The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-12-04
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wishes seriously to study Asiatic 20
oiogy one must go TO the British Mu
scum of London. 1t is hoped that this
expedition viii 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 fossil yielding locality has
been found, it is carefully concealed.
Nevertheless during the last three
years DR.. ]. 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 IL 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
We're. pushed south and west just
as the Indians We're driven westward
by the white men when they ad-
vanced across the Americans. continent.
The remnants of nearly Thirty Of
these ancient tribes, such as the LooS,
Moses, 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
populoGs provinces of China. No Chi
nese is permitted to cross the invisible
lines Of their Kingdom" without the
probability of mourning a violent
death. Continual raids are carried on
back and forth along the border. Per-
hans the Chinese will capture score
or more Of LolGs who have ventured
to glimpse the world beyond their wild
hills and valleys. In retaliation. few
nights later, the Lolos will burn
whole Chinese village, kill all the men
and carry the women into slavery
Tins the Lolos have earned reputa.
zion as barbaric savages. And yet q
French explorer who crossed fheii
territory. properly "chaperoped. re-
norris them To ne charming people, Of
hospitable, temper and high mentaiity
He Is one of the few scientists who
have penetrated the land OF the Lofos
ard live 10 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: III is impossible not 70 %
interested in this strange people. They
are totally unlike the Chinese fol
they are tall and slender, with ionf
faces ana patricians noses, and the,
show every indication OF Caucasian
blood. II they have It, where did I
come from? This is one Of the ques
lions that should be answered before
the LoIos disappear, as the other tribes
as rapidly doing.
l. There are MANY reasons why len
tral Asia has remained scientificall.
unexplored for so long time. II
ca remote and difficult Of access tina
IT.. coss Of conducting work on ,
/ large scale is enormous. Moreover
/ the country and its inhabitants pre-
/ sanf unusual obstacles to scientific r.
saarch Not only are there vast IN
4 tersecting mountain chains. waterles
deserts and treeless plains, but Il
MANY parts the climate is too cold fo
aerecfive work IN winter. In SOM
nlaces the natives are exceeding.
snsn;cions of foreigners: religious So
nerstitions greatly handicap researcl
and make II decidedly dangerous.
Chinese superstitious.
The Chinese have many superstl
i t,ons regarding tie grornd. The fen
shut. the spirits II the earth. vim
and water. must always be favorabl
| before i burial takes place. and u
exceedingly unIucky to disturb IN
| ground Ia the region Of cemetery
Though orr paleontologists are ce'