GEOLOGICAL NOTES
Geologically the country traversed on the various journeys described in
this book may be divided into two sections, separated roughly one from
the other by the outer loop of the Great Wall.
South of this line, in Chihli and Shansi, the outcrops are chiefly of
sedimentary rocks, with here and there masses of the underlying plutonic
and metamorphic rocks showing through. Thanks to Baron von Richthofen
and Bailey Willis these rocks are pretty well understood, and there
remains only the work of recording their occurrence in different
localities, and any other geological phenomena hitherto unobserved.
These stratified rocks extend westward and northward across the Ordos,
North Shensi and well into Kansu, and also up to the extreme north-west
of Shansi.
North of the outer loop of the Wall the outcrops are entirely igneous
and metamorphic, granite, trachyte, basalt, porphyry, gneiss and schist
occurring in great confusion, so that considerable time, much close
study and hard work will be required to reduce them to a system. There
is evidence of great volcanic disturbance all along, and northward of
this border line.
Nowhere are the sedimentary rocks visible, except well to the east of
the eastern extremity of the loop, and far to the north-west of its
western extremity.
This chapter is divided into nine parts, each dealing with a different
section of country. The first four include the sedimentary formations
which lie south of the outer loop of the Wall; while of the others, four
consist of notes upon the igneous and metamorphic rocks just mentioned,
and one (Part 8) deals with the recurrence of the sedimentary rocks in
and west of North-western Shansi.
The parts are as follows:—
Part 1. The geology of the country traversed by the Chên-T’ai Railway:
Western Chihli and Eastern Shansi.
Part 2. The geology of the country traversed by Anderson and the
author in 1908: Northern Shensi, the Ordos, and Western
Shansi.
Part 3. The geology of the Upper Fên Ho basin Western Shansi.
Part 4. The geology of the country traversed by the Peking-Kalgan
Railway, North Chihli.
Part 5. The geology of the Ch’ing Ho and Hsi-wan-tzŭ district, North
Chihli.
Part 6. The geology of the country traversed by the Chang-sui
Extension Line: North-western Chihli and North-eastern
Shansi.
Part 7. The geology of the country from Yang-kao to K’uei-hua-ch’êng,
North Shansi.
Part 8. The sedimentary rocks, north-west of Pi-ch’ien-ch’i,
North-western Shansi.
Part 9. The geology of the Mongolian Plateau, Inner Mongolia.
PART I
THE GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTRY TRAVERSED BY THE CHEN-T’AI RAILWAY: WESTERN
CHIHLI AND EASTERN SHANSI
This section of country contains one of the most extensive and important
coalfields in China, and therefore deserves closer attention than the
writer has been able to give it. The following notes have been gathered
during several journeys by rail between Shih-chia-chuang and T’ai-yüan
Fu, so that the conclusions drawn therefrom can only be considered as
tentative and not final. It is hoped, however, that they will be of
value, as this district has not been too thoroughly explored or
described.
Richthofen traversed this area before any railway was even contemplated,
and described the coalfields and iron-mines in glowing terms.
Subsequently his descriptions were revised and annotated by the late
Rev. Herbert Dixon, of Shansi, for the Pekin Syndicate. Further
investigations and reports were made for the Syndicate by their
engineer, Mr. J. G. H. Glass. Nevertheless there yet remains much to be
done in the geology of the district, as the last two explorers confined
their attentions chiefly to its mineral resources.
The journey should be very instructive to any one wishing to study the
geology of Shansi, for, owing to the general westerly dip of the strata,
one passes through the whole series of the sedimentary rocks, from the
Hu-t’o series (pre-Cambrian limestones, etc.), through the Sinian system
(Cambro-Ordovician limestones, etc.), through the entire Shansi
formation (shale and sandstone coal measures and overlying red
sandstones of the Red Beds) to the Huang-t’u formation (loess and other
quaternary deposits).
On leaving Shih-chiah-chuang, the junction of the Chên-T’ai and Pe-Han
Railways, one soon passes from the great alluvial plains of Chihli into
rugged mountains, which are composed of the dark massive siliceous
limestone belonging to the Hu-t’o or Nan-k’ou series.[10]
The slopes facing the plain (i.e. eastward) are in the form of a steep
and rugged escarpment, formed, possibly, by extensive erosions, but more
probably by a fault running roughly north and south, with the downthrow
on the east. This theory may be supported by the fact that the strata,
which are very marked, dip to the west at varying angles. Slight folding
is also noticeable.
After passing westward through the Hu-t’o series for a short distance,
one encounters typical Sinian limestones, which are next replaced by
sandstones of the Shansi coal measures. Here, at a point just before
Ching-hsing Hsien is reached, a good quality of bituminous coal is
extensively mined by the Ching Hsing Mining Company.
Immediately west of Ching-hsing Hsien, massive limestone mountains are
again encountered, suggesting the existence of another fault, especially
as the eastern slopes again present rugged escarpments, and the strata
still dip to the west. As far as could be judged from the train, this
limestone extends all the way to the P’ing-ting Chou district. This does
not agree exactly with Richthofen’s map, which gives alternating
outcrops of limestone and coal measures, but it must be remembered that
the railway line follows the valley bottoms, deep down in the strata, so
that one cannot observe from it the outcrops at higher altitudes in the
mountains, while Richthofen, travelling by road, actually crossed
several high ridges, and therefore was able to observe the topmost
outcrops.
Just before reaching Yang-ts’uen, the station for P’ing-ting Chou, one
comes to the end of the limestone, and encounters once more the famous
Shansi formation, with its extensive beds of coal and iron.
My friend, Professor E. T. Nyström, formerly of the Shansi Imperial
University, has dealt very fully and ably in his book, _The Coal and
Mineral Resources of Shansi Province, China_, with the coal of this
district, besides that of nearly all the other known sources in the
province. I might just mention that the coal is of a very good quality,
and that iron ore is very abundant and easily worked, though at present
little is being done to develop any industries connected with these
valuable mineral resources.
Professor Nyström in his book gives amongst others the following
analysis of the anthracite coal of this district:—
Moisture 0·46 per cent.
Volatile Hydrocarbons 6·12 „
Fixed Carbon 85·80 „
Ash 7·62 „
Sulphur 0·89 „
Referring to his various analyses he says: “All these analysis of coal
from P.T.C. (P’ing-ting Chou) show a coal of high quality. Richthofen
calls it equal to the best Pennsylvanian anthracite.”
As one travels up the valley from Yang-ts’uen one passes places where
the Pao Ching Mining Company[11] has sunk shafts, and is mining
comparatively small quantities of coal. Along the line where cuttings
have been made one can see thick seams of coal actually exposed.
Continuing in a direction a little south of west, it is noticed that the
strata, now comprised of alternate beds of sandstone and shale, and
varying in colour from a dark purplish brown to olive green and yellow
ochre, still dip to the west. Steadily ascending, the railway line next
passes through the Red Beds, which are red shales and sandstones forming
the upper layers of the Shansi formation. Finally come the thick loess
deposits of the Shou-yang Hsien district, just before reaching which
town, the highest point on the line, marking the divide between the
Fên-Ho and the P’u-t’o Ho, is crossed (about 3,000 ft. altitude). From
here a descent is made through thick beds of red sandstone (Red Beds),
the strata of which dip still to the west. Just before Pei-ho-liu is
reached, the red sandstone gives place to grey sandstone of a similar
nature. Passing through this, the line comes out upon the alluvial plain
of T’ai-yüan at Yü-tzŭ Hsien, and turning northward, terminates twenty
miles further at T’ai-yüan Fu itself. From the train as it makes this
last stretch can be seen the Lung-wang Shan, lying to the east. These
mountains are composed of a massive outcrop of the Shansi coal-bearing
series, and though I have not actually determined such to be the case,
are doubtless formed by a large anticlinal fold, as they rise to a
greater altitude than the Red Beds at Shou-yang Hsien. Anthracite coal
is mined here at an altitude of fully 3,000 feet. This seems to mark the
western boundary of the anthracite beds, for in the mountains
immediately west of the plain bituminous coal only is mined.
PART 2
THE GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTRY TRAVERSED BY ANDERSON AND THE AUTHOR IN 1908:
NORTHERN SHENSI, THE ORDOS AND WESTERN SHANSI
On my journey with Anderson through North Shensi, along the Ordos border
and into Western Shansi, I kept some note of the geological formations.
PLATE XVII.
[Illustration:
A TOWER OF THE GREAT WALL, ORDOS BORDER.
]
[Illustration:
LOESS RAVINE IN NORTH SHENSI.
_Opposite p. 258._]
]
As the Clark Expedition subsequently traversed a good portion of our
route, and as I have already published notes on the geological
formations along that portion, there is no need to go over it again
here.
From Yen-an Fu to Ching-pien Hsien we travelled up the valley of the
Yen-shui, and noted that the sandstone strata, usual in North Shensi,
occurred all the way, without fault and practically horizontal. As far
as I can make out this sandstone belongs, or at least corresponds, to
the Red Beds, which form the upper strata of the Shansi formation. What
corroborates this supposition is the fact that no coal seams appear
along the ravines, as is the case in the coal-producing districts of
Shansi, yet coal is extensively mined throughout North Shensi, vertical
shafts being sunk to reach the seams. As the average altitude of the
upper surface of the sandstone strata does not exceed 3,000 feet, it
follows that the Shansi coal measures are very much higher than those of
Shensi. Further, there seems to be no reason to suppose that they are
two distinct systems, so that one can only suppose that the strata of
North Shensi must lie in an extensive and shallow synclinal fold, or
that they have become depressed below those of Shansi owing to faults
somewhere along the course of the Yellow River. We know that there is a
series of faults with downthrow on the west, running roughly parallel
with the Yellow River, marking out the course of the Fên Ho in Shansi.
There seems to be no special reason why there should not be a second
series of faults down the course of the Yellow River. As a matter of
fact, wherever I have crossed the latter from Shansi into Shensi, I have
noticed that the mountains on the Shansi side are higher and more
precipitous than those on the Shensi side, while the strata on either
side do not correspond at all well.
Near the head of the Yen-shui valley red sandstone replaces the grey or
yellow. Here the loess mantle is very much thicker than elsewhere. At
Ching-pien Hsien no outcrop of sandstone is visible, as the course of
the stream cuts deeply through hardened sand and dark sun-baked
mudstone.
Continuing into the desert we encountered nothing but sand, alternating
with stretches of pale blue-grey clay, in which were lagoons and small
lakes. As we travelled north-eastward from here, along the border, we
again encountered the red sandstone lying beneath the enormous deposits
of sand, or in places sand and clay mixed. Near Yü-lin Fu this gave
place to yellow-grey sandstone once more, which continued till we again
neared the Shansi border, when the shales, typical of the Shansi series,
once more presented themselves, underlying the sandstone. Again at
Pao-tê Chou the difference in levels of the strata was very noticeable.
Working south-east from Pao-tê Chou, we shortly encountered limestone,
belonging to the Ki-ch’ou formation, the strata of which dipped gently
to the west. Rising steadily up through this, we reached a high ridge of
limestone, descending from which we again reached the sandstone of the
Shansi formation, in which the town of K’o-lan Chou is situated, and
which extends eastward from here to the Fên Ho. Though we had crossed
the great ridge dividing the basin of the Fên Ho from the Yellow River,
we did not encounter any of the usual archaic formations. This then
forms one of the few breaks in the continuity of the archaic ridge,
which runs from Ning-wu Fu to Yung-ning Chow in Western Shansi.
From K’o-lan Chou we journeyed northward to Wu-tsai Hsien, crossing a
low ridge in the Shansi formation, and from Wu-tsai eastward to Ning-wu
Fu, crossing a somewhat higher ridge in the same formation. Here we
noticed bituminous coal being mined close to the city. Northward from
Ning-wu Fu I noticed the Shansi formation extending for some distance,
but I did not pursue my investigation very far in this direction.
Leaving Ning-wu Fu we journeyed eastward, soon encountering the Sinian
limestone, followed by limestone of the Hu-t’o series, originally
described from close to this very region by Bailey Willis. A little to
the west of T’ai-niu-tien, the limestone is cut through by a dyke of
granite, probably belonging to the T’ai-shan complex, which forms the
basal complex of the formations of the Wu-t’ai Hsien district.
We crossed the alluvial plain and reached Hsin-chou, at which point we
joined the route taken by Bailey Willis’ party on its way from Wu-t’ai
Hsien to T’ai-yüan Fu.
Striking south from Hsin-chou, we crossed the south-western terminus of
the Ki-ch’ou Shan, where occur the typical Sinian limestones, which
Bailey Willis has called the Ki-ch’ou formation, and which are of the
Cambro-Ordovician period.
The Ki-ch’ou Shan run from north-east to south-west along the
south-eastern margin of the Hsin-chou plain. The range consists of a
massive scarp on the north-west and a dip slope on the south-east, as a
result of an extensive fault, running in the same direction as the
range. This fault is one of a series, which, as already stated, extend
down through Shansi. The next in the series occurs, in the opinion of
the author, along the north-western margin of the T’ai-yüan Fu plain,
where again the limestone rises in a massive and precipitous scarp; only
in this case the downthrow is on the south-eastern side. Considering the
general westerly dip of the strata from the Chihli plain to well west of
T’ai-yüan Fu, and the merging of the upper rocks of the Shansi formation
into the T’ai-yüan plain on its eastern margin, the sudden recurrence of
the limestone on the western margin of the same plain can only be
explained by the existence of a fault, such as I have just described.
Indeed there is no reason why a fault should not occur here, for further
south and in an almost direct line with it a similar fault occurs,
running in a direction slightly west of south, along the eastern side of
the O Shan. In this also the downthrow is on the east. Richthofen, also,
came to the conclusion that there was a fault along the north-western
margin of this plain.
We put up at Huang-t’u-tsai, the place which gives its name to the
Huang-t’u formation, a name given by Bailey Willis to the loess and
various other Quaternary deposits of North China.
The following day we continued down a dry stream bed and finally came
out upon the T’ai-yüan Fu plain once more.
PART 3
THE GEOLOGY OF THE UPPER FÊN HO BASIN, WESTERN SHANSI
The geology of the country lying north-west of the T’ai-yüan Fu plain,
owing to the extensive fault running down its north-western margin, is
in many ways a repetition of that of the country traversed by the
Chên-T’ai Railway. A new feature, however, is presented in the form of
extensive outcrops of plutonic and metamorphic rocks.
Hitherto this country has scarcely been touched by any geologist; so
that the following notes, though far from complete, may be considered as
breaking new ground. They were gathered on the trip described in the
second chapter of this book.
Let us take a line running north-west from T’ai-yüan Fu, through
Tsing-lo Hsien, Wu-chia-kou, Tien-p’ing to Wu-tsai Hsien, and consider
in section the different formations.
First after crossing ten or twelve miles of alluvial plain, loess and
stony river bed, we encounter the extensive escarpment of Ki-ch’ou
limestone, caused by the fault running north-east to south-west.
Entering a deep gorge at Kuan-k’ou, we note that the strata at first are
horizontal, though slightly folded; but that further on they dip
slightly in a general north-westerly direction. Continuing along the
bottom of the ravine, which rises steadily through the limestone,
Pei-hsiao-tien, ten miles from Kuan-k’ou, is reached. This is a small
town situated at an altitude of 4,570 feet in an open valley in the
Shansi coal measures, where bituminous coal of the usual quality is
mined. We have thus ascended roughly 2,000 feet, through the Sinian
limestone to the Shansi formation.
On leaving Pei-hsiao-tien the road continues north-westward, ascending a
narrow valley. Here metamorphic rocks, consisting chiefly of schist,
with veins of quartz running through it, abruptly replace the
sedimentary rocks. Ascending the steep pass, first a broad vein of dark
basalt containing a high percentage of iron is encountered: subsequently
two high ridges formed by a massive dyke of granite are crossed.
The metamorphic rocks, which are not very extensive, may owe their
existence to the granite, as, judging from the stratigraphy of the
district, it seems probable that the granite is an intrusion of later
date than the limestone and coal measures.
On the western descent the outcrops show the same rocks as on the east
(i.e. granite and schist). These, however, are soon replaced by Ki-ch’ou
limestone of an equal height with that east of the passes, with a slight
north-westerly dip. As may be expected, this gradually gives place to
the carboniferous series (Shansi formation) once more. Soon the Fên Ho
is reached (at Tsing-lo Hsien), crossing the valley of which, we still
find the sandstone and shales of the Shansi formation. The strata here,
however, are now horizontal for a short distance, subsequently dipping
more and more sharply to the south-east, till they are almost
perpendicular. They are suddenly replaced by almost perpendicular strata
of limestone (Ki-ch’ou). These form a high ridge, with a dip slope on
the south-south-east of at least 80°, and a very steep escarpment on the
north. This clearly indicates the existence of a great synclinal fold in
the sedimentary rocks, extending from the north-west of the granite
dyke, near Pei-hsiao-tien to this point.
Wu-chia-kou lies in the valley to the north of this ridge of limestone.
It must be noted that our section crosses this ridge somewhat obliquely.
The northern slope of this valley is of red sandstone belonging to the
Man-t’o Shales, the strata of which lie unconformably against schists of
the Wu-t’ai series, and also dip sharply to the south-east. The rocks of
the Wu-T’ai series are soon replaced by a great mass of basal complex,
probably equivalent to the T’ai-shan complex. The outcrops of granite
here are very extensive, and form the mass of the mountain chain, which
rises to a great height (10,000 feet), and is about five miles wide.
On the north-western slope of this massive range of archaic rock,
limestone, similar to that on the east, lies unconformably against the
older systems; but, dipping sharply to the north-west, it is soon
replaced by sandstone of the Shansi formation, also dipping sharply to
the north-west and merging into the Wu-tsai plain.
The occurrence and dip of the sedimentary rocks on this side of the
range, suggest that the strata lie in the form of an immense anticline,
the apex of which has been denuded, exposing the archaic formations
beneath. On the north-western side of the range the strata flatten out
and probably continue horizontally up to and beyond the Yellow River. I
did not notice any sign of the Hu-t’o series, but doubtless they exist.
North-east from Wu-chia-kou the geology of the country immediately
adjoining the Ning-wu Fu district, as already stated in my geological
notes in _Through Shên-Kan_, shows a series of shale and sandstone
ridges (Shansi formation), the strata of which dip to the east at angles
varying from 30° to 80°. The ridges are formed by escarpments on the
west and dip slopes on the east. It is in some of the higher and more
gentle hollows, caused by this configuration, that lie the fresh-water
lakes, mentioned in Chapter II of this book as having been newly
discovered in January of 1910.
Here again the Shansi formation is replaced westward by the Ki-ch’ou
formation (limestone), the strata of which dip to the east at very sharp
angles. The outcrop of archaic rock, which has extended unbroken
north-east from the Wu-chia-kou district, has tapered down, disappearing
altogether before Ning-wu Fu is reached.
PART 4
THE GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTRY TRAVERSED BY THE PEKING-KALGAN RAILWAY
From Peking to Nan-k’ou the railway traverses part of the Chihli plain.
As one approaches Nan-k’ou, low limestone hills, outliers from the main
range, can be seen. In these the very marked strata dip at an angle of
about 45° to the south-east. The same thing may be seen in the lower
slopes of the main range. The strata of the higher levels, however, are
horizontal, and, though the actual contact cannot be clearly made out
from the train, suggest the existence of two unconformable formations of
limestone. This is the case, the sharply dipping strata of the lower
slopes and outliers having been identified as belonging to an older
formation called the Nankou series, which finds its equivalent in Shansi
in the Hu-t’o series already mentioned.
Ascending the valley, at the mouth of which Nan-k’ou is situated, one
soon reaches a level above the Nankou limestone, and finds the Ta-yang
limestone (Sinian), the equivalent of the Ki-ch’ou limestone in Shansi,
lying in horizontal strata. Further on up the valley these commence to
dip to the north-west, and are interbedded with blue clays and shales.
Finally the strata become contorted, and are replaced by plutonic rocks,
consisting chiefly of light buff-coloured granite. This formation
continues to well beyond the crest of the ridge, till the mountains give
place to a wide plain—the valley of the Ta-sha Ho, which joins the
Ta-yang Ho a little to the south.
Crossing this plain in a north-westerly direction, a second range is
encountered, which runs from east-north-east to west-south-west, and
consists, as far as can be judged from the train, of limestone formation
(probably Ta-yang limestone).
Near Hsia-hua-yüan, where the Ta-yang Ho cuts through this range in a
narrow and deep valley, the sedimentary rocks become rather complicated.
Coal-bearing sandstone and shale strata lie underneath the limestone, an
unconformity between the two formations being distinctly discernible.
This can only be explained by the existence of an overfold or
overthrust. The coal-bearing strata are more or less horizontal and
somewhat folded, while the limestone shows perpendicular or very sharply
dipping strata.
North-west of Hsia-hua-yüan, for a considerable distance, horizontal
strata of purple shale and sandstone occur. These next give place to
limestone, which extends to within six miles of Kalgan, when it is
replaced by the volcanic rocks of the Kalgan district. In our rambles
through the hills round this town we found porphyry, chiefly of a brown
or brick-red colour, and other volcanic rock in great confusion.
Specimens of serpentine and metamorphosed felspathic rocks were also
obtained. To the north-west, basalt is exposed in the deep cutting of
the stream bed, which ends in the Han-nor-pa pass. Further up this
valley extensive beds of volcanic ash occur, which at first sight might
be mistaken for the sedimentary rocks of the Shansi formations. The
deposits are of a bright red colour, and in places assume the form of
conglomerates, with large well-rounded boulders. This suggests that
these beds were laid under water. Nearer the pass, these deposits are
much lighter in colour, being pink or buff and light blue-grey. In
places the original substance has degenerated into soft clay, while,
wherever the strata assume the form of conglomerate, the fragments of
harder rock are rough-edged and not rounded as they are nearer Kalgan.
Beyond these beds basalt occurs right up to and beyond the Han-nor-pa
pass.
PART 5
THE GEOLOGY OF THE CH’ING HO AND HSI-WAN-TZŬ DISTRICT, NORTHERN CHIHLI
Leaving Kalgan we travelled northward up the valley of the P’an-chang Ho
for about six miles. The sides of this valley are steep and composed
entirely of outcrops of trachyte of a mauve grey colour. This colour on
the exposed surface is changed, through weathering, to a dark brown.
Typical crystals of felspar occur throughout the mass. In the specimens
gathered the crystals had undergone considerable decomposition.
At a place called Hsi-tien-tzŭ the valley takes a bend eastward, at
right angles to its original course, while a wide but waterless valley
enters it from the north. This is called Ching-kou, while the main
valley, which has a good permanent stream, is now called Ch’ing Ho.
The trachyte continues all the way to Kao-chia-yin-tzŭ, just beyond
which place it ends. Here it is of a lighter colour, the weathered
surface being of a bright brick red, while the new fracture shows the
rock itself to be of a light mauve-grey. The white crystals of felspar
are also much larger and more noticeable than in the outcrops nearer
Kalgan. Where they are exposed at the surface, these crystals rapidly
disintegrate and are washed away, leaving the surface rock full of
holes, which gives it something the appearance of a rock charged with
air-bubbles.
Beyond Kao-chia-yin-tzŭ, still working eastward, we found metamorphic
(chiefly gneiss) rocks, alternating with plutonic (granite), the former
predominating.
Both the metamorphic and plutonic rocks are seamed with stringers, leads
and ledges of quartz (probably auriferous).
At Hsin-yin-tzŭ the valley bends northward again, and subsequently
continues winding in a general north-easterly direction to its source.
From this village the outcrops are entirely of granite, felsite and
serpentine, no metamorphic rocks occurring, till, just before
Hsi-wan-tzŭ is reached, an extensive outcrop of gneiss is encountered.
Beyond Hsi-wan-tzŭ (i.e. to the east) we found the mountains to be
composed entirely of a dark grey-brown or purple-grey trachyte
containing the characteristic white crystals of felspar.
PART 6
THE GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTRY TRAVERSED BY THE CHANG-SUI EXTENSION LINE,
NORTH-WESTERN CHIHLI AND NORTH-EASTERN SHANSI
From near Kalgan to Tsai-kou-pu this railway line traverses obliquely
the wide valley of the Yang Ho, crossing a great mass of detritus
brought down from the north. After leaving Tsai-kou-pu it follows a
tributary of the Yang Ho, called the Nan-yang Ho, and soon passes
through a range of mountains composed entirely of metamorphic rocks,
soft mica schists greatly predominating. In places the schists show very
marked stratification.
Beyond this the valley widens out and the line no longer hugs the
mountain side. Immense masses of detritus, brought down from the
mountains to the north, are crossed by the track, and they testify to
the enormous amount of denudation that is taking place here. An
examination of the rocks shows that the mountains to the north are
composed mainly of granite and gneiss. These conditions prevail as far
as Yang-kao, the present terminus of the line.
No sedimentary rocks of any kind were noticed on this journey, except
the massive limestone forming a tall range on the south side of the Yang
Ho valley. Elsewhere on the lower slopes a considerable amount of loess
was noticed.
The schists noticed near Tsai-kou-pu probably belong to the same
formation as the Wu-tai series, or are equivalent to it, while the
granite and gneiss beyond are doubtless equivalent to the T’ai-shan
Complex.
PART 7
THE GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTRY FROM YANG-KAO TO K’UEI-HUA-CH’ÊNG, NORTH
SHANSI
As already stated, Yang-kao is situated on the eastern edge of the
Ta-t’ung Fu plain. To the north lies a great chain of tall rugged
mountains. These seem to be composed mainly of metamorphic rock, gneiss
being the only rock we encountered on entering these mountains on our
way to K’uei-hua-ch’êng.
The gneiss continued as far as Kuan-t’ung-pu (about 20 miles N.N.W.).
West of this place igneous rock prevails, an immense lava flow forming a
plateau some ten miles wide (length not ascertained, but considerable).
The basalt, which marks the eastern limit of the North Shansi basalt, is
typical of the same, being of a dark blue-grey colour, with air holes,
usually lined with spar and containing crystals of hornblende. In places
where the surface of the plateau is bare of soil the basalt shows
distinct hexagonal cleavage, indicating columnar structure beneath. This
lava flow, judging from the general contour of the country, is roughly
from north to south. The plateau ends abruptly on its western side in a
deep river valley, running from north to south. Westward other lesser
plateaux occur, however, and travelling along the river valley, which
now runs east and west, fine examples of columnar structure are to be
seen, notably near Fên-chêng. At this place good clay occurs, enabling
extensive pottery work to be carried on.
The volcanic formations continue from here all the way to the T’ai Hai.
North of this lake the mountains are entirely of granite as far as
Mei-tê-êrh (Mei-teul), at the edge of the K’uei-hua-ch’êng plain.
Some of this granite, notably that occurring up the valley east of
Mei-tê-êrh, contains large quantities of garnets, some of which are as
large as marbles. All the granite up this way is of a pale buff colour.
The hills south of the lake are of basalt, as also are those on the west
as far as the pass beyond Ning-yüan. Here an extensive outcrop of
granite, a continuation of that occurring north of the lake, extends as
far as Yang-p’o-yao-tzŭ. From this point to the edge of the
K’uei-hua-ch’êng plain basalt occurs, showing fine columnar structure.
The basalt and granite are frequently superimposed by loess, but not to
any very great depth or extent.
No outcrops of any kind occur on the plain, which is mainly alluvial,
with patches of wind-deposited sand.
The T’ai Hai (lake) lies in an immense basin some twenty miles long and
ten miles wide. This basin is bounded on three sides by low hills of
volcanic formation, and on the fourth (the north) by high mountains of
granite. It is difficult to explain the existence of this hollow in
which the lake lies. The latter is said to be very deep in the centre.
At first one might suppose that it occupies the crater of an extinct
volcano, but this is by no means certain. Further investigation is
needed before such a theory can be confidently advanced. It would,
however, be interesting to know the origin of all the basalt, so
prevalent in this country.
Referring to the mountains north-west of K’ueihua-ch’êng, where we
hunted wild sheep, I find the following notes in my diary:—
“These mountains are entirely plutonic, volcanic, and metamorphic. The
low foothills, which run in a series of low parallel ridges, are
composed of lava (porphyry). Next (working westward) comes some white
and greenish stone, which I take to be a metamorphosed felspar. Beyond
this and rising to a great height, with deep cut ravines and valleys,
come gneissic and schistose rock, with intrusions of granite. Working
still west an extensive outcrop of white marble is crossed. Beyond this
again the rock seems to be granitic, gneissic and schistose. The
schists, I believe, are chloritic, while the granites certainly have a
large proportion of felspar. A certain amount of iron-stone, but no
coal, was noticed.”
Probably the mountains north and north-east of K’uei-hua-ch’êng are
similar in formation to those north-west.
PART 8
THE SEDIMENTARY ROCKS NORTH-WEST OF PI-CH’IEN-CH’I, NORTH-WESTERN SHANSI
From K’uei-hua-ch’êng to Pi-ch’ien-ch’i we traversed low-lying country
at the foot of mountains and hills of the usual archaic formations.
North-west of Pi-ch’ien-ch’i, where we entered the mountains, we
encountered extensive beds of sedimentary rocks, doubtless belonging to
the Shansi formation. First we came to some very massive conglomerate.
This is composed of large cobbles and small boulders, held together by a
very hard matrix containing sand and small pebbles. The strata of this
conglomerate, which are very marked, and often over ten feet in
thickness, dip to the north-west at angles varying from 45° to 80°.
They are interstratified with small, pinched-out seams of coal and soft
shale. In places the conglomerate is much contorted.
At Wu-lan-pan, a village six miles north-west from Pi-ch’ien-ch’i, the
conglomerate gives place to pink and yellow sandstone, with a much
gentler dip (about 20° N.W.).
Beyond Wu-lan-pan the conglomerate again appeared, underlying a dark
brown shale, this time at a dip equal to that of the sandstone. After
this we came to high mountains, composed chiefly of metamorphic rocks,
through which great masses of granite protrude, forming a system of high
peaks. No volcanic rock was noticed in this district.
My friend Mr. Nyström, already mentioned in Part I of this chapter,
tells me that, when in the mountains north of Sa-la-ch’i (or Saratsi),
one day’s journey west of this point, he encountered outcrops of
sedimentary rocks exactly similar to those described above, and, like
me, he arrived at the conclusion that they belonged to the Shansi
formation.
PART 9
THE GEOLOGY OF THE MONGOLIAN PLATEAU, INNER MONGOLIA
Throughout the whole of this journey nothing but igneous and metamorphic
rocks were encountered. In general it may be stated that this portion of
the Mongolian Plateau is formed by an extensive lava-flow (or flows),
traversed by dykes of granite and quartz, the last occurring with less
frequency than the others. Whether these dykes are of an older date than
the basalt it is not easy to say.
Topographically the area beyond the steep ascent of the Han-nor-pa pass
consists of very slightly undulating plains of a uniform altitude (about
4,000 feet), bounded or traversed by small ranges of low, rocky,
partially grass-covered hills. The extremities of these are frequently
joined by almost imperceptible ridges. Sometimes they end in abrupt
cliffs, but most often they slope gently into the plain. In the valleys
there are usually shallow lagoons of varying sizes; while occasionally
permanent streams of clear, sweet water wind through very clayey soil.
The soil round the lagoons is also very argillaceous.
The ascent of the Han-nor-pa pass is through basalt of a dark grey
colour, not unlike that encountered in Shansi, while in the valley
leading up to it various kinds of rock, all igneous, were noticed.
Amongst others, we gathered specimens of a red-brown porphyry containing
numerous elongated air-holes, besides distinct crystals of felspar and
quartz. Specimens of metamorphosed felspar, of light grey basalt, and of
a peculiar yellow sandstone, were also gathered. The predominating rock
throughout, however, was found to be basalt, and, nearer to Kalgan,
trachyte.
Except in the hills and on the ridges of the Plateau, the thick
grass-covered surface soil prevented our noting the nature of the
sublying rock, but an examination of the outcrops in the hills showed
that basalt greatly predominated, while dykes of granite occurred here
and there. As we approached Lama Miao the granite increased in
proportion till it seemed, sometimes, as if dykes of basalt crossed the
general mass of granite. Usually, however, the higher ridges were found
to be of granite, while wherever the sublying rock in the lower slopes
and valleys was visible it usually turned out to be basalt. At a place
named Oola Hutaga some gneiss was noticed, but here also the hills were
chiefly of granite and volcanic rock.
At Tabool we noticed some wide veins of quartz running north and south
through metamorphic and granitic rocks. This quartz was not noticed
elsewhere. Here also some outcrops of muscovitic schist occurred.
It was stated by one of the missionaries that twenty li (about 6 miles)
south-west of Hallo Ossa (near Tabool), the Chinese were excavating for
coal. This would suggest an outcrop of the coal-bearing sedimentary
rocks noticed west of K’uei-hua-ch’êng.
From Tabool south to Kalgan the outcrops showed almost entirely
volcanic, with a little granite.
APPENDIX
ITINERARIES
───┬────────────┬────────────────┬─────────┬──────┬────────────────────
No.│ From │ To │Distance │Stages│ Remarks.
│ │ │in Miles │ │
───┼────────────┼────────────────┼─────────┼──────┼────────────────────
1 │T’ai-yuan Fu│Sui-tê Chou │ 180│ 9│Via Fên-chou Fu
2 │Yen-an Fu │Yü-lin Fu │ 211│ 10│Via Ching-pien Hsien
3 │Yü-lin Fu │Pao-tê Chou │ 136│ 5│
4 │Pao-tê Chou │Ning-wu Fu │ 121│ 6│Via Ko-lan Chou
5 │Ning-wu Fu │T’ai-yuan Fu │ 101│ 4│Via Hsin Chou
6 │T’ai-yuan Fu│Ning-wu Fu │ 106│ 6│Via Tsing-lo Hsien
7 │Kalgan │Hsi-wan-tzŭ │ 33½│ 2│
8 │Yang-kao │K’uci-hua-ch’êng│ 127│ 6│Southern Route
│„ „ │„ „ │ 133│ 7│Northern Route
───┴────────────┴────────────────┴─────────┴──────┴────────────────────
ITINERARY No. 1.
T’ai-yuan Fu to Sui-tê Chou (via Fên-chou Fu). Distance, 180 miles; 9
stages.
There is a cart road as far as Fên-chou Fu, which is good in winter but
sometimes impassable in the rainy season. From Fên-chou Fu, only mule
traffic is possible.
STAGE 1. Chin-esŭ (15 miles). General direction: S.W. Traverse level
plain, crossing Fên Ho (by bridge in winter, ford or ferry
in summer) two miles S.W. of T’ai-yüan Fu. Pass through
low-lying fields to base of hills, where the road becomes
rocky. Good inn at Chin-ssŭ, and fine old temple.
STAGE 2. K’ai-shi (27 miles). General direction: S.W. Road good all
the way. Pass important town of Chiao-ch’êng Hsien (20
miles), where there are inns. Inns at K’ai-shi very bad.
STAGE 3. Fên-chou Fu (24 miles). General direction: S.W. Pass
important town of Wên-sui Hsien (10 miles). Good inns
at Fên-chou Fu. Latitude (East Gate) 37° 15′ 42″ N.,
Longitude 111° 48′ 2″. Altitude 2,600 ft.
STAGE 4. Wu-ch’eng (24 miles). General direction: West. Travel up
loess valley and crossing a pass descend into limestone
canyon at Hsiang-yang (10 miles). Follow up canyon and
cross high pass descending rough stony valley to
Wu-ch’êng. Several inns at Wu-ch’êng.
STAGE 5. Yung-ning Chou (15 miles). General direction: West. Follow
river valley along a good road. Good inns at Yung-ning
Chou.
STAGE 6. Liu-lin-chên (15 miles). General direction: S.W. Road
follows down valley, first south 5 miles and then west.
Good inns at Liu-lin-chên, which is a prosperous place.
STAGE 7. K’ang-chia-t’a (20 miles). General direction: N.W.
Continuing down the valley for about 8 miles the road hugs
the side, finally turning abruptly up a side ravine. A
very steep ascent to high loess pass, and winding descent
to bed of Yellow River. This is crossed by ferry. Road
follows along the right bank in a westerly direction for 5
miles to K’ang-chia-t’a, where there is a good inn.
STAGE 8. Yi-ho-ch’êng (20 Miles). General Direction: N.W. A stiff
climb on leaving K’ang-chia-t’a, followed by some miles
over loess tops, and then descent along winding ravine
to Yi-ho-ch’êng. Good mule track. Several good inns at
Yi-ho-ch’êng.
STAGE 9. Sui-tê Chou (20 miles). General direction: West. N.W. up
deep loess ravine, over loess pass and S.W. down second
ravine to valley of Wu-ting-Ho, up course of which 8 miles
to Sui-tê Chou, situated on the right bank. Good mule
track. Good inns in south suburb. Latitude (South Gate)
37° 29′ 51″ N., Longitude 110° 13′ 49″ E. Altitude 2,300
ft.
For Itinerary of the journey from Sui-tê Chou to Yen-an Fu, _vide_
“Through Shên-Kan,” Appendix I (a), pp. 159–161.
ITINERARY No. 2.
Yen-an Fu to Yü-lin Fu (via Ching-pien Hsien).
Distance, 211 miles; 10 stages.
Mule track all the way, though big wheeled carts could be used in the
Ordos.
STAGE 1. Chou-tung (20 miles). General direction: N.W. Good mule
track following valley all the way. Pass An-sai Hsien
(15 miles), where there are inns. Cross river once or
twice without difficulty. Good inn at Chou-tung (a small
village).
STAGE 2. Hua-tzŭ-p’ing (23 miles). General direction: N.W. Road same
as stage 1; passing a few small villages. Cross river
several times. Good inn at Hua-tzŭ-p’ing.
STAGE 3. Ma-tzŭ-wan (30 miles). General direction: N.W. This journey
is made arduous by numerous fordings of the river, 68 in
number, but not hard, especially toward the end. Near head
of valley a steep and difficult ascent leads to small farm
and inn called Ma-tzŭ-wan. No other stopping place. Poor
inn.
STAGE 4. Ching-pien Hsien (18 miles). General direction: N.W. A mere
bridle-path descending into a deep valley. Ascending other
side and crossing sandy flats reaches Ching-pien Hsien,
where there are several inns.
STAGE 5. Ning-t’iao-liang (10 miles). General direction: North.
Immediately on leaving Ching-pien, a treacherous stream in
a deep ravine must be crossed. Ascending on to flat plain
the road leads straight north over sand to scattered farms
(Chinese) called Ning-t’iao-liang. No inns.
STAGE 6. Hung-tu-er Chieh (20 miles). General direction: N.E. Road
lies over sand hills crossing here and there low ridges of
harder ground. Sand very hard to walk in. Road not always
easy to discern, especially after sandstorm. Very bad
inns.
STAGE 7. Ma-ni Ho (20 miles). General direction: N.E. Road same as
stage 6. Cross a river named Chang-feng-pan Ho (15 miles).
Ma-ni Ho on a small river of same name. Poor inn.
STAGE 8. Hai-lin-t’u Ho (20 miles). General direction: N.E. Road same
as stage 6, but more sand hills. Hai-lin-t’u Ho also on
small river of same name. Poor inn.
STAGE 9. Hung-t’u-er (25 miles). General direction: N.E. Road even
more sandy than stage 8; the soft sand making very hard
going. Rather good inn.
STAGE 10. Yü-lin Fu (25 miles). General direction: N.E. Road very
sandy and going very hard, otherwise same as preceding
stages. Just before reaching Yü-lin Fu strike river bed
and turn S. 4 miles to the city.
Yü-lin Fu, Latitude (South Gate) 38° 16′ 54″. Longitude 109°
44′ 59″ (Clark).
ITINERARY No. 3.
Yü-lin Fu to Pao-tê Chou.
Distance, 136 miles; 5 stages.
Between these two places there is only a mule track. In places where
this skirts deep ravines in the loess it is rather dangerous. The
country is very barren and food and fodder are scarce.
STAGE 1. Tuan-ch’iang (20 miles). General direction: N. Sandy road
all day. Hard going. Midday halt at Chang-lo-pu. Deep
loess gullies make road rather dangerous towards end of
day’s journey. Tuan-ch’iang is an inn; there are no
others.
STAGE 2. Kao-chia-pu (23 miles). General direction: N.E. First part
of road dangerous owing to treacherous path along deep
loess ravines. The road crosses the Wall and makes detour
into sandy desert. Midday halt at T’uoh-nieh-tzŭ-kou. Road
follows stream from here eastward to Kao-chia-pu, inside
the Wall. Good inns.
STAGE 3. Shên-mu Hsien (33 miles). General direction: N.E. Road less
dangerous, though still sandy and tedious. It follows
stream bed, ascending hill to Pei-li-pu, descending other
side, it next turns N.N.W. up a large valley to Shên-mu
Hsien. Good inns.
STAGE 4. Chêng-hsiang-pu (27 miles). General direction: N.E. Road
follows up river bed to Yung-shing-pu, where midday halt
is made. Climb hills to Chêng-hsiang-pu. Good inns.
STAGE 5. Pao-tê Chou (23 miles). General direction: East. Descend
stream bed all the way. Stop for midday at Ku-shan-pu.
Road fairly good. Reaching Yellow River at Fu-liu Hsien,
the crossing is effected by means of ferries. Pao-tê Chou
on left bank. Good inns in suburb.
ITINERARY No. 4.
Pao-tê Chou to Ning-wu Fu.
Distance, 121 miles; 6 stages.
This is a rough journey, in which two ranges of hills are crossed. There
is only a mule track.
STAGE 1. Ta-t’a-pu (15 miles). General direction: E.S.E. Crossing the
ridge on which Pao-tê Chou stands, the road descends into
a deep ravine up which it follows all the way. Midday halt
at Ch’iao-tóu. Good inn at Ta-t’a-pu.
STAGE 2. Shih-tzŭ-yieh (27 miles). General direction: E.S.E. The road
continues up the same ravine. Midday halt at Sui-yü-kuan.
At the end of ravine a steep ascent brings one to the
crest of a high ridge, where Shih-tzü-yieh (a farm) is
situated. Lack of water in this country.
STAGE 3. K’o-lan Chou (10 miles). General direction: S.E. This stage
is a short one, the road following down a deep and stony
ravine to K’o-lan Chou. Good inns.
STAGE 4. Wu-tsai Hsien (24 miles). General direction: N.E. Cart road
ascends dry stream bed to its source. A low ridge is
crossed, and the road enters Wu-tsai plain. Road rather
stony. Good inns at Wu-tsai.
STAGE 5. Ch’ên-ch’eh Hsien (24 miles). General direction: N.E. Road
less stony; good for carts. Very low ridge is crossed not
far from Wu-tsai. Inn accommodation poor at Ch’êng-ch’eh.
STAGE 6. Ning-wu Fu (10 miles). General direction: S.E. The road, a
mere mule track, leads over a high ridge. Both ascent and
descent are very steep. Good inns at Ning-wu Fu.
ITINERARY No. 5.
Ning-wu Fu to T’ai-yuan Fu (via Hsin Chou).
Distance, 101 miles: 4 stages.
An easy journey. The last three stages are good for cart traffic, though
rather bad in very wet weather.
STAGE 1. Tai-niu-tien (27 miles). General direction: S.E. Road, a mule
track, follows up canyon, crossing pass at top. Then descent
is made into a long valley, which narrows down into a deep
gorge just before it comes out on to the Hsin Chou plain. No
inn at Tai-niu-tien.
STAGE 2. Hsin Chou (35 miles). General direction: S.S.E. This is not the
usual stage, but it can be made in summer by making an early
start. Several small villages passed. The whole journey is
along a cart road over the plain.
STAGE 3. Huang-t’u-tsai (24 miles), General direction: South. After
traversing plain for three miles (cross muddy river bed), an
ascent is made and a low pass crossed. Subsequently road
follows through Loess country sunken roads to Huang-t’u-tsai.
Heavy cart traffic and many inns along the road.
STAGE 4. T’ai-yuan Fu (15 miles), General direction: S. The cart road
continues down the dry stream bed, finally reaching the
T’ai-yuan Fu plain. Road good except in rainy season.
ITINERARY No. 6.
T’ai-yuan Fu to Ning-wu Fu (via Tsing-lo Hsien).
Distance, 106 miles; 6 stages.
STAGE 1. Pei-pan (12 miles). General direction: N.W. Cart road lies
over the plain to this village. Good all the year except
in the rainy season. Two or three inns at this village.
STAGE 2. Pei-hsiao-tein-tzŭ (20 miles). General direction: N.W. Road
follows up stony river bed to Kuan-k’ou (3 miles), then
enters deep gorge in mountain. There is a path up side and
along the top of the gorge. This is easier going than
the gorge bottom. 10 miles further to Ling-ching, the
midday halt. Still continue up gorge, now more open, to
Pei-hsiao-tien. Good inns.
STAGE 3. Tsing-lo Hsien (27 miles). General direction: N.W. Shortly
after leaving Pei-hsiao-tein two high passes must be
crossed. The road then descends down stony river bed to
K’ang-chia-hui (12 miles). Continue westward down valley
all the way to Tsing-lo Hsien on the Fên Ho.
STAGE 4. Niu-hua-ch’êng (20 miles). General direction: N.N.E. Follow
up Fên Ho valley all the way. Going good. No cart road.
Midday halt at Yuang-an-chêng (9 miles). Poor inn.
STAGE 5. Tung-tsai (12 miles). General direction: N.N.E. Still
continue up Fên Ho valley. Road same as day before.
Hua-pei-t’ung (5 miles). No inn at Tung-tsai.
STAGE 6. Ning-wu Fu (15 miles). General direction: N.N.E. Cart road
(very rough) follows stony valley up to its head. A very
rough but not steep pass is crossed at Fên-sui-ling (5
miles). Descent into Hua Ho valley. Stony road all the way
to Ning-wu Fu.
ITINERARY No. 7.
Kalgan to Hsi-wan-tzŭ.
Distance, 33½ miles; 2 stages.
A very short, but at times difficult journey. The road prepared for cart
traffic is very rough and in spring when the ice is melting, or in the
rainy season it is very difficult. It could be done in one day, but is a
bit long for that.
STAGE 1. Hsin-yin-tzŭ (13½ miles). General direction: W.N.W. Road as
stated above. First 4 miles northward, then due west to
Hsin-yin-tzŭ. Halfway halt at Kao-chia-yin-tzŭ. Suitable
inns at both places.
STAGE 2. Hsi-wan-tzŭ (20 miles). General direction: N.W. Road as
above; follows stony valley all the way. Poor inns at
Hsi-wan-tzŭ. Catholic Mission has a large establishment.
ITINERARY No. 8.
Yang-kao to K’uei-hua-ch’êng.
Distance, Southern route, 127 miles; 6 stages; Northern route, 133
miles; 7 stages.
This journey is a comparatively easy one. There is a cart road all the
way. From T’ien-ch’êng-ts’uen there are two routes; one south and one
north of the Tai Hai. The northern is perhaps the easiest.
STAGE 1. Kuan-t’ung-pu (20 miles). General direction: West. The road
first crosses three miles of plain (northward). It then
enters a winding stony gorge going westward, and crossing
low ridge at its head follows a wide valley. Crossing a
low loess plateau in N.W. direction it finally reaches
Kuang-t’ung-pu. Good inn.
STAGE 2. Fên-chêng (12 miles). General direction: W.N.W. Leaving
Kuan-t’ung-pu the road climbs on to a broad plateau, which
it traverses for 8 miles, passing some scattered villages
the largest of which is called He-ke-ta-wan-tzŭ. The
western descent from the plateau is very steep and rough.
4 miles up the valley to Fên-chêng, which is an important
place with good inns.
STAGE 3. T’ien-ch’êng-ts’uen (18 miles). General direction: W.N.W.
The road first crosses a small flat plain, somewhat
swampy, for 3 miles. It then crosses a ridge and reaches
Ma-ts’ang-liang (5 miles). Following a valley up its
course it finally reaches T’ien-ch’êng-ts’uen, passing
Ma-wang-miao (5 miles). Good inns.
_SOUTHERN ROUTE._
STAGE 4. Hsiang-huo-ti (21 miles). General direction: West.
Leaving T’ien-ch’êng-ts’uen the road takes a westerly
course for 5 miles, when it reaches the T’ai Hai plain
at Fang-huo-chêng. It then crosses plain, keeping
south of the lake, and reaches Hsiang-hua-ti, a
catholic village with a church and mission buildings.
Poor inns.
STAGE 5. Yang-p’o-yao-tzŭ (24 miles). General direction: West. Road
goes westward, and, crossing a low pass into valley,
reaches Ning-yuan-ting, passing several small villages on
the way. Next it follows up a stony valley at whose head a
steep pass is crossed. Descent down through stony valley,
which gets very narrow and rough near Yang-p’o-yao-tzŭ.
Two good inns.
STAGE 6. K’uei-hua-ch’êng (32 miles). General direction: N.W. This
is a long stage, and if necessary can be divided into
two, a halt being made at Yang-ke-pa-er (8 miles from
K’uei-hua-ch’êng). The first 6 miles down stony valley, at
whose mouth Hsi-k’ou-men is situated. Subsequently the
road crosses the plain, the first 5 miles to Sha-pu-na (or
Nor) being very sandy is hard going. Other villages from
here on are He-t’an-wan (1½ miles), Pi-chien-fang (1½
miles), Yang-ke-pa-er (3 miles), Ta-pu-na (or Nor) (5
miles), and Ta-he-he (5 miles).
_NORTHERN ROUTE._
STAGE 4. Su-chi (20 miles). General direction North. On leaving
T’ien-ch’êng-ts’uen the road bends to the north-west up a
gradual ascent to a pass in a bluff on the edge of the
T’ai Hai basin, then descends to Pa-ti-hsiah (inns) (5
miles), subsequently turning northward, skirting the
eastern shore of the lake. It passes Ma-liu-t’ung (inns)
(6 miles), Sha-tai-kou (6 miles), when it enters mountain
valley and reaches Su-chi, which place is composed of one
large inn.
STAGE 5. Sui-mo-chien (25 miles). General direction: W.N.W. The
road turns westward up a side valley and crosses a steep
pass (6 miles), descends into another valley passing
Hao-ch’ien-shan (4 miles), and Wu-li-pa (2 miles;
several inns). It then crosses another low pass and
descends valley to Sui-mo-chien, passing Ta-la-pu-la (2
miles, pop. 1,000; several inns), Hung-sha-pa (3 miles),
Ta-yu-ssŭ (3 miles, pop. 500; several inns).
STAGE 6. Mei-tê-erh (18 miles). General direction: W.N.W. Road
follows down valley and is easy going. It passes
Ming-k’ou-mên (3 miles), Lang-tiao-tze (1½ miles),
Ku-li-shih (1½ miles), Ku-chia-wan-tzŭ (3 miles),
Shih-jên-wan (3 miles; good inn). Mei-tê-erh is just
outside the mouth of the valley.
STAGE 7. K’uei-hua-ch’êng (20 miles). General direction: W.N.W. The
road crosses the plain and is easy going. It passes Wu-lu
(5 miles), Pa-tzŭ (4 miles), Tao-ho-lung (2 miles),
Chia-hsiang-yin-tzŭ (3 miles) and Tai-sung (3 miles).
K’uei-hua-ch’êng: pop. 50,000; good inns. Important
commercial centre.
I refrain from giving itineraries of our journey in Inner Mongolia, as
unless the main high roads are followed there can be no certainty about
the stages and halting places. The Mongols shift their camps, as it
suits them, and the traveller perforce pitches his own camp at the end
of a day’s run, wherever he can find a supply of water. We did not
follow the main high road to Lama-Miao, so cannot give the stages.
_Printed in Great Britain by_ Butler & Tanner, _Frome and London_.
-----
Footnote 1:
In north China, excepting in Kansu, the best bread is steamed, and
goes by the name of “Chêng mo.”
Footnote 2:
In the winter of 1911, the writer again visited this district, as
leader of the Shensi Relief Expedition.
The effects of the Revolution, which has been described as being
“synonymous with anarchy in Shensi,” were only too painfully evident.
The year’s crops were still standing. Many villages along the high
road were deserted, such of the inhabitants as had escaped death
having betaken themselves to hastily built stockades in the highest
loess hills, while the towns were continually menaced by robber hordes
and lawless bands of the dreaded Ko Lao Hui (Elder Brother Society).
Since that date no word of the prevailing conditions in North Shensi
has reached the outside world, but it is highly probable that the
already scanty population has been still further reduced by sword and
famine, and that large stretches of country under cultivation at the
time of the writer’s first visit to this district, now lie a
wilderness—a refuge for the increasing coveys of game, and a hiding
place for robber bands.—A. DE C. S.
Footnote 3:
In November, 1913, the author, accompanied by Captain T. Holcomb of
the U.S. Marines, visited some mountains in the Kuci-hua-Ch’êng
district, said to contain wapiti. This information turned out to be
correct, and they had splendid sport, securing five wapiti bucks, and
several gorals.
One of the wapiti, shot by the Captain, had a really magnificent pair
of horns, with twelve points, six and six, and measuring:—length along
curve, right 41 inches, left 39½ inches; length, tip to base, right 34
inches, left 31½ inches; widest spread 29½ inches; basal
circumference, right 9½ inches, left 9 inches.
As is usually the case the deer were confined to a comparatively small
area and frequented certain ravines and valleys almost exclusively. To
exactly what species this deer belongs, it is impossible to say. It
may turn out to be an intermediate form between the Manchurian wapiti
(_Cervus xanthopygus_) and the Kansu wapiti (_Cervus kansuensis_).—A.
de C. S.
Footnote 4:
Owing to this town being the temporary terminus of the newly-opened
Chang-sui Extension Line, an extensive trade in grain had sprung up,
to carry on which the merchants had large sums of ready money in
hand.—A. de C. S.
Footnote 5:
This menace no longer exists.
Footnote 6:
Mr. Larson subsequently held for a time the position of adviser on
Mongolian Affairs to the Chinese Government on account of his intimate
knowledge of the country and its people. He now holds rank in Mongolia
equivalent to that of a Prince.
Footnote 7:
Probably overestimated.
Footnote 8:
Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol. 60, No. 28.
Footnote 9:
A similar epidemic has taken place this winter (1913–14), so that the
pigs have decreased again.—A. de C. S.
Footnote 10:
This limestone occurs also in the Wu-t’ai Hsien district of Shansi,
besides forming a large mass of the mountains at the famous Nan-k’ou
pass north of Peking, at which point it was described and named
“Untersinisch” by Richthofen. This was subsequently divided from the
Sinian system by the members of the Carnegie Expedition, 1904, who
discovered the unconformity between the two systems.
Footnote 11:
This company was formed by the gentry of the province to exploit the
mineral resources (chiefly coal and iron) after the redemption of the
mining rights from the Pekin Syndicate, by the payment, it is said, of
Tls. 2,250,000. The concession was first obtained by the Pekin
Syndicate in 1898, and was finally relinquished in 1907. Since that
time the Chinese have really done very little to develop these vast
mineral resources.
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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
● Fixed typos; non-standard spelling and dialect retained.
● Renumbered footnotes and moved them all to the end of the final
chapter.
● Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.