The Pulaskian., 1920-11-11
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wishes seriously to study Asiatic zo- ology one must go to the British Mu- scum of London. It 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 Dr. J. c. 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 Loos, 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 apd 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 a violent death Continual raids are carried on back and forth along the border. Per haps the Chinese will capture score or more of Lol0s who have ventured 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 a reputa- tion as barbaric savages. And yet French explorer who crossed their territory, properly "chaperoned," re- ports them to be a 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. Mir. Andrews, who has hunted with LolOs in Yunnan, found them independent. to be sure, but delightful in their native courtesy and simplicity.
 He says: Tt 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 it come from? This is one of the ques- tions that should be answered before the Lolos disappear, as the other tribes as rapidly doing"
 There are many reasons why Gen. tral Asia has remained scientifically unexplored for so long a time. It is so remote and difficult of access that the cost of conducting work on a large scale is enormous. Moreover, the country and it's inhabitants pre- sent unusual obstacles to scientific re- search. Not only are there vast in- tersecting mountain chains, waterless deserts and treeless plains, but in many parts the climate is too cold for effective work in winter. In some places the natives are exceedingly suspicious of foreigners religious su- perstitions greatly handicap research and make it decidedly dangerous.
 Chinese Superstitisus.
 The Chinese have many supersti- tions regarding the ground. The feng shui, the spirits of the earth, wind and water, must always be favorable before a burial takes place, and it is exceedingly unlueky to disturb the ground in the region of a cemetery. Though our paleontologists are eer-