The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-08-27

The following interesting account Of
Dr. Sven Hcdin's second expedition in
central Asia appears In the London
Times
Writing from Tiumen CTemirllk) at
the end of last October DR.. Hedin an
nounced his intention of making two
more journeys before he set out on his
long march home, one among the
mountains to the west of Temlrlik, the
other to the ancient lake bed he had
discovered and the Kara Koshun lake,
which he identified with Prjevalskys
Lob Nor. 1t Is with these two expedi-
tlons that his latest letters deal.
Starting on the first Journey, TO the
great or westerly Kum-Kul, early in
November, Dr Sven Hedln crossed and
measured these mountains on three
lines. He passed through absolutely
unknown country, but the excursion
was a comparatively short one, lasting
only a month, and by Dec. IL he was
ready for the more important march
On this he had with him nine men,
with II camels and 10 horses. Khan
ambal was the first point for which he
difficult mountain road lying 10 the
south Of Llttledale's read, which was
struck at Khan-ambal. After making n
circular march to Stirling round the
magnificent Anambar-ula, and back to
Khan-ambal DR.. Sven Hedin proceed
ed across the desert straight TO the
north and passed through the noun
tainous region which constitutes the
western continuation of the kurruk
Tagh.
During the latter part of the march
the little company of travellers had
very trying experience. For II long
and arduous days, during which they
pushed forward as rapidly as possible
and covered, in spite of the slow rate
of travelling necessitated by the care
full observations which DR.. Sven He
din was continually taking, about 20
miles a day, not drop of water was
found. Fortunately on the third day
the travellers came across some snow,
and this Just enabled the camels to
last out until water was reached. 9th
erwise they must inevitably have sue
cumbed. After this Or. Hedln, with
the aid of the map he had compiled in
March, 1900. when he made his great
discovery in connection with the Lob
Nor problem, was able to find Alti-
mishbuluk quite easily and from there
to proceed with all his caravan to the
ruins on the northern shore of the an
cient lake bed. The camels were heay-
lily laden with ice. and after they had
been sent back to the 'bulak' DR.. He
din was able to stay among the ruins
for a week. During this time he was
busiy engaged compiling maps and
plans, taking photographs, gathering
together collections of various kinds
and making excavations among the
ruins. The discoveries he made were
both numerous and important, but he
thinks that perhaps his most curious
"fnd" was some - complete letters
written on paper In Chinese. They
were in a marvellous state of preserva-
ton, every sign being perfectly dis
tinct and legible. Among other curl
osities that DR.. Sven Hedin will bring
home are 30 little pieces of wood
which, so far as be can judge at pres
ent, must have been used as some kind
of ticket. Each one has inscribed on ii
the name of some emperor. the year of
his reign. the month and even the very
day. A "slah" who has read some Of
them tells DR.. Hedin that they are 800
years old, but the latter feels that he
cannot form definite opinion until he
has had them translated on his return.
Among the ruins DR.. Hedin found a
al OF MI N w 40
saw some Of the most artistic wood
carving. One of the representations
was a large fish. and In this connection
he mentions that one house contained
number of fish bones which were evil
IDENTIFY the remains of fish exactly SINH
lar TO those found today In the Kara
Koshun lake TO the south. These facts
DR.. Sven Hedin considers important as
strengthening his claim to have found
a lake bed which was actually filled
not so many years ago and which Is the
true site of the Lob Nor of the an
clients. In the temple DR.. Hedin fur
ther found Buddha carved In wood
and he also mentions as one of his
finds" n piece of wood, which he de
scrbes as being about half the size OF
the sheet of note paper he was writing
on, on which there was writing in III
betan characters. In one of the Chinese
letters to which reference las already
been made the place was called Lo-lan
and there Is also mention of the grea
road which 1t will be remembered DIR
Sven Hedin found rrnning along th'
northern shore of the lake bed, which
is said TO join Lo-lan TO Sa-dscheo. DR.
Hedn brought away with him speci
mems of the various kinds OF WOO
carving, and students in Europe vii
eagerly await the sight of these as wei
as Of the photographs Of the ruins
= which DR.. Hedin had developed jus
before writing and OF which he speak
In the most enthusiastic terms.
OF the full importance OF his discoy
cries among the ruins it is, he says, I'm
....fII., 10 Uftfn al prnCant nnV n1pnnnt