The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-11-26
To Search for
missing Link"

wishes seriously to study AsIatic 70
ology one must 60 to the British Mu
scum Of London. II Ii 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 In that material Of this
sort Il 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. II Is carefully concealed.
Nevertheless during the last three
years DR.. J. G. ANDERSON. Mining Ad-
wiser to the Chinese Republic, has
been carrying OH 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 MS 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 aud west just
ns the Indians were driven westward
by the while men when they ad-
vanced across the American continent.
The remnants OF nearly thirty Of
these ancient tribes, such MS the Lolos.
Mosos, Llsos 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 ahorigines
we're scattered among the mountains
OF Yunnan and kweichow and along
the Tihelan frontier. the Lolos still
maintain an independent territory IN
Szechuun, one Of the richest and most
populons provinces of China. No Chi
nese In permitted tn cross the Invisible
lines of their Kingdom" without the
probability OF iueurring violent
death. Continual raids are carried OF
hack and forth along the border. Per
laps the Chinese will capture score
or more Of l.olos who hav venturet
to glimpse the wGrld beyond their w'lt
hills and valleys. In retaliation, q few
nights later, the Lolos will burn 4
whole Chinese village. kill all the mel
aud carry the women into slavery
Thus the l.olos have earned u rcpGta
lion rs barharic sayages Aud yet I
french explorer who crossed thei
territory, property "chaperoned," re
ports them tn he u charming people, o
hospitable temper and high mentality
lie Is one Of the few scientists VIII,
have penetrated the land of the I.olo
who has hunted with Lolos in Yunnnn
found them independent, 10 be sure
but delightful In their native courtes.
and simplicity.
lie says: III Is m,possih'e moi 10 IN
Interested la this strange people, The
they ARE tail and slender, with lor
faces and pntriciau noses, AMI the
show every Indication of Caucasia
blood. lf they have II, where did
come fromf This Is one of the aucs
tIons that should he answered befor
the Lo'ns disappear. as the other tribe
MS rapidly doing"
There are many reasons why Gen
trail Asia has remained scient iicalt
UNEMPLOYED for So long time. II
so remote md difficult OF access tina
the Gust of conducting work on
!, large scale Is enormous. Moreuye
" the country aud Its Inhabitants pr,
sent unusual obstacles In scientific r,
search. Not only are there vast II
terseeting mountain chains. vaierle.
deserts and trecless plains. hut
many parts the climate * tuo culd +,
effective work I'm winter. I'm SON
places the natives are rxccedngl
! suspicious of Foreigners: religious :,
:, perstitions greatly handicnp rcsear,
: a,ni make u decidedly dangerous.
a Chinese Superstitieus.
l. The Chinese have many supers,
iions regarding tire ground The fer
Ie shut. the spirits Of the earth. vii
he ard water. must always he favorah
y, before burial takes place. and t
Ia exceedingly unlucky to disturb n
u ground In the region Of eemeter
10 Though our paleoatoloyists ere q