110 Land Magnetic Observations, 1914-20 



Mongol brigands who had been looting the Yellow River district northeast of Ningsiafu 

 all the winter. Permission was asked of him to be allowed to proceed to Paotowchen, 

 and it was given, provided that the party would not hold him responsible for damage by 

 attacks if there was another sudden raid by the Mongol brigands on the country through 

 which the road lay. Accordingly, on April 21 the journey was resumed by caravan and 

 the village of Shihtsuishan reached on April 23. Observations were taken on the follow- 

 ing day, after which we again traveled through desert country until our arrival at Pao- 

 towchen, May 16. Some sand was encountered, but the soil chiefly is a sandy loess, 

 covered with coarse spear grass and occasional bushes. Settlements of Chinese emigrants 

 are found occupied in farming and grazing. The farm land is irrigated from the Yellow 

 River. The spring gales of this district were very unpleasant, filling the air with blinding 

 clouds of sand and dust, obscuring the sky and Sun, and making observations very 

 unpleasant and trying. 



For the journey from Paotowchen to the railhead at Fengchen, 2 Peking carts were 

 hired for the baggage and 2 for the Mongols. The remainder of the party rode their 

 horses. We left May 19 and arrived at Kweihwating May 23, made observations, and 

 continued 4 days to Fengchen. The road was generally good, passing through a flat 

 country of scattered farms. From Fengchen to Kalgan the journey was completed by 

 rail, observations being made at Tatungfu and Tienchen en route. The party arrived at 

 Kalgan June 3, where it was disbanded. One Mongol returned by camel to Urga, while 

 Mr. Johansson and the other two Mongols returned to Tabo 01. 



After reaching Fengchen the Mongols were treated with suspicion by the Chinese 

 soldiers, and had it not been for foreigners accompanying them, they would have been 

 arrested several times. The trip on the whole was a success, and an enjoyable time was 

 spent even in the desert. Mr. Johansson proved to be a very capable companion, and the 

 success of the trip is in large part due to him. 



Table 12 (see p. Ill) gives list of stations occupied, with dates and geographic 

 positions; for magnetic data, see Table of Results. 



The field time of occupying these 60 stations was 268 days, making an average of 4.5 

 days per station. The distance traveled was approximately 3,718 miles, which gives an 

 average of 61.9 miles per station. The average cost per station was $34. 



The magnetic conditions generally were good. Between Kalgan and Urga the results 

 obtained at Cholo Kobor and at Eekhun Buyer Well seem to indicate a slight local dis- 

 turbance. Between Urga and Liangchowfu a local disturbance is indicated at Arra 

 Hottock and Tayik Hyhun. In the loess mountain region from Liangchowfu to Siningfu 

 the results obtained are very regular. Between Liangchowfu and Kalgan a magnetic 

 disturbance is indicated at Huangyang Motto and Paotowchen. The magnetic stations 

 at the former place and also at Patsebolong are on a large sandy loess plain, but at 

 Chahgar Tzu Tien and Paotowchen the Wala Shan, a big rocky sandstone range, is 

 quite close. 



Mr. A. Miller, the Russian Consul-General at Urga, extended every courtesy and 

 took a kindly interest in the expedition. The missionaries of the China Inland Mission 

 stations in Kansu were most helpful and hospitable, often voluntarily offering themselves 

 as interpreters in necessary business with officials and merchants, and putting their 

 stations at the disposal of the party. The kind services of Mr. W. Belcher at Liang- 

 chowfu, Mr. H. F. Ridley at Siningfu, Mr. G. F. Andrew at Lanchowfu, and Mr. J. F. 

 Fiddler at Ningsiafu were especially acceptable. Kindness of the Swedish and Scan- 

 dinavian Alliance Mission stations in Shansi and also the Swedish Holiness Union is 

 gratefully acknowledged. 



If a foreign wagon is to be used in future work, it should have shafts and not a center 

 pole. A Chinese harness is preferable to a foreign one, for the cart horses are accustomed 



