116 Land Magnetic Observations, 1914-20 



Golden Sand), was left, and the little river, the "Heng Kiang," was followed until 

 December 16. The scenery is of great beauty, the stream flowing through fine gorges 

 of limestone and sandstone (see view 2 of Plate 1). 



The only place of any importance passed was the little town of Laoyatan, on De- 

 cember 13, to which point small boats can ascend the Heng River in the high-water 

 season. The pony caravans from the south do not go beyond this point, where their 

 loads of tin, pewter, and zinc, and also herb medicines and tea are exchanged for salt, 

 paper, cloth, and sundry articles from Szechwan, which have been brought down by 

 coolie caravans. A road crosses from Laoyatan to the Nan Kiang River, which flows 

 into the Yangtze a little below Suifu. 



Continued wet weather prevented astronomical work at Tantow Yun, Puerhtu, 

 Towshakwan, and Takwan. Approaching Takwan, the road leaves the river and runs 

 obliquely up the side of a small valley to the city, and then, by a very steep pass with a 

 very difficult road, climbs to an altitude of 5,500 feet to the Yunnan plateau. When 

 finally on this plateau, the miserable cold wet weather of the Yangtze valley was left 

 behind, and bright clear weather prevailed to the end of the journey. 



Chaotung Yun, reached on the afternoon of December 20, marks the end of the most 

 difficult section of the Suifu to Yiinnanfu trip. It is not a large city, though there is 

 none larger between Suifu and Yiinnanfu, and it is quite young for China, having been 

 built but 200 years; there are few local industries, though cloth weaving is becoming 

 important, and tin and zinc are mined in the surrounding regions. On December 23 

 the journey was continued toward Tungchwan Yun, a walled city 5 daj-s to the south, 

 descending 3,000 feet on the afternoon of December 24 from an elevation of about 

 7,200 feet at Tashuiching to Kiang Ti, a small hamlet on the bank of the Niu Lan River, 

 whence the ascent was gradual to Yichesun at an elevation of 5,500 feet. The road then 

 leads over undulating red broken country often covered with groves of fir trees at alti- 

 tudes varying from 5,600 to 7,700 feet above sea-level. 



Tungchwan Yun, a small walled town with a few shops in the main street, was 

 reached on the evening of December 28. Copper mined in the surrounding country is 

 the chief source of wealth. The Ya Kow Pass was crossed December 31 at an elevation 

 of about 9,300 feet, and the village of Laitowpo reached in the afternoon. Leaving 

 Laitowpo, the road crosses red uplands at an elevation of 8,000 to 8,600 feet, then 

 descends about 2,000 feet to the hamlet of Hsiao Lung T'an. The remainder of the 

 way to Yiinnanfu undulated over red uplands, dotted with occasional small hamlets 

 and villages. 



The road from Suifu to Yiinnanfu is a main caravan route, and mediocre inns are 

 found throughout. It is very bad between Suifu and Chaotung Yun, the ascents and 

 descents being difficult in wet weather. Between Chaotung Yun and Yiinnanfu there 

 are frequent good stretches over uplands where the road is not paved, and is, therefore, 

 easy for travel in dry weather (see view 4 of Plate 1). The weather was wet and cold to 

 December 20. After that date fine bright weather prevailed, with frosty nights and cool 

 days, the temperature at midday varying from 5 C to 15 C, in the shade. The people are 

 friendly to foreigners and are devoid of the persistent curiosity of their countrymen in 

 other parts of China. Chickens, eggs, and vegetables may be purchased at most places, 

 and sugar, flour, tea, tinned milk, etc., can be obtained at Chaotung Yun and Tung- 

 chwan Yun. 



We stopped at Yiinnanfu January 6 to January 13. There are several foreign stores 

 at Yiinnanfu, selling a great variety of tinned foods, from which we purchased a supply of 

 provisions. The coolies from Suifu were paid off, and arrangements made to hire pack 

 animals to Talifu, a journey westward of 13 days. The usual price for mules in most 

 parts of Yunnan is 50 cents per day, each animal carrying a load which must not exceed 



