Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-12-17
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wishes seriously to study Asiatic 20
| olOgy one must 60 to the British Mu-
scum Of London. 1t is hoped that this
| expedition will bring to New York the
greatest natural history collections
which the world has ever seen and
will make New York the center OF
| Asiatic scientific activity.
One Of the reasons why so little Is
known of the fossils Of China and
interior Asia Is that material of this
sort Is Of considerable value to the
Chinese. Fossils are supposed to have
wonderful medicinal qualities. They
are known as dragons bones" and
whenever a fossil yielding locality has
been found, 1t is carefully concealed.
Nevertheless during the last three
years DIR. ]. G. Anderson, Mining Ad-
wiser to the Chinese Republic, has
been carrying on investigations on be-
half Of Swedish institutions and has
made some remarkable discoveries. DR..
Anderson Is practically the first sci
enlist who has ever collected fossils
personally in China.
We know almost as little about some
Of the living natives of Asia as about
the fossil history of the country. Long
before the Chinese arrived, China was
Inhabited by aboriginal tribes, which
were pushed south and west just
as the Indians were driven westward
by the white men when they ad-
vanced across the American continent.
The remnants of nearly thirty Of
these ancient tribes, such as the Lolos
Mosos, Lisos and others, are rapidly
disappearing and yet almost nothing
Is known Of their origin, life or GUS
toms.
Keep Chinese Out.
Although many of the abOrigines
were scattered among the mountains
Of Yunnan and KweichOw and along
the Tibetan frontier, the Lolos still
maintain an Independent territory In
Szechuan, one Of the richest and most
populous provinces Of China. No Chi
nese Is permitted to cross the invisible
lines Of their Kingdom" without the
probability Of mourning violent
death. Continual raids are carried on
back and forth along the border. Per-
haps the Chinese will capture score
to glimpse the world beyond their wild
hills and valleys. In retaliation, a few
nights later, the Lolos will burn a
whole Chinese village, kill all the men
and carry the women into slavery.
Thus the Lolos have earned reputa-
ton as barbaric savages. And yet a
French explorer who crossed their
| territory, properly "chaperoned," re-
ports them to be charming people. of
! hospitable temper and high mentality.
He is one of the few scientists who
have penetrated the land of the Lolos
and live to tell the tale. Mr.. Andrews,
who has hunted with Lolos in Yunnan,
found them Independent, to be sure,
but delightful In their native courtesy
and simplicity.
He says: 1T is impossible not to be
interested in this strange people. They
are totally unlike the Chinese, for
they are tall and slender, with long
faces and patrician noses, and they
show every indication Of Caucasian
blood. If they have it, where did II
come from? This Is one of the Ques-
tions that should be answered before
the Lolos disappear, as the other tribes
us rapidly doing"
There are many reasons why Cen
trail Asia has remained scientifically
unexplored for SO long time. 1t Is
so remote and difficult Of access tina,
the cost Of conducting work on q
large scale Is enormous. Moreover
the country and Its inhabitants pre-
sent unusual obstacles to scientific re-
search. Not only are there vast in
tersecting mountain chains. waterless
deserts and treeless plains, but Ir
many parts the climate is too cold foi
effective work In winter. In some
places the natives are exceedingly
suspicious of foreigners; religious SUI
perstitions greatly handicap research
and make it decidedly dangerous.
Chinese Superstitious.
The Chinese have many supersti.
tons regarding the ground. The fena
shut, the spirits of the earth, wind
and water, must always be favorable
before burial takes place, and 1t is
exceedingly unlucky to disturb the
ground in the region of cemetery.
Though our psychologists are Ger.