

203 7

300

Stratus and nimbus all day, light wind
S.W.

,,

...

23

10.00 a.m.

25 22

280

360

180

Heavy hoar-frost during night.

•■

23

6.00p.m.

25 20

360

Fog 11.00 a.m. Cirro-cumulus. 4.00
p.m. cumulus, light wind W.

, ^

...

24

10.00 a.m.

25 35

350

420

280

Slight hoar-frost during night, cumulus.

,,

...

24

6.00p.m.

2530

28-5

Haze all day, light wind W.

,,

25

7.30 a.m.

25 26

203 6

20 5

360

19-5

Slight hoar-frost during night.

T'ai-pei-ch'gng ...

5119

25

6.00p.m.

25-29

203 7

285

Stratus and nimbus all day.
Light wind S.E.

j^

...

26

10.00 a.m.

2541

25-5

25 0

Snow during night.

,,

26

6.00p.m.

25 40

350

Overcast, stratus and cumulus all day,

light variable wind.

, J

27

8.00 a.m.

25 44

2038

265

420

21-5

Cirrus, cirro-cumulus and cumulus all

Ch^n-yiian Hsien

4478

27

6.00p.m.

26 04

205 0

410

360

day, light wind N.W.

1.

28

10.00 a.m.

26 18

41-5

370

42 0

29.0

Cumulus all day, few flakes snow.

••

...

28

6.00p.m.

2610

370

330

Light wind N.W.

Mar.

1

7.30 a.m.

2601

2050

210

48.0

190

Cirro-cumulus and cumulus all day.

Yang-shu-wan

5336

1

6.30p.m.

25-54

204 1

440

390

» • •

Light wind S.E.

,,

2

10.00 a.m.

25 74

390

360

560

180

Cumulus and haze.

,,

2

6.00p.m.

2561

400

360

Light wind N.

J J

3

7.30 a.m.

25 50

204-0

260

52 0

22 5

Cumulus all day.

Liu-chia-hua

5763

3

6.00p.m.

25.08

203 2

430

Moderate wind N.W.

4

7.30 a.m.

25 02

31 0

480

180

Cirro-cumulus and cumulus since noon,

^ ,

4

6.00p.m.

25 05

45-5

400

strong wind N.W.

,,

5

7.30 a.m.

2510

2033

30-5

560

30 0

Cumulus and stratus all day.

J6n-sa-ho

6345

5

6.00p.m.

24 55

202 2

21 0

Strong wind N.W.

^ ^

...

6

8.00 a.m.

24 52

202 1

80

50

Slight hoar-frost during night, few cirrus

♦Ku-yiian Chou ...

6333

6

6.00p.m.

24-25

201-7

455

400

all day, light wind N.W.

^

7

10.00 a.m.

24 29

455

400

560

25-5

Cirrus and cirro-cumulus all day, light

,^

7

6.30p.m.

24 20

430

360

wind W.

,[

8

10.00 a.m.

24 18

530

460

570

32 5

Cumulus all day, dust haze.

,.

8

6.00p.m.

24 19

490

44 5

• ..

Light wind N.W.

*

9

10.00 a.m.

24 09

480

420

61-5

29 0

Cirrus and cumulus during afternoon.

••

9

6.00p.m.

24 05

382

40

...

Moderate wind E.

Latitude 36" 00' 23" N., Longitude 106° 6' 28" E.
231

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— cowZ/Ww^q.

g 3

§3

Date.

Time of
Observation.

a 2

•Sri

Temperature.

PLACE.

Dry
Bulb.

Wet

REMARKS.

«

^1

«a

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

fe«t.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

1909

Mar.

Ku-yiian Chou ...

6333

10

10.00 a.m.

2415

36-5

350

570

225

Stratus and nimbus all day. 10.00 a.m.

,,

10

6.00p.m.

24 20

390

350

to 1.00 p.m. Little rain, slight wind N.

11

10.30 a.m.

24 36

300

45-5

235

7.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. Snow, stratusand

...

11

6.00p.m.

24 42

290

nimbus all day. Light wind N.

12

10.00 a.m.

24 39

300

36-0

200

Snow. 10.00 a.m. Cumulus and stratus.

...

12

6.00p.m.

24 42

280

...

...

5.00 p.m. Clear. Light wind E.

...

13

10.00 a.m.

24 41

300

l*8-"o

Few cirrus all day.

...

13

6.00p.m.

24 35

405

360

Light wind S.

...

14

10.00 a.m.

24 26

400

360

605

32 0

Cirrus and cumulus all day.

...

14

6.00p.m.

24 30

400

360

...

Wind N.W.

15

10.00 a.m.

24 26

380

^.

61 0

30 0

Fog. 11.00 a.m. Cumulus.

...

15

6.00p.m.

24 31

41-5

380

...

Light wind N.E.

16

7.30 a.m.

24 47

2020

31 0

...

650

31 0

Fog and haze. Noon, Cirro-cumulus

Ch'ang-yi-p'u

6813

16

6.00p.m.

2337

1997

360

...

...

and Cumulus. Wind, a.m., N. ; p.m.,
S.W.

••

...

17

10.00 a.m.

2343

330

42.5

195

Snow till 11.00 a.m. Stratus and
cumulus.

,,

...

17

6.00p.m.

23-32

300

...

...

...

Light wind W.

,,

18

7.15 a.m.

23 20

1995

310

180

Stratus and nimbus. 11.00a.m. cumulus.

Ch'ang-t'ai-p'u ...

6653

18

6.00p.m.

2395

2008

420

37 0

2.00 p.m. clear. Moderate wind S.

,,

19

10.00 a.m.

24 08

380

...

450

150

Strong wind during night. Haze all

,,

...

19

6.00p.m.

24 06

350

...

day. Moderate wind S.

J,

...

20

7.00 a.m.

24- 10

261 3

300

24 -0

Cumulus all day.

Ching-ning Chou .

6276

20

6.00p.m.

24 46

201-8

460

400

...

Moderate wind S.W.

J J

21

10.00 a.m.

24 34

410

380

520

39-5

Small amount of rain in morning.

••

21

6.00p.m.

24 29

...

450

425

Cumulus and stratus all day.
Light wind S.W.

,,

22

10.00 a.m.

2438

430

400

465

33-5

Fog and overcast all day. Light wind

••

...

22

6.30 p.m.

24 59

31 0

W. 5.00 p.m. little snow. Small
amount of rain in morning.

,,

23

7.00 a.m.

24 80

202 8

290

460

170

Little snow during night. Cumulus and

Ch'ing-chia-yi ...

7468

23

6.00p.m.

24- 10

201-4

24-5

stratus all day. Strong wind N.

,,

24

9.30 a.m.

24 07

280

'e-'o

Clear, light wind W.

1 ^

...

24

6.00p.m.

24 '48

400

350

,,

...

25

7.00 a.m.

2403

2612

200

5'5-'o

180

Cirro-cumulus all day.

Hui-ning Hsien ...

6125

25

6.00p.m.

24 49

2020

430

390

...

Light wind E.

,,

...

26

10.00 a.m.

24 37

370

330

500

2"2"5

Little snow. Strong wind and dust

,,

26

6.00p.m.

24 28

39-0

350

storm S. Cumulus all day.

,,

27

7.00 a.m.

24 37

2620

280

51 0

21-5

Cirro-cumulus all day.

Hsi-kung-yi

6568

27

6.00p.m.

2416

201 3

500

38-0

...

...

Light wind S.W.

,,

...

28

10.00 a.m.

24 28

430

340

570

270

Cumulus all day. Evening overcast.

,,

...

28

6.00p.m.

24 20

490

390

Light wind W.

,,

29

7.00 a.m.

24-25

261 6

34 0

560

325

Snow during night and at 7.00 a.m. up

An-ting Hsien ...

6762

29

6.00p.m.

23 88

2011

400

35 0

to noon, fog. Clear towards evening.
Wind N. Noon, wind S.W.

,,

...

30

10.00 a.m.

23 83

420

360

580

205

Cirro-cumulus all day.

,,

...

30

6.00p.m.

23 74

580

46-5

Light variable wind.

,,

31

10,00 a.m.

24 00

440

380

64-0

28-0

Cumulus all day.

••

...

31

6.00p.m.

23-95

430

340

...

Light wind N.E.

April

,,

1

7.15 a.m.

23-87

2009

21 5

620

145

Cirrus all day.

Ch'feng-k'ou-yi ...

6839

1

6.00p.m.

23-75

200-5

51 0

380

Light variable wind.

,,

2

7.15 a.m.

23-80

200 7

300

62 0

270

Few cirrus all day.

Kan-tsao-tien

6781

2

6.00p.m.

23-81

2006

585

390

Light wind N.W.

,,

...

3

10.00 a.m.

23 86

490

450

680

32 0

Clear, light variable wind.

,,

...

3

6.00p.m.

23 74

54 0

430

...

Snow between 6.00 and 9.00 a.m.

,,

...

4

7.00 a.m.

23 83

2009

420

350

580

370

Cumulus with haze all day.

Hsiao-shui-tzfl ...

5559

4

6.00p.m.

24 96

203 0

54 0

41 0

..•

Light wind N.W. 4.00p.m. Strong N.W.

"

...

5

7.00 a.m.

25-26

203-8

410

350

56 0

410

Overcast, cumulus. 4.00 p.m. Clear.

23:

2

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS -continued.

PLACE.

x'-S

Date.

Time of
Observation.

1

Temperature.

0

Dry

Bulb.

Wet

REM.ARKS.

«

^^

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

•Lan-chou Fu ...

5106

igo9

Apr.

5

6.00p.m.

2527

203-7

480

370

Light wind N.W.

6

10.30 a.m.

2515

460

380

560

305

No clouds, haze.

6

6.30p.m.

25 00

51 5

Light wind N.W.

7

10.30 a.m.

2491

550

4'4-'o

60 0

30*0

3.00 p.m. Cumulus.

7

8.00p.m.

24 82

540

450

Light wind N.W.

8

10.00 a.m.

24 86

440

370

630

370

Cirro-cumulus and dust haze all day.

8

7.00p.m.

24 84

600

51 0

WindE.

9

10.00 a.m.

25 00

51 0

41 0

63-0

4*50

Cirro-cumulus and haze all day.

9

7.00p.m.

2491

600

51 0

Light wind W.

10

10.00 a.m.

24 99

530

450

66-0

4*5-5

Cirro-cumulus all day.

..

10

6.00p.m.

24 80

650

530

Light variable wind.

11

10.00 a.m.

24 80

51 0

400

695

48**5

Cirro-cumulus. 4.00 p.m. Overcast.

..

11

6.30p.m.

24 94

685

500

LightwindE. 4.00 p.m. Moderate wind E.

12

9.30 a.m.

25 02

575

450

73*0

455

Cumulus with haze all day.

..

12

6.00p.m.

24 84

670

550

Light wind E.

..

13

10.00 a.m.

24-98

590

480

75-0

4*5-0

Clear. 1.00 p.m. Overcast, Light windE.

..

13

7.00p.m.

25 02

590

400

• •■

5.00 p.m. Dust storm, duration one hour.

..

14

9.00 a.m.

25 14

560

450

75-0

400

Clear, calm.

14

6.00p.m.

25 02

67-5

550

15

9.30 a.m.

24 92

62-5

530

75-0

4'4-*5

Cumulus all day.

15

6.00p.m.

24 72

680

580

Light wind E.

16

8.00 a.m.

24 88

61-5

540

76-'5

5"2-'5

Dust haze all day, light wind W.

..

16

6.00p.m.

24-88

630

490

...

3.00 p.m. Strong wind W.

17

9.30 a.m.

2512

550

41-5

75 0

41-5

Cirro-cumulus all day.

17

6.00p.m.

25 01

625

51 0

Moderate wind E.

18

10.00 a.m.

25 06

520

39-5

66-0

360

Noon, cumulus.

18

6.00p.m.

24 78

610

455

• ••

2.00 p.m.. Strong wind E.

,,

19

10.00 a.m.

24 96

536

450

69-"5

• ••

Overcast, cumulus all day.

19

7.00p.m.

25 04

500

480

...

Light wind E., 8.00 p.m. little rain.

20

10.00 a.m.

2510

535

450

60-0

425

Cumulus and haze all day.

20

6.00p.m.

2501

595

470

Light wind W.

21

8.00 a.m.

25 14

430

370

690

33*"5

Cirro-cumulus and cumulus. 4.00 p.m.

21

7.00p.m.

25 04

600

480

...

Overcast. Light wind E. 4.00 p.m.
Strong wind W.

22

9.30 a.m.

25 06

530

430

680

33 5

Cirro-cumulus all day.

22

7.00p.m.

24 92

61 0

51 5

Light wind W.

..

23

10.00 a.m.

25 06

620

480

75-0

4'5*-'o

Cirro-cumulus, cumulus and haze all day.

23

6.00p.m.

24-86

730

61 0

Light wind E.

..

24

10.00 a.m.

24 90

61-5

500

78 0

43*5

Noon, cumulus from E. Light wind.

24

6.00p.m.

24 74

720

680

5.00 p.m. Strong wind one hour.

..

25

10.00 a.m.

24-96

630

530

830

54*5

Heavy cumulus, little rain.

..

25

7.00p.m.

24 94

...

58-5

485

Light wind W. Afternoon Light wind E.

26

9.30 a.m.

24 94

590

450

680

41 0

Morning Cirrus. Evening Cumulus,

26

6.00p.m.

24 90

61-5

51 5

...

Light wind E. 4.00 p.m. Moderate
wind N.W. 5.00 p.m. Few drops rain.

^

27

10.00 a.m.

25 14

485

430

690

465

Fog, heavy cumulus, cumulus and stratus

P

27

6.00p.m.

2516

450

420

Light wind S.E. Noon little rain

W"

28

6.00 a.m.

25 22

203 3

380

370

365

Cumulus all day. Moderate wind varia-

28

6.00p.m.

25 16

580

485

■ ••

ble.

29

9.30 a.m.

25 16

495

390

...

3*1**5

Clear, light wind E.

29

6.00 p.m.

24 94

71 0

580

,.

30

6.30 a.m.

24 92

41 0

380

7*5-0

395

Clear, light wind W.

Ch'i-chia-ling

80

6.00p.m.

23 35

61 5

470

...

May

1

6.30 a.m.

23 36

360

750

330

Cirrus and few cumulus all day.

Ch'i-chia-shan

1

6.00p.m.

22 03

600

440

Light variable wind.

2

10.00 a.m.

22 00

...

64 0

500

Cirrus and cumulus all day with haze.

•'

2

6.00p.m.

2193

...

630

500

Noon, moderate wind W.

Latitude 36" 3' N., Longitude 103«
233

41' E.

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— continued.

PLACE.

Ch'i-chia-shan

Lan-chou Fu

S2

feet

Date.

5106

Ch'i-cbia-shan
Lan-chou Fu

5106

1909

May

3

3

4
4
5
5
6
6

7
7

8
8
9
9

10
10
11
11

Time of
Observation.

inches.

10.00 a.m.
6.00p.in.

7.30 a.m.

6.00p.m.
10.00 a.m.

6.00p.m.
10.00 a.m.

6.00p.m.

10.00 a.m.
6.00 p.m

10.00 a. m
6.00p.m.

10.00 a.m
6.00 p.m

9.30 a.m.

6.00p.m.
10.00 a.m.
.7.00p.m.

9.30 a.m,
7*00 p.m

10.00 a.m
6.00p.m

9.30 am
7,00p.m

5.30 a.m
6.30p.m

10.00 a.m
7.00p.m
6.00 a.m
6.00p.m
9.00 am
6.00 p.m

10.00 a.m
7.00p.m

10.00 a.m
6.30p.m

10.00 a.m
7.00 p.m
9.00 a.m
6.00p.m

10.00 a.m
6.30 p.m
9.30 am
6.00p.m
9.30 a.m

Evening

10.00 a.m
7.00p.m

10.30 am
7.00p.m
9.30 a.m

22- 15
2212

2221
25 04
25 09

24 96

25 00

24 96

2510

25 06

25 20
25 02
25.08
24 94

24 98
24 98
24 98
24 92

2518
25 20

25 30
25 28

25 28
25 08

25 06

24 86

25 06
24 94

24 98
2218
22 29
2512
25- 10

25 06
25 04

24 90

25 00

24 96

25 04

24 94

25 06
25 04
25 12
2506
25 18
2510
25 04
25 02
25 06
24 90
2500

6 «J

C B

■•2 S
o F.

Temperature.

Dry

Bulb.

o F.

610
540

430
650
580
680
61 5
620

640
650

620
665
595
700

700
71 0
660
61 5

430
430

420
480

430

54 5

365
670
605
700
475
570
520
630
640
690
665
730
650
71 5
680
805
720
690
630
710
67 0
74 0
640
720
720
780
700

Wet
Bulb.

OF.

450
400

380
57 0
490
620
500
550

550
540

51 0
530
51 0
550

530
570
530

575

41 0
400

395
440

41 0
500

340
51 0
51 0
620
440
44 0
440
520
54 0
590
490
580
500
550
54 0
59.0
550
570
530
570
520
590
490
610
54 0
620
54 0

Max.

o F.

780

780
750
74 0

780

750
71 0

730
780

790
550

Min.

OF.

760
74 0
65 0

75.0
78 0

82 0
84 0

83 0

780
840
82 0

450

41 0
45 0
49 0

530

520
450

450
490

380

380

370

365
54'5
475
390
52.0
46-5
53 0
51 0
560
55 0
470
460
490
500

REMARKS.

Strong wind W. since midnight. Few

cirrus and haze all day. Strong wind

and dust storms N.W.
Stratus, cumulus and stratus.
Light wind E.

Cumulus and stratus. Cumulus.
Light wind E.
Cumulus, cumulus and stratus. Light

wind. Moderate wind. 4.00 p.m.

little rain.
Cumulus and stratus all day. Little rain

during night. Moderate wind E.

6.00 p.m. Strong wind E.
Cumulus with haze. Cumulus. Strong

wind N.E. during night. Stiff wind E.
Strong wind S.E. from 9.00 p.m. to mid-
night. Cumulus all day. Slight

wind E.
Cumulus all day. Moderate wind E.
Strong wind N.E. 3.00 p.m. little rain.
Cumulus and stratus towards evening.

Light wind. 5.00 p.m. Hail and rain

for one hour.

Rainfall since 6.00 p.m. May 11th, =001

inches. Cumulus, fog, haze. Snow

on surrounding hills.
Cumulus and stratus. Rain during

night, 002 inches since 8.00 a.m.

Light variable wind.
Stratus and cumulus. Fog on mountains.

Rainfall 0 03 inches. Cumulus to noon

Calm.
Clear. Moderate wind S.E.

Cumulus all day.

Light wind E.

Cumulus with haze.

Light wind N.W.

Cumulus and haze.

Strong wind N.W.

Few cumulus all day.

Light wind E.

Cumulus all day. Light wind E.

6.00 p.m. Dust storm.

Cumulus all day.

Moderate wind E.

Clear. Light wind E.

4.00 p.m. Strong wind E.

Cumulus all day.

Strong wind and dust storm E.

Rainfall during night 002 inches.

Cumulus and few stratus. Strong wind E.

Few cumulus all day.

Moderate wind N.E.

Clear, Light wind E.

Cumulus all day.
Light wind E.
Cumulus all day.

234

M ETEOROLOGIC AL OBSERVATIONS— cow/ww^o'.

■""d

ta. •

Date.

Time of
Observation.

11

"2

1|

Temperature.

PLACE.

Dry

Wet

REMARKS.

<<

^^

Bulb.

Bulb.

Max.

Mil).

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

19:9

May

Lan-chou Fu

5106

28

6.30 p.m.

24 78

780

680

Light wind N.E. ~

,,

29

10.00 a.m.

24 96

750

600

mo

550

Few cumulus all day.

29

6.00p.m.

24 90

780

620

Light wind E.

, ,

30

9.30 a.m.

25- 18

750

600

88 "0

600

Cumulus and overcast all day.

,,

30

5.00p.m.

25 02

780

660

Light wind S.E.

,,

...

31

10.00 a.m.

25 10

61 0

600

820

5'90

Cumulus all day.

"

31

6.00p.m.

25 04

...

680

620

Light wind S.E.

June

1

9.30 a.m.

2500

630

590

53-5

Cumulus all day.

,,

1

5.30p.m.

24 72

...

760

65 0

Light wind N.E.

,,

2

10.30 a.m.

24 86

67 0

610

78-0

560

Cumulus and stratus, 2.00 p.m.

, J

2

7.00 p.m.

24 78

750

65 0

Strong wind and little rain.

J,

• ••

3

10.00 a.m.

24 90

730

590

...

520

Few cirrus all day.

,,

3

6.00 p.m.

24 -72

...

860

680

Light wind E.

J ^

4

10.00 a.m.

24 84

...

780

640

880

5*9 "0

Cumulus and dust haze.

,,

4

6.00p.m.

24 82

780

650

Strong wind N.E.

1 J

5

9.30 a.m.

24-94

670

600

840

65 0

Cumulus. Stratus towards evening.

, J

5

6.00p.m.

24 86

72-5

635

Rainfall, 001 ins. Moderate wind N.E.

,,

6

10.00 a.m.

25 00

725

6I-5

7'8-"o

600

Cirrus all day. Light wind N.E.

,,

6

7.00p.m.

24 86

...

750

625

J J

7

6.00 a.m.

24 78

61 0

570

820

59-0

Cirrus and cumulus, 2.00 p.m. Cumulus

,,

7

5.30p.m.

24 74

790

680

and stratus. Moderate wind N.E.

1 J

8

10.00 a.m.

24.90

630

620

780

630

Cumulus and stratus. Little rain all

, ,

...

8

6.00p.m.

24 88

660

570

morning. Moderate wind N.E.

,,

9

10.30 a.m.

24 90

690

570

720

49-0

Cumulus all day. Light wind E.

,,

9

6.00p.m.

24 86

690

600

3.30 p.m. Gale W. for half hour.

, J

10

10.00 a.m.

24 82

...

680

580

78-0

520

Cirrus all day. Moderate wind E.

••

10

7.30p.m.

24 68

...

740

600

6.00 p.m. Strong wind E. and dust
storm.

,,

11

10.00 a.m.

24 74

750

640

84 0

600

Cumulus. Stratus towards evening.

,,

...

11

7.00p.m.

24-78

780

600

Light wind. Strong W. in evening.

,,

• • .

12

10.00 a.m.

24-98

720

600

81 0

64-0

Cumulus and stratus all day. Strong

j^

12

7.00p.m.

25 06

560

540

wind N.E. 5.00 p.m. Rain

,,

• ..

13

10.30 a.m.

25 00

61 0

580

780

4'3-"o

Rainfall since 5.00 p.m. June 12th. 017

■•

...

13

6.30p.m.

24-94

690

620

...

inches. Cumulus all day. Light wind

N.E.

,,

14

10.00 a.m.

24 94

740

630

820

54 0

Cumulus. 3.30 p.m. Stratus, cumulus,

••

14

6.30p.m.

24 90

...

71 0

660

...

light wind. 3.30 p.m. Strong wind N.E.
Rain.

J J

15

2.00p.m.

24-84

710

630

840

540

Cumulus and stratus all day.

J J

15

6.00p.m.

24 90

610

580

Strong wind N.E. Little rain.

,,

16

10.00 a.m.

24-94

680

630

8'2-"o

550

Rainfall overnight Oil inches.

[[

16

7.30p.m.

24-82

730

650

...

...

Cumulusand mist all day. Light wind E.

...

17

10.00 a.m.

24-94

700

580

• ••

57-5

Rainfall 001 inches. Cirrus and cumulus

, J

...

17

5.00p.m.

24 84

790

67 0

...

all day. Light wind E.

,,

18

10.00 a.m.

24 90

710

610

840

62 0

Cumulus and haze all day.

J ,

18

6.00p.m.

24 98

640

560

Light wind N.E.

,,

19

11.30a.m.

24 94

750

620

820

570

Cumulus all day. Moderate wind W.

,,

19

6.30p.m.

24 88

740

630

J J

20

10.00 a.m.

24 90

...

720

600

780

550

Cumulus all day.

,j

20

7.30p.m.

24 86

760

65 0

Light wind W.

J J

...

21

10.00 a.m.

24 90

690

620

800

660

Cumulus and stratus all day.

j^

...

21

6.00p.m.

24-92

74 0

680

Moderate wind W. 11.00 a.m. Rain.

,,

...

22

9.00 a.m.

24-96

700

610

800

550

,,

• • .

23

6.00p.m.

24 -86

800

660

...

Cumulus all day. Moderate wind W.

,,

...

24

10.30 a.m.

24 88

71 0

650

860

63-0

Cumulus all day.

••

...

24

7.00 p.m.

24 90

790

660

...

Light wind E.

235

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— cow/ww^oC

g-5

2 =

Date.

Time of
Observation.

51
1=

V

Temperature.

PLACE.

•S H
1|

Dry

Wet

REMARKS.

<<

^^

«^

Bulb.

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

0 F.

OF.

OF.

OF.

1909

Lan-chou Fu

5106

June
25

10.00 a.m.

24 90

• ••

780

660

860

630

Cumulus all day.

25

7.30p.m.

24 86

830

680

...

Moderate wind E.

26

9.30 a.m.

25 04

600

600

96-0

600

Cumulus and stratus. Moderate wind

••

...

26

6.00p.m.

25 00

62 0

600

W. Rainfall 2.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. 072
inches (2.00 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. 0 51
inches).

,j

...

27

10.00 a.m.

24 90

650

600

680

530

Cumulus all day.

,,

27

7.00p.m.

24 74

740

640

Light wind W.

,,

...

28

10.30 a.m.

24 72

730

640

8*6 0

570

Cumulus. I/ight wind W.

28

6.00p.m.

24 60

860

750

29

10.30 a.m.

24 76

740

64 0

900

6*8*0

Cumulus all day. Morning Moderate

][

29

7.30p.m.

2470

74 0

67 0

windE. Evening Moderate wind N.E.

,,

...

30

10.00 a.m.

24 82

765

750

86-0

64 0

Rainfall Oil inches. Stratusand cumulus

••

...

30

7.00p.m.

24 84

680

620

all day. Light wind N.E.

July

10.00 a.m.

24 94

640

630

800

600

9.00 a.m. Rain 008 inches. Cumulus and

J,

...

1

6.00p.m.

24 98

640

620

...

stratus all day. Light variable wind.

,,

...

2

11.00 a.m.

24 90

660

640

7'4'o

530

Stratus and nimbus all day. Light

^^

...

2

6.00p.m.

24 88

620

620

variable wind. Rainfall 017 inches.

1',

...

3

11.00 a.m.

710

685

810

58-5

Cumulus, stratus. Clear overhead.

,,

...

3

5.00p.m.

24-80

78-5

71 0

Rainfall = 0 03 inches.

,,

...

4

10.00 a.m.

24 97

705

650

6*0-8

RainfaI13.30a.m.to8.00a.m.=010inches.

ji

...

4

6.00p.m.

24 90

72-5

660

Cumulus and stratus.

, J

...

5

10.00 a.m.

24 92

820

66-5

87-5

6*1*0

Clear, calm.

,^

...

5

6.00p.m.

24 86

780

712

,,

...

6

10.00 a.m.

24 89

730

650

850

64 5

Overcast. Light wind W.

,,

...

7

morning

24 80

780

680

830

615

Clear, calm. Evening Stratus and

,1

...

7

6.00 p.m.

2471

770

668

cumulus. Strong wind E.

,,

...

8

10.00 a.m.

24 75

710

660

7*9-2

662

10.00a.m. Dull, calm. 8.00p.m. Overcast.

,,

8

8.00p.m.

24 79

710

635

Brisk breeze N.E.

J,

9

10.00 a.m.

24 75

74 0

67-5

878

6*4**2

10.00 a.m. Clear, calm. 6.00 p.m. Cum-

,1

9

6.00p.m.

24 70

860

670

ulus. Light wind N.E.

,,

10

10.00 a.m.

2488

74 0

680

8*2 0

6*5*-5

Overcast, calm all day.

,,

...

10

evening

24 84

750

680

...

10.00 p.m. Heavy shower of rain.

••

...

11

10.00 a.m.

24 93

635

685

si's

630

Rain all day. Total rainfall since 10.00
p.m. July 10th. =092 inches.

,,

12

10.00 a.m.

24 96

690

620

760

562

Morning Clear. Light breeze N.E.

,,

...

12

8.00p.m.

24 90

71 2

61 0

...

Evening Cirrus, calm.

jj

...

13

1.00p.m.

24 90

790

615

84 0

612

Clear, calm.

,,

...

14

2.00p.m.

24 82

850

72-2

850

61 0

Cirro-stratus. Fresh breeze N.E.

1,

...

14

6.00p.m.

24 82

810

652

Evening Cirrus, calm.

,,

15

7.00 a.m.

24 86

710

650

6*2**0

Morning Overcast, calm.

Hsiao-shui-tztl ...

5659

15

4.30p.m.

24 86

202 8

750

64 0

Evening Overcast, thunder clouds.

,,

...

16

5.30 a.m.

24 87

202 8

600

560

830

5*8*0

Morning Clear.

Kan-tsao-tien

6781

16

8.00p.m.

23 83

200 9

730

602

Evening tV part cirrus, calm.

J ,

...

17

7.00 a.m.

23 79

200 6

64 0

61 0

...

600

8.00 p.m. Rain in torrents. 8.00 p.m.

Ch'€ng-k'ou-yi ...

6839

17

2.00p.m.

23 63

2004

74-5

64 5

...

July 17th, to 6.00 a.m. July 18th, = 1 32

1 J

• ••

17

8.00p.m.

23 60

2002

705

630

...

inches.

,,

18

10.00 a.m.

23 79

200 6

65 0

58-5

750

57 5

Overcast all day. Little rain.

,,

18

6.00p.m.

23 78

200 6

690

59-8

...

....

No wind.

,,

19

6.30 a.m.

23 84

200 6

59-5

56-5

...

595

6.30 a.m. Overcast.

An-ting Hsien ...

6762

19

3.00p.m.

23 80

2008

775

625

...

...

3.00 p.m. Overcast, calm.

Ching-liang-shan

7217

19

8.00p.m.

2314

199-3

670

57.2

...

...

,,

20

6.00 a.m.

23 14

1992

59-8

520

545

Cirro-cumulus. 2.00 p.m. Cirro-cumu-

Ying-tao-ho

6025

20

2.00p.m.

24 30

2016

790

62 0

lus, calm.

Hui-ning Hsien ...

6125

20

7.00p.m.

24 23

201 -6

755

600

7.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

...

21

6.30 a.m.

24 14

201 -6

630

580

815

568

6.30 a.m. Cirro-stratus, calm.

Ts'ai-chia-Tsui ...

6363

21

6.00p.m.

2388

2009

71 5

637

6.00 p.m. Cirrus, calm.

236

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— continued.

o2

Date.

Time of
Observation,

Ml
11

Temperature.

PLACE.

Dry
Bulb.

Wet

REMARKS.

«

is

«s"

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

1909

Ts'ai-chia-Tsui ...

6363

July
22

6.30 a.m.

2393

200 8

660

600

48-5

6.30 a.m. Clear, calm.

Kao-chia-p'u

5862

22

8.00p.m.

24 32

2018

73-2

640

8.00 p.m. Overcast, threatening rain.

, ,

23

7.30a.m.

24 32

201 -9

692

62-8

815

650

7.30 a.m. Overcast, threatening rain.

Ch'i-chia-ta-shan..

6662

23

11.00 a.m.

23 64

200 6

71 0

6.00 p.m. Overcast.

Ching-ning Chou .

6276

23

6.00p.m.

24 34

2017

77-5

655

,,

...

24

8.00 a.m.

24 46

202 1

710

64 5

846

660

8.00 a.m. Calm, overcast.

,,

24

6.00p.m.

24 36

202 0

775

660

6.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

, ,

25

6.00 a.m.

24 40

202 0

705

65-5

930

600

6.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

Shan-chia-chieh ...

6203

25

2.00 p.m.

24 13

201 6

84 0

670

• ••

Ch'ang-t'ai-p'u ...

6653

25

7.00p.m.

23.92

201 0

680

620

,,

26

9.00 a.m.

2401

2013

64 0

61 5

85 0

Heavy rain since 9.00 p.m. July 25th.

••

...

26

6.00p.m.

23 98

201 2

720

660

=0 72 inches. 9.00 a.m. Overcast little

,j

27

6.00 a.m.

23 98

201 2

640

605

92.0

495

6.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

,,

27

5.00 p.m.

2391

201 0

800

65-2

• ••

5.00 p.m. Cumulus, calm.

,,

28

6.30 a.m.

23 97

2012

620

585

900

57-8

Heavy rain during night. Rainfall since

Ch'ang-yi-p'u

6813

28

5.30 p.m.

23.26

2000

736

629

11.00 p.m. July 27th=0-73 inches. 6.30
a.m. Entire cumulo-stratus, calm.
5.30 p.m. Clear, breeze N.W.

,,

...

29

6.00 a.m.

23 26

1998

570

540

490

6.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

Ku-yiian Chou ...

6333

29

6.00p.m.

24 08

2016

772

660

6.00 p.m. Overcast, calm.

,,

30

8.00 a.m.

2418

201 7

705

638

84-"5

592

8.00a.m. Overcast, calm. 11.00a.m. Rain,

••

30

6.00p.m.

2417

201 6

67-8

628

thunderstorm S. Rainfall=0 26 inches.
6.00 p.m. Overcast, calm.

,,

31

10.00 a.m.

24 27

201 8

630

600

860

582

Raining, calm.

"

31

6.00p.m.

24 28

201 -8

71 0

64 0

6.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

Aug-

1

7.00 a.m.

24 32

2019

590

570

510

7.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

Jen-sa-ho

5915

1

2.00p.m.

24-40

2017

760

590

...

2.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

J^n-chia-wan

5263

1

8.00 p.m.

24 75

202 7

660

599

8.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

2

6.30 a.m.

2471

202 7

560

530

90 5

54-0

6.30 a.m. Clear, calm.

Chung-tzQ-yang-

chia

4950

2

6.00p.m.

25 07

203 3

760

640

...

6.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

3

6.00 a.m.

25 10

203 4

59 0

570

490

6.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

K'ai-pien

4454

3

6.00p.m.

25 53

204 4

770

655

6.00 p.m. Overcast, calm.

,,

4

6.00 a.m.

25 64

204 4

67 0

630

59 0

6.00 a.m. Light rain, calm.

Chen-yiiaii Hsien .

4478

4

6.00p.m.

25 90

204 8

73-2

65 0

5

8.00 a.m.

25 93

204 9

740

64 0

1622

64-'o

8.00 a.m. Almost clear, calm.

,,

5

6.00p.m.

2585

204 9

798

674

...

6.00 p.m. Strato-cumulus, calm.

,,

...

6

6.00 a.m.

25 89

205 0

668

638

645

6.00 a.m. Overcast, stratus, calm.

T'ai-pei-ch'eng ...

5119

6

6.00p.m.

25 30

203 6

670

620

6.00 p.m. Overcast, calm.

,,

7

4.30 a.m.

2528

203 6

64 0

620

570

4.30 a.m. Overcast, calm.

Yi-ma-kuan

5108

7

6.00 p.m.

24 98

203- 1

725

650

6.00 p.m. Overcast, calm.

,,

8

5.15 a.m.

2497

203 1

660

628

580

5.15 a.m. Entire cirro-cumulus, calm.

Pai-ma-p'u

5082

8

noon

2510

203 3

805

680

Noon, Cumulus and light cirrus, calm.

Ch'ing-yang Fu ...

4216

8

8.00p.m.

26 07

205-2

71 5

670

8.00 p.m. Raining. Fall = 008 inches.

,,

9

7.00 a.m.

26 11

205 1

730

65-5

9'3'o

6'4"5

7.00 a.m. Cirro-cumulus, calm.

,,

9

6.00 p.m.

2607

205-2

735

66-5

6.00 p.m. H^a-vy rain S.

,,

10

6.00 a.m.

2609

205 2

630

608

99 0

...

6.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

••

...

10

6.00p.m.

26 04

205 1

705

636

...

...

6.00 p.m. Stratus, calm.

2.00 to 4.00 p.m. Rainfall = 009 inches.

,,

11

6.00 a.m.

2608

205 2

630

610

630

6.00 a.m. Cirrus, calm.

Ho-shui Hsien ...

4i'46

11

6.00p.m.

2601

204 9

698

65 8

6.00 p.m. Raining.

,,

...

12

8.00 a.m.

2609

205 1

675

650

648

Heavy rain since 6.00 p.m. August 11th.

"

...

12

7.00p.m.

...

205 0

71 5

675

Rainfall for 12 hours ending 6.00 a.m.
=058 inches. Light cumulus, calm.

"

...

13

6.00 a.m.

2605

205 0

64-4

62-5

...

605

Clear, calm.

237

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— cow/ww^o'.

is

Date.

Time of
Observation.

V V

H

Temperature.

PLACE.

Dry
Bulb.

Wet

REMARKS.

<<:

/=!

^^

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

1909

Miao-ts'un

4144

Aufir.
13

6.00p.m.

25 39

203-9

720

670

6.00 p.m. Few stratus, calm.

,,

...

14

2.00p.m.

2543

204-2

700

66-2

6.00 p.m. Raining. Fall since noon=0 23

,,

• >•

14

6.00p.m.

25-41

204.2

700

670

inches.

,,

15

6.00 a.m.

25 39

204 0

645

630

54-4

6.00 a.m. Overcast, calm.

T'ai-pei-ch'eng ...

3528

15

6.00p.m.

2606

205 1

77-2

678

6.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

16

6.30 a.m.

26 08

205 1

600

59-7

560

Heavy dew 6.30 a.m. Cirro-stratus, calm.

Hai-shui-ssti

3174

16

7.00p.m.

26 24

205 6

70-5

675

7.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

(Shensi)

,,

...

17

7.00 a.m.

26 32

205 5

61 5

608

. >•

7.00 a.m. Overcast, mist, calm.

Ch'ang-ts'un-yi ...

3045

17

8.00p.m.

2658

206 0

715

615

...

6.00 p.m. Thunderstorm, without rain,
from N.E. 8.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

18

8.00a.m.

2673

2O6-3

68-5

65-2

• <•

8.00 a.m. Entire cirro-stratus, calm.

Yang-chiian

4085

18

noon

25 99

204 8

755

660

Noon. Overcast, calm.

Fu Chou

2912

18

7.00p.m.

26 76

206 4

71-5

645

...

7.00 p.m. Overcast, calm.

,,

19

5.40 a.m.

26 79

2064

655

620

590

5.40 a.m. Entire light cirrus, calm.

Kan-ch'uan Hsien

3416

19

8.00p.m.

2649

2062

65-5

62-2

Noon. Commenced to rain heavily.
8.00 p.m. Overcast, calm.

,,

20

7.00 a.m.

26-49

206-2

620

600

770

390

Rain all night. Fall for 12 hours ending

••

20

6.00p.m.

2642

205 8

675

675

11.00 a.m. =0 66 inches. 6.00 p.m. Few
cirrus, calm.

,,

21

6.30 a.m.

2642

205-7

622

60-8

600

6.30 a.m. Overcast, calm. 8.00 p.m.

Ma-p'u-tai-ho

3756

21

8.00p.m.

26 15

205 3

62-5

595

Overcast, calm. 10.00 p.m. Raining.

,,

22

8.00 a.m.

26- 17

205-4

670

620

50-5

8.00 a.m. Clear, calm. Heavy dew.

Yen-an Fu

2769

22

8.30 p.m.

2667

206-2

705

64 0

...

8.30 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

...

23

8.00 a.m.

2672

206-4

670

620

...

8.00 a.m. Calm.

,,

• ••

23

6.00p.m.

26 64

206-2

780

66-5

...

6.00 p.m. Calm.

,,

• ••

24

8.00 a.m.

26 75

206 3

645

630

61-'5

8.00 a.m. Scotch mist.

,,

...

24

6.00p.m.

26 62

206 1

800

675

...

6.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

...

25

6.30 a.m.

26 67

206 -3

650

615

59-2

6.30 a.m. Clear, calm.

Yao-tien

2514

25

2.00p.m.

26 68

206 2

880

698

2.00 p.m. Cumulus, calm.

Kan-ku-yii

2527

25

7.00p.m.

2681

206 4

800

675

7.00 p.m. Cirro-cumulus, calm.

,,

26

6.00 a.m.

2681

206-4

630

605

5'4"o

6.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

Ma-chia-k'ou

2369

26

7.00p.m.

26 93

206-4

820

675

7.00 p.m. Entire cumulus, calm.

,,

27

5.00 a.m.

2698

206 6

660

620

890

59-9

5.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

Ch'ing-chien

Hsien

2583

27

6.00p.m.

26-74

2063

88-2

694

• . •

6.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

28

4.00 a.m.

2679

2064

690

64 -8

930

es'o

4.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

Shih-ts'ui-yi

3017

28

6.00p.m.

2638

205-7

878

702

6.00 p.m. Light stratus, calm.

,,

29

3.30 a.m.

2645

205-8

71 0

65-8

...

3.30 a.m. Clear, calm.

Sui-te Chou

2330

29

6.00p.m.

27 06

2O6-9

780

...

...

6.00 p.m. Overcast, heavy cumulus, calm.

,,

30

8.30 a.m.

2716

207 0

725

650

90 0

63-5

8.30 a.m. Overcast, calm.

,,

30

6.00p.m.

27 09

2069

790

690

6.00p.m. Overcast, threatening, breeze S.

,,

31

5.45 a.m.

27 1?

207 0

720

66-2

682

5.45 a.m. Overcast, calm. 5.00p.m. Rain.

Yii-ho-ch'^ng

2537

31

6.00p.m.

26 88

2065

70.0

602

...

6.00 p.m. Overcast, threatening, calm.

Sept.

1

6.00 a.m.

2691

206 6

625

570

6.00 a.m. Overcast, threatening, calm.

K'ang-chia-t'a ...

1822

1

6.00 p.m.

27 63

207-9

68-5

635

11.00 a.m. Rain till 2.00 p.m. 6.00 p.m.

(on Yellow River)

Overcast, calm.

,,

...

2

6.00 a.m.

27 63

2080

67 0

630

59-4

6.00 a.m. Overcast, calm. Rainfall for

Liu-lin-chen

2316

2

6.30p.m.

27 18

207-2

730

650

■ ■•

11 hours ending 6.00 a. m.=0-36 inches.

(Shansi)

6.30 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

3

6.00 a.m.

27-23

207-2

620

58-5

55-5

6.00 a.m. Cirro-cumulus, calm. 6.00

Yung-ning Chou ..

2738

3

6.00p.m.

26 79

206 6

65-5

620

...

p.m. Raining. Fall since 3.00 p.m.
=016 inches.

,,

4

6.00 a.m.

26 84

206-4

59-5

580

590

6.00 a.m. Entire cirro-cumulus, calm.

Wu-ch'eng

4165

4

6.00p.m.

25 57

204 0

680

625

6.00 p.m. Overcast, calm.

"

...

5

5.30 a.m.

25-58

204 1

620

590

592

5.30 a.m. Cirro-cumulus, calm.

238

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS— co«//>7«^i/.

• V

s >

1^

Temperature.

§■?

S-

^1
11

PLACE.

g s

Date.

Time of

9 c

O.'—

a^

Observation.

s 0

Dry

Wet

REMARKS.

■<<

^1

^X

Bulb.

Bulb.

Max.

Min.

feet.

inches.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

OF.

1Q09

Sept.

Fen-chou Fu

2414

5

6.00p.m.

27 32

207 4

785

690

...

6.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

, ,

6

6.00 a.m.

2731

207 2

660

620

..

6'3-2

6.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

Kuau-hsin-chen ...

2591

6

7.00p.m.

2717

207 0

740

650

7.00 p.m. Strato-cumulus, calm.

J ,

...

7

6.00 a.m.

27 29

207 3

675

530

...

6.00 a.m. Overcast, fresh breeze S.E.

Chin-ssu

2657

7

7.00p.m.

27 27

207 3

625

452

,.

7.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

8

6.00 a.m.

27 20

207 2

455

41 0

4'5'o

6.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

T'ai-yiian Fu

2600

8

10.00p.m.

27' 14

207 0

605

502

..

10.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

,,

9

8.00 a.m.

27 24

207 2

640

54 8

80

0

390

8.00 a.m. Light cirrus, calm.

J ,

9

5.00p.m.

2719

207 1

753

55-8

5.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

J ,

10

8.00 a.m.

27 32

207 3

625

532

80

4

452

8.00 a.m. Light cirrus, calm.

, J

10

7.00p.m.

27 26

207 2

690

582

7.00 p.m. Misty, calm.

,,

11

8.00 a.m.

27 29

207 3

690

548

.,

60 0

8.00 a.m. Overcast calm.

J ,

11

8.00p.m.

27 22

207- 1

672

565

..

8.00 p.m. Clear, calm.

12

8.00 a.m.

2731

207 3

65 0

575

520

8.00 a.m. Clear, calm.

239

INDEX.

Acari
Accentor
Accipiter
Acredula
^gialitis
Aex galericulata
Alcedo . .
Allactaga
Altitudes
Ampelis
Anas

Ancistrodon
Anderson (Mr. M. P
Anorthura
Anser . .
Antelope
Anthropoides . .
Anthus spinoletta
An-ting Hsien (Shensi)
„ ,, (Kansu)

Apodemus
Aquila . .
Araneae (Araneidae)
Ardea cinerea . .
Athene plumipes
Austen (Mr. E. E.)
Badger . .
Base line

Baths (Lin-t'ung H)
Bats
Bear

Bedford (D. of)
Bittern . .
Botaurus

Broomhall (Mr. M.)
Bruce (Major C. D.)
Bubo . .
Buddha (Buddhist)
Bufo . .
Bugonia-myth
Bunting
Bustard
Buteo . .
Butterflies
Buzzard
Caccabis

Calbrecht (Father)
Cambridge (Rev. O. P.)
Canis lupus
Capreolus
Caprimulgus
Carnegie Expedition (and
Carp

Carpodacus
Casarca
Catfish . .
Cave-dwellings
Cerchneis
Ch'ang-t'ai-p'u

INDEX.

PAGE

PAGE

. . i86, 187, 192

Ch'ang-ts'un-yi

55, 56

100

Ch'ang-wu Hsien

53

103

Ch'ang-yi-p'u . .

58,72

99

Chao-chuang . .

•• 3. 34. 136, 137, 138

107

Ch'eng (Prince)

45

106

Ch'eng-k'ou-yi

59, 136, 151

93. 108

Ch'eng-tu Fu . .

2

92. 93. 171. 183

Ch'eng-wu Miao

13

131. 133. 170

Chen-t'ai

19

100

Chen-yiian Hsien

• .56, 73. 125, 136, 151

106

Chia-Iu . .

17

no

Chiao-ch'eng Shan

7,8,14,79,81,82,88,92,

79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 180

116,

117, 120, 121, 125, 127, 129, 141

91, 100

Ch'ien-chou

53

105

Chien Shen

(note) 21

20. 85

Chien-tsai Ho . .

57

107

Chih-fu (Prefect)

19

99

Chih-hsien (District Magistrate) . . . . . . 19

123

Chihli . . 71, 73, 92, 97,

105, 115, 116, 119, 127, 128, 129

53. 59, 134

Chin-chia-k'ou

17

81, 86, 91, 92, 178, 179

Ching-chia-yi . .

58

lOI

Ch'ing-chien Hsien

27, 28, 123

186, 187, 204-218

Ching-liang Shan

' 59

106

Ching-ning Chou

53. 54. 58. 70, 71. 92, 93. 125

103

Ching-pien

122

186, 188

Ch'ing-ting Shan

10, 13, 14, 15, 122, 142

85

Ch'ing-yang Fu

56, 69, 70, 73. 74. 75. 125,

3. 130, 132

133, 134, 146, 151

41. 124

Ch'in-ling Shan

116

93

Chipmunk

8, 81, 82, 85, 88, 91, 92

91

Chiu-ts'ai

17

79. 83

Chou-chih Hsien

51

106

Chough

97

106

Chung-nan Shan

51

50

Chung-pu Hsien

36, 37. 45. 124

134

Ciconia . .

107

103

Cinclus . . . . . .

100

8, 29, 30, 43, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 90

Circus cyaneus

103

112

Citellus

83, 91, 98, 177

189 (and Note)

Clangula

106

97

Classics (The Sixteen)

49. 51

• • 36, 38. 55. 56. 86, 89, 105

Clementi (Mr.)

133.134

103

Coal 7, 17, 20, 24, 26

) (barges, 40), 119, 120, 123, 124

75. 76. 93

Cobb (Mr. H. B.)

5, 13, 14, 19, 22. 32, 34, 83

103

Cobitis tinia

113

104

Coccothraustes

97

74

Coleoptera

i86, 190

204

Coloeus . .

96

82

Coltman (Mr.)

61, 79

80, 82, 174, 192

Coluber dione . .

86, iio

103

Columba

105

Institution) .. 115, 116, 124

Colymbus

107

113

Confucius

47

97

Coot

107

106

Cormorant

107

"3

Corvus . .

96

36, 74

Coturnix

104

103

Cotyle

lOl

58,72,92,151

Crab

76,91.93

243

PAGE

PAGE

Cranes . .

85, 107

Goral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48, 90

Craseomys

80, 81, 182

Graculus . . . . . . . . . , . . 96

Cricetulus

80, 81, 83, 86, 87, 92, 179, 180

Grant (Mr. G. A.) . . 3, 4, 5, 7, 19, 22, 32, 33,

Crocidura

82

34. 55. 56, 69, 70, 76, 87, 92, 93. 132, 133. 186, 187

Crossoptilon

104

Grebe . . . . . . . . , . . . . . 107

Crows . .

85, 96, 97

Grosbeak . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Cuckoo . .

108

Grouse . . . . . . . . . , . , . . 105

Cuculus . .

108

Grus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Curlew . .

82, 107

Gull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Cyanopolius

88,97

Gypaetus . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Cygnus ferus . .

106

Hai-ch'eng Hsien . . . . . . . . , . 134

Cyprinus caipio

113

Hai-shui-ssQ . . . . . . . . . . 55, 124

Dafila

106

Halcyon . . . . . . . . , . 93, 108

David, A.

81

Haliaetus . . . . . . . . . . .... 102

„ Pere

94

Hamster 81, 83, 87

Davies (Major)

5. 132

Han River . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Deer lo, 30, 55, 72, 75, 76, 77, 82, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 93

Han-chung Fu . . .. .. .. .. ..38,44

Dello (Mr.)

71

Hang Shan . . . . . . . . (see Sacred Peaks)

Dendrocopus . .

108

Hankow .. .. .. .. 32,42,43,44,91

Dicrurus

100

Hare , . . . . . . . 30, 31, 82, 86, 87, 89, 91

Dipodidse

83

Hawks .. .. .. .. .. ..82, loi, 103

Diptera

186, 188, 189

Hazrat Ali .. .. 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 24, 26, 27,

Dipus sowerbyi

80. 83, 92. 183

28, 31 32, 33, 55. 63-69, 130, 131

Dog

30. 31. 37

Hedgehog . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Douglas (Captain H. E

.. M., V.C.) 4, 5, 18, 19, 20,

Hemiptera . . . . . . . . . . 186, 191

33. 55. 68, 69, 71

, 79, 82, 186, 188, 194, 203,

Heng Shan . . . . . . (see Sacred Peaks)

204, 213, 217

Henicurus . . . . . . . . . . 86, 100

Dove

28, 86, 105

Heron . . . . . . ... . . . . 85, 106, 107

Dragonflies

75. 93

Hirst (Mr. S.) 186,187,192

Drongo

100

Hirundo . . . . . . . . . . . . loi

Dryonastes

91. 99

Hogg (Mr. H. R.) 186, 204-218

Duck

32, 40, 75, 89, . .91, 106

Honan (and H. Fu) . . 3, 32, 33, 34, 42, 43, 44,

Eagle . .

12, 82, 86, 91, loi, 102

52, 62, 69, 89, 91, 106, III, 113, 128

Edwards (M. Milne) .

80

Hoopoe . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Eel

113

Ho-shui Hsien . . . . . . . . 56, 125

Elaphis

no

Hot Springs .. .. .. .. 41,45,51,124

Emberiza

97

Hsi-an Fu . . 14, 22, 32, 33, 34, 36, 38-43.

Eophona melanura

98

44-54, 58, 69, 89, 91, 99, 105, 106, 113, 114,

Epimys

see Mus.

124, 129, 132

Eptesicus

93. 171. 172

Hsiao-shui-tzu . . . . 59, 60, 71, 125, 126

Eremias

no

Hsia Yii Ch'ii Shui Pi . . . . . . see Yii

Erinaceus

80. 83

Hsieh-tao-ts'un . . . . . . . . . . 7

Erythacus

99

Hsien -yang Hsien . . . . . . . . ••51.53

Erythropus

103

Hsi-feng-chen . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Eutamias

80, 81, 85, 92, 176, 177

Hsi-kung-yi . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Falco (Falcon)

102, 103

Hsin Chou .. .. .. .. .. .. 129

Felis chinensis

88,173

Hsii-chou Fu . . . . . . . . . • . . 2

Fen-chou Fu . .

15, 70, 78, 117, 127, 132, 134

Huai Ho .. .. .. .. .. .. 119

Feng-hsiang-ch'eng

II

Huang Ho (or Yellow River) 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18

Fen Ho 3, 4, 6, 8, 10,

14, 15, 34, 116, 117, 119, 120,

24, 43, 44, 59, 60, 61, 71, 77, 82, 106, III, 113,

121, 127, 141, 151

116, 119, 121, 122, 126, 128, 133, 134, 141,

Filchner (Herr W.) .

81, 134

142, 147, 149

Finches

82, 97, 98

Huang-ho-yeh 14, 16, 17

Foxes . .

..20, 82, 85, 87, 91

Huang-ti . . . . . . . . 36, 45, 46 (note)

Fringilla

97

Huang-t'u .. 115, 116, 120, 121, 122, 123, 127, 128

Frogs . .

76, 82, 85, 112

Huang-t'u-tsai . . .. .. .. .. .. 115

Frugilegus

.. •• 96

Hua Shan 43, 48

Fu Chou . .34, 3^

5. 55. 56. 76, 77, 124, 126, 128, 134

Hua-yi Miao . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Fulica . .

107

Hui-ning Hsien . . . . . . . . 53, 58, 126

Gahan (Mr. C. J.)

186, 190

Hymenoptera . . . . . . . . . . 186, 191

Gallinago

.,107

Ibidorhynchus . . . . . . • . . • 107

Gallinula

107

Ibis 40, 89, 107

Ganges . .

51

Imperial Family . . . . . • . . 19, 22, 32

Garrulus

91. 97

Tombs 92

Gecinus . .

91, 108

India (and Indian influence) . . • • 2, 29, 47, 51

Gecko . .

. . . . . . Ill

Inns and Innkeepers . . . . . . 24, 26, 35, 53, 59

Geese . .

.. 32, 40, 43, 85, 89, 91, 105

Instruments (Surveying) . . . . . . . . 130

Gerbil . .

85

(Meteorological) . . . . . . 135

Gobi Desert

129

Iron Ore . . . . . . . . • . • • 120

Goddess of Mercy

29, 47

Italy 14

Goosander

106

lyngipicus . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

244

lynx

Jackdaw

Jade

Jay

Jenkins (Dr.)

Jen-sa-ho

Jerboa . .

Jesuits . .

Josephine '

Josephus

Kan-chou Fu

Kan-ch'iian Hsien

K'ang-chia-t'a

K'ang-hsi (Emperor)

Kan-ku-yii

Kan-tsao-k'ou

Kan-tsao-tien . .

Kao-ti . .

Kashgar (Kashgari)

K'e-lan Chou . .

K'e-lan Shan . .

Kemas galeanus

Kestrel . .

Kingfisher

Kite

Kokonor

Kowloon

Kuan Li (or Kuan Kung)

Ku-chao

Ku-luK(or Drum Tower)

Kuo-t'ing

Ku-yiian Chou 57, 58, 70, 72,

Lammergeier

Lan-chou Fu 33, 51, 53, 54, 5
67, 70, 91, 92, 106, 112,
131, 132, 133, 134, 137, I

Lanius . .

Lan-ts'un

Lao Chao

Lao-shan

Larks . .

Larus . .

Latitudes

Leopard

Lepidoptera

Lepus . .

Li-ch'iian Hsien

Lien-hua-ch'ih

Ligurinus

Limnocryptes

Lin Hsien

Lin-t'ung Hsien

Liu-chia-hua

Liu-chia-mo

Liu-chien-hua

Liu-Un-chen

Liu-p'an Shan

Liu-pei . .

Liu-ts'un

Lizards

Loach . .

Lo-ch'uan Hsien

Longitudes

Lophophanes

Lo Shui . .

Loxia . .

Lung-k'ou Miao

Lung-wang Shan

Lutreola

Lyman (Professor)

Ma (General) . .

PAGE
108

. . 96, 97
126

•• 91. 97
41, 124

57

• . 83, 92

(see Missionaries)

• • 30, 31
5. 6, II

53

34. 77. 134

77

41, 42, 48, 50, 133

28, 136, 144

13, 83, 142

59

46

62, 64, 133, 134

80, 87, 117

81

175
103

75. 93. 108

85, 102

147. 149

133. 134

• • 47. 50
. . 8, 120

44
49

73, 125, 131, 133. 146, 151

102

5, 56, 58, 60 63, 65,

124, 125, 126, 130,

45, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151

100

119

34

123

• . 85, 99

106

70, 132, 170

. . 75. 88

186, 193

80, 82 87, 177, 184

53
60

97

107

12, 13, 26, 121, 122, 142

41, 42, 45, 51, 89, 124

57

17, 142

18

77

57. 58, 125

48

. . 89, 92

86, no, III

113. 114
36
21, 132, 170
99
77
97

• • 52, 53

lO

89

117

■ .. 54

Ma-chia-k'ou (Shensi)
,, (Kansu)

Madeley (Rev. T
Ma-feng
Magpies
Mallard
Mallophaga
Marten . .
Martes . .
Martins

Matschie (Mr. Paul) .
McCoy (Mr. and Mrs.)
Meade-Waldo (Mr. G.)
Merganser
Mergus . .
Meriones
Miao-ts'un
Mi-chih Hsien . .
Microsarcops . .
Microtus

Miller (Mr. G. S.) ..80, 8
Milvus . .
Min Chou
Min Ho

Ministers (British and American at
Mink
Minnow
Misgurnus

Missionaries 8, 10, 11, 12,
Mi-yueh-ch'eng
Mo-an . .
Mo-erh Shan . .
Mohammedan Rebellion

Mole

Mole-rat

Mongolia

Monkey

Monopterus

Monticola

Monument Grove

Moorhen

Motacilla

Mounds (about Hsi-an Fu)

Moupin

Mouse (wood, 81, 88), (field, 86, 89)

Muhammad Husein

Mullen (Mr.) . .

Mus

Mustela . .

Myospalax . . 80 (note), 82,

Nan-shih

Nestorian Tablet

Nettion

44

Neuroptera
New Dominion
Ning-hsia Fu .
Ning-ling T'ing
Ning-wu Fu
Nipponia
Nucifraga
Numenius
Nutcracker
Nuthatch
Nycticorax
Nyroca . .
Ochotona
Oil (Mineral)

10, 14,

PAGE

28, 123

64, 65, 66

. . 47, 50

II

37. 85, 88, 91, 97

30, 32, 85, 89, 106

186, 192

88

88, 174

lOI

8i

7

186, 191

106

106

80, 85, 86, 178

• . 55. 76

. . 26, 28

107

80, 81, 87, 171, 180, 181

83. 85, 92, 93, 95, 171, 180

102

39, 41.

29

62, 7

Peking)

50, 56,

9. 15. »
54. 55.

5. 80

83. 85

(see

63

2

. 67, 68

89

75, "4

113

66, 73, 74, 133

9

9

, 82, 121, 141

56, 62. 74, 75

84

82, 84, 129

, 98, 102, 105

91

"3

100

Pei-Iing)

107

98

45

94

10, 89

3, 5, 63, 65, 66

41
80, 86, 89, 178, 193

92, 174

182, 192, 202

6

. . 49, 51

106

186, 193

(see Sinkiang)

..44,123

26

117, 119, 121

89, 107

97

107

82

99
107
106

80, 87, 92, 171, 184, 185
24. 123

84, 92

87, 92

Ordos Desert 10, 17, 20 ,21, 29, 71, 80, 83, 85, 87,

96, 105, 106, no. III, 112, 122, 123, 128, 129, 136, 143
Oriole . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 100

Oriolus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

245

Osprey . .

Otis dybowskii

Otters . .

Otus . .

Oustalet (M. E

Owl

Pai-ma-p'u

Pandion

Pao-ting Fu

Parker (Professor E. H.)

Partridges

Parus minor

Pei-chih-li

Pei-ling

Peking . . . . 3, 22

Perdix . .

Petersen (Miss)

Phaeomys

Phoenicurus

Phalacrocorax

Phasianus

Pheasant 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37

7. 28, 30, 75

44, 62, 68, 69, 73,

Phodopus

Phroxinus

Phrynocephalus

Pica

Picus

Pig (Wild) . . 30, 31, 37. 75. 77. 82, 88

Pigeon . .

Pi Jung-pei (Chief of Police)

Pika

Pin Chou

P'ing-liang Fu

Pipistrellus

Platalae

Plover . .

Podiceps

Polecat

Polo, Marco

Pomatorhinus . .

Potamon

Propasser

Pterorhinus

Rallus . .

Rana

Rat

Raven . .

Redstart

" Research in China "

Rhopophilus . .

Richthofen (Baron von)

Rockhill

Rothschild (Hon. N. C.)

Russian Geological Society

Ruticilla

Sacred Peaks (Five)

Salt

Sandstorm

San-yeh Miao . .

San-yiian Hsien

Saxicola

Scaptochirus . .

Sciurotamias . .

Scops

Scorpiones

Shang Chou

Shanghai

Shantung

Shao-shui-tza . .

Shao-t'u 115,

PAGE

103
105

76
103

81
85, loi, 103

56

103

116, 127

49 (note)

82, 86, gi, 104

99

71

47 et seq.

78, 88, 92, 134

104

73

see Microtus)

.. 91. 98

107

104

75, 82, 85, 86,
88, 89, 91, loi, 104
83, 180
114
86, III

97
108

89. 92, 93. 94

.. 30,85

• . 19, 23

82, 87, 92

53

52. 53. 56. 134

93. 172

107

107

107

71, 84, 92

"5

102

. . 88, 99

91, 187

97

99

107

112

. . 86, 89

96

.. 91. 98

115, 116

99

116, 117, 120

61, 124

186, 194-203

134

98

43 (note) 48, 50

17. 18, 25

129, 147, 149

.. 13, 18

39, 40. 129

98

84, 172

..88,176

103

186, 192

44
..2, 31, 32, 33, 42, 89

71.87

(see Hsiao)
116, 123, 127, 128, 129

40,

10,

Sheldrake

Sheng-yi

Shen-kan

Shensi (North S. basin)

Shih Huang-ti (Emperor)

Shih-ts'ui-yi

Shou-yang Hsien

Shrew . .

Shrike . .

Siberia . .

Silurus . .

Silver Ore

Sinkiang (or New Dominion)

Siphneus

Siphonaptera . .

Sitta

Smew . .

Snakes . .

Snipe

Sowerby (Miss)

Spatula

Squirrel

SsQch'uan

Emigrants

Starling

Sternus

Stork

Sui-fu . .

Sui-te Chou . . . . 26, 27, 28,

Sung-chia-k'ou

Sung Shan

Suslik . .

Sus moupinensis

Swallows

Swan

Swifts . .

Syrrhaptes

Szechenyi (Count della)

Tadorna

Ta-fu-ssu

Tahkin . .

T'ai-pei-ch'eng (2)

T'ai-pei Shan . .

T'ai Shan

T'ai-yiian Fu 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14

69,70,78,79, 80, 81, 85, 87, 92, 95, 106, 115, 116,
117, 119, 120, 126, 127, 129-140, 142, 151, 152

Ta-mo . .

PAGE

85, 106

. 7.8

. 2, 62

22, 124, 125, 128, 129

45

. . 27, 86

129

82

85, 100

62, 105

113

119, 126

. . 44, 62

183 (note)

, 186, 187, 194-203

99

106

76, 86, 93, log, no

75. 85, gi, 107

7

106

. . 83, 86, 88, 91

44, 61, 62, 88

38. 55. 73
g8

85, 106, 107

2

70, 77, 123, 126, 151

.. II, 13

see Sacred Peaks

83

82, g3, 94, 95, 175

lOI

106

103

105

134

106

52

48

55. 56. 76

48

see Sacred Peaks

15, 26, 30, 31,

Tao-tei-ching

Teal

Temples 13, 17, i

Tharrhaleus

Thomas (St.) . .

Thomas (Mr. O.)

Thrush . .

Tibet (Tibetan)

Tichodroma

T'ien-chuang . .

Tientsin

Timeline

Tits

Toad

Tou-fu-ssa

Trionyx

Trochalopteron

Tropidonatus . .

Ts'a-feng

Ts'ai-chia-wei . .

Tsa-k'ou

Tso Ching-t'ang

Tui Ho . .

8, 20

29, 30

80, 83,

43.48

47
51
30, 85, 106
52,53,60,76,90,138
100

47
84, 171, 179, 180, 184
99
44, 62, 63, 94, 147
91, 100
27
. . 5, 132
..82, 88, 91, 99
. . 82, 99
112
.. 138
93, III
99
86, 109
. . 35. 36
14
8, 9, 120
61
17

246

Tung Fu-shang

T'ung-kuan

Turdus . .

Turkestan

Turtle, Mud

Turtur . .

Upupa . .

Urocissa

Urotragus

Vanellus

Vole . .

Vormela

Vulpes . .

Vulture

Vultur ..

Waders

Wagtail

Wa-kang-ch'eng

Wall, Great . .

Wall Creeper . .

Wan Li (Emperor)

Warblers

Water-rail

Wa-t'ing

Waxwing

Wei Ho 38,

Wen-shui Hsien

Wheatear . . .

Wild Cat

Wild Fowl

Willis, (Mr. B.)

Wolf . .

Woodpecker . .

Wool and Woollen Cloth

Wrens . .

Wryneck

Wu-ch'eng

38,42

44. 50,

II, I

I. 115

75,82

FAGB

54. 72, 73

43. 44. 49, 116

99

60

77.93. Ill
105
108

88, 91, 97

90, 175
107

10, 81, 87, 88

, 85, 171, 173

82

. . 82-102

102

91, 106, 107

98, 100

64, 66, 126

20, 21, 45, 128

91, 100

48

99

107

125

100

116, 124, 128

117

98

. . 85, 88

30, 32, 40, 43

115, 117, 124

85, 87, 88, 92

82, 85, 91, 108

. . 20, 61

91, 99, 100

108

78, 117, 127

,

PAGE

Wu-pao Hsien

127

Wu-t'ai Shan . .

3. 116

Wu-ting Ho

(see Yii-lin Ho)

Yang

29

Yang-chia-tien

17

Yang-shu-wan

56

Yang-tzii

2,49,90

Yang-wu-chii . .

6

Yao Chou

38,39,51,124

Yellow Emperor

(see Huang Ti)

River . .

(see Huang Ho)

Yen-an Fu 22, 24, 26, 28, 29,

30, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37,

53. 55. 69. 70. 73. 74. 75,

77, 79, 80, 86, 87, 88,

89. 93, 95, III, 122, 123, 124. 131, 132, 133,

134, 136, 144, 145, 151

Yen-ch'ang Hsien

24,123

Yen-ch'uan Hsien

28

Yen Shui

28, 29, 30, 86, 122, 134

Yen-wa

25

Yi-chiin Hsien

37.38

Ying-t'ao-ho . .

125

Yii

50. 51

Yii-ho-p'u

. . 25, 26

Yii-hsien

10

Yii-lin Fu 13, 18, 19, 20, (description of) 22, 24, 25,
26, 82, 53, 79, 80, 82, 83, 86, 87, 91, 106, no,
III, 112, 113, 114,116, 122, 123, 128, 129, 131,

132, 136, 142, 143, 144

Yii-lin Ho (or Wu-ting Ho) 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 112, 143

Yung Hui

51

Yung-ning Chou

II, 78, 117, 127

Yung-shou Hsien

53, 54

Yung-yao

52, 54

Yiin-t'ing Shan

. . 9, II, 121, 136, 141, 142

Zamenis

no

Zosterops

99

NOTE. — The Index includes all specimem mentioned in Appendices II. — V. (Insects by Orders).

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