F. GEOGRAPHY. 161 



ed to Sardis. Explorations in Asia Minor, Wissensch, Beil. 

 Leipziger Zeitung, Oct. 22, 1871, 472. 



EXPLORATIONS IN MANTCHOORIA. 



A Russian priest stationed at Pekin, the Archimandrite 

 Palladium, has made an exploration to Mantchooria, under 

 the auspices of the Geographical Society of Russia, and ob- 

 tained much information in regard to this little-known coun- 

 try, bearing both upon its geography and natural history. 

 lie informs us that Chinese immigrants have nearly supersed- 

 ed the original inhabitants of Tartary and Mantchooria, be- 

 coming agriculturists, bankers, and merchants, and speaking 

 all the languages except Mantchoo. Monkden, one of the 

 principal towns, is the centre of a large Russian and Chinese 

 trade, consisting mainly in furs, ginseng, and nephrite (a pre- 

 cious gem). Coal is found near this town and used as fuel. 

 The agricultural products are principally pease and beans, 

 and they are endeavoring to establish the cultivation of 

 opium. 



Mantchooria embraces three provinces, with a total area 

 of 400,000 square miles, and a population of about 15,000,000, 

 three fourths of whom are Chinese. There are no roads, and 

 the country is impassable during the greater part of the year, 

 excepting in the winter, when alone it is possible to go to 

 market. 17 A, March 1, 1872, 236. 



NATURAL HISTORY OF CEYLON. 



Mr. Gregory, the new governor of Ceylon, proposes to make 

 use of his position in stimulating investigations into the nat- 

 ural history of the island, and will appoint a zoological cura- 

 tor to the Colombo Museum with special reference to this 

 object. 12 A, June 20,1872,150. 



APPOINTMENT OF W. T. BLANFORD TO THE BELOOCHISTAN 



EXPEDITION. 



Mr. W. T. Blanford, of the India Geological Survey, has been 

 appointed a member of the British expedition for the survey 

 of the boundary between Persia and Beloochistan. The re- 

 gion is one the natural history of which is entirely unknown, 

 and it is probable that interesting discoveries will be the 

 point of Mr. Blanford's enterprise. 12 A, Dec. 28, 1871,169. 



