Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-12
ASIATlC MYSTERIES.
DIR. HEDIN PENETRATEs HITLER
TO UNKNOWN SECTIONS.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MiRVELS REVEALED
Ancient Cities Buried in Moving
Sands Are Explored, and Evidences
of n High State of Culture Found
Four Yenrs of Toll and Travel.
Correspondence of the Dispatch.)

Correspondence of the Dispatch-)
STOCKHOLM, August S0.-The most
astonishing contributions to science in
many long year are contributed by
DIR. Sven Hedin, a young Swedish sa-
want, who has just returned to this
place, after a four years sojourn in
what has hitherto been considered In
accessible portions of Central Asia The
facts which DR.. Hedin brings back to
US are so marvellous as to more than
astonish, and they utterly upset cher
ished theories of many savants.
The explorer found buried cities OF
which the world had never heard. He
learned OF the existence Of great bodies
OF water. of which even the most
learned in the science of geography
never dreamed. He found great herds
OF wild animals, he saw thousands and
thousands OF camels without owners
he assembled TO heights hitherto con-
sidered beyond the reach Of man, and
he encountered catalogue of dangers
which make one shudder 10 hear Of.
Dr. Hedin headed an expedition or
which he was the only European, which
Il. was backed by King Oscar, OF Sweden.
and a number of other wealthy persons
interested in explorations. He was an
sent a triile less than four years, and
though, | suppose the outside world has
Dot learned of 1t TO any extent, he was
accorded almost as royal a reception
in Sweden as was Dr. Nansen himself
Indeed, 1t is a question II the facts
which he reveals TO the world are not
t..... .ssfa mr.
told US by Nansen. IL is possible for
many Europeans to now penetrate the
district through which Hedin travelled,
and IL is likely in time 10 prove find
OF tremendous Importance TO commerce.
The information here given has been
rather guarded from the public, for the
reason that DR.. Hedin proposes to leave
a literary monument to his efforts.
. Sixty-two times, he told me. he had to
defend his life against inhabitants Of
that section of Asia through which he
travelled, who not only sought to kill
him TO obtain possession OF what he
had. but because they objected to out
siders learning the nature of the country.
The inhabitants ne found were fierce
and warlike, and processing allegiance TO
none beside their chiefs. The majority
of then claimed to be utterly ignorant OF
the great nations Of the world and de-
ciared that no force could be brought
against them so strong they could not
conquer it. They spoke language some
thing like combination of Russian and
Chinese. though nowhere did DR.. Hedin
ind traces OF a mixture OF blood. In APP
pearance these people were distinctly Tar
taric, and the explorer believes they are
descended from the same families that
bred the present inhabitants Of the Rus
sian steppes.
One thing the Doctor noticed, and that
was that the women OF all the tribes
were exceptionally beautiful and were
treated by the men with exceeding re-
spect. This Ia all the more interesting
from the fact that II is almost the first
instance In which any explorer ever dis
covered that among persons apparently
ignorant of civilization and Its ways wo-
man held a place SO near akin TO that
she maintains IN the civilized world
Dr. Hedin left Stockholm IN October
lisa. Through the Kirgis steppe he went
10 Tashkent. and during February. March,
and April. 1894. ne marched over the
Pxmirs whose northern plateaus during
THIS season are buried In snow. He had