The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-10

quired the knavish side Of the Chinese
without their industry. The other nomads
detest these Zachars, aud brand them rs
accomplished thieves
Across the southern frontier Of these
steppes extends the long chain OF noun
taius, which, in most abrupt and striking
way, sewers the cold, high plateau of Upper
Asia from the warm levels Of China proper.
From the Monaghan side the elevation of
the range seems incopsiderable: but the
topnost ridge, once reached, reveals won
derful panorama OF hill, woodland, and
valley, sinking to q broad, terraced plain
densely populated and checkered by great
rivers. PRzEwAIsKY, who made the de-
scent ia December. found the difference of
temperature sufficiently startling, a piero-
Ing cold below zero Of Fahrepheit being
exchanged for soft spring weather ut Kali
gan. DULY sixteen miles intervene be-
tween that city and the initial point OF tn 10
incline, but there is n difference Of three
thousand feet in absolute height.
Kagan is purely Chinese city, contain
ing some seventy thousand inhabitants,
many Of them Mohammedans. 1t oom-
WALL and has long constituted the chief
emporium Of the Mongolian and Russian
trnde. From this place more than 100000
chests OF tea, grown In the plantations of
the Yan-tse-Kiang, are annually forward
ed by caravans through Urga to Siberia.
Southwark from Kalgsn stretches a smooth
plain sedulously cultivated and studded
with innumerable villages, which, In sharp
contrast TO the cities, present % clearly ap-
pearance. The distance to Pokin Is only
one hundred and forty miles, but the in
terveniug country Is broken with curious
regularity in two natural terraces, each
some twelve hundred feet below tho pre-
ceding level. Along the crest of tho ST.
shan range, forming the edge OF the second
terrace, runs the so-called inner great wall.
which shows better workmanship aud
material than the Kalgan structure. The
scheme OF fertilization includes three ad-
ditional walls between Si-shan and Pekin,
apparently joined to the main work at
their extremities. Each of these, moreover.
is doubled wherever cut by the principal
highway, and on the side nearest Pelsin lie
provided with triple gates. Notwithstand-
ing the elaborate character OF these de-
fences, they are pronounced wholly incom-
petent to resist the lightest sort of Acid
artillery. Between the last wall and Pekin
lies an unbroken, perfectly fiat region
raised but little above the sea level. The
soil is alluvial, for the most part rich
loan, and is everywhere carefully titled.
The climate here is even milder than at
Kalgan, and although in January u little
snow may fall at night. il is invariably
melted before noon.
From Pekin the expedition explored an
other route toward Siberia by way Of Gu
bei-keu. a city which commands a passage
through the great wall In the direction OF
Corea. We need not point out that these
openings coincide with the most practical
BILE passes through mountain chains, form
ing q natural and formidable rampant.
For this reason Kalgan and Gu-bei-keu
have an interest for the tactician quite
apart from their relation to the prepos-
ferrous system OF artificial fertilization.
We cannot now follow Col PRzEwALsKY
through the later and more arduous
stages Of his march. which traversed the
whole breadth OF China and penetrated
into the heart Of Thibet. Doubtless that
part of his journey which we have noted
was specially interesting to the Ministry Of
War; and the truth is that the route from
Urga to Kalgan could not have been de-
scrlbed more carefully If he had been
tracing au itinerary for Russian army.
So far as natural obstacles are concerned.
we are plainly led to infer that the capture
of Pekin would involve less hardship and
difficulty than attended the conquest of
Khokand.