The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-01
TIE rAxe-rsr KALLEr.
A Now Field for Civilized Enterprise-Gold
Mining in Tibet.

NhhlhN hh AipStf
Mr.. Archibald Little. a gentleman who hai
spent the better part OF his lifetime in China
during which he has been largely instrumental
IN developing the navigation OF the uppel
reaches OF tho Yang-tse-KianR. recently has
been giving his views and experiences o'
China. more particularly with relation to the
Yang-tse Valley. He was for some time estab-
lished at Ichang. but has moved up TO Chung
King, nm important trade centre In Szo-Chuen'
ut tho junction OF the discharge OF several
rivers into the YanR-tse. He describes the
basin Of the Yang-tse as comprising an area OF
about 100000 square miles, and rs Being the
richest sub-tropical region in the world, and
inhabited by a thrifty and hard working pop
ulation. Tho whole region, except that part
contained In tho great plateau OF Tibet, is culti-
waited like a garden, the mountains OF SEE
Chuen being terraced to their submits. Tho
soil is highly fortified and yields a ceaseless
rotation OF crops that go TO sustain q thickly
settled population. The mineral resources Of
the country are great but quite undeveloped.
Mr.. Little. however. expects, and apparently
with reason, a great industrial future for that
part of China when mining and steam naviga-
ton are taken in hand by foreign capital.
Regarding the mountainous country to the
westward OF tho Min River. one Of the main
tributaries OF the Yang-tse that flow from the
nOTtn. some interesting ueJhllS dTe klNen III
report by n British'consuln official, Mr.. G. ].
Litton. who has made n journey into that
region this year. He speaks OF the strategical
and commercial Importance Of Tachienlu, also
called Durchendo. as the gateway into the ele-
waited plateau Of Tibet from central China.
This town has about 5000 inhabitants.
mostly Tibetans. who are engaged In the for
warding trade between Tibet and the Yang-tse
Valley. The exports fromlthe plateau are prin-
cipally musk. wool. rhubarb. Goatskins and
gold. known as "huang-huo." or yellow goods.
This last comes mostly in the form OF dust.
though nuggets are occasionally brought
down. The chief centres Of gold production are
Litang and Chantui. the former producing
the best and the latter the most gold. At no
time. however. was the quantity very great
that came from these workings in the way OF
trade. not much overs. 900 ounces annually. and
~latterly this has decreased to about hall. owing
to the chronic disorders in that part OF the
country. But it is known that considerable
quantities are brought out In small parcels
hat do not pass through the hands OF the reg
ular "huang-huo" traders, the dealers from
the interior demanding nearly the full value OF
the gold at Chung-King.
Tibetans are said to have the strongest OBJ
lection to mining of any kind. but do not OBJ
ject to washings in tho alluvial sands OF the
v oCuos Ahoy iVui bhV hhu ~ I'll bSuiSS
OF Chinese miners. but there are also certain
Reomantic superstitions. The idea is that
gold in the reef represents a vital princi-
pie which produces gold dust by some
mysterious process OF generation; II the
reefs were worked. it il believed that not
only would the alluvial gold disappear, but that
the prosperity Of the whole country would
wither away. The Chinese hold similar views.
for in q Censor's Memorial it is stated that as
certain mines had not been worked since the
time Of Yung Cheng. from 1923 to 1735. the
quantity Of gold must have increased largely.
Concerning the political situation. Mr.. Little
appears to be OF the opinion that the best policy
to be pursued with regard to China is to main
tain its territorial integrity. but to insist on the
perfect freedom Of trade with all the world. OF
tho Chinese people he evidently has q high
opinion. for he speaks Of them as loving their
country and its independence, though their
ideas Of patriotism differ somewhat from those
prevail in other countries.
II only tho hinterands Of the harbors and for
titled naval stations now held by European pow
ers remain open as before. Mr.. Little secs no
reason why diplomacy should not bring about
common action to achieve a result that would
be for the benefit OF the people Of China and ad-
vantageous to the commerce Of the whole world.