6 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I42 



as the river inspector on the Yangtse, compiled a record of the lowest 

 and the highest water levels at the port of Ichang from 1877 to 1922. 

 The lowest winter levels on the Yangtse River occurred in April 

 I year, in December 2 years, in January 12 years, in February 15 years, 

 and in March 15 years. The highest levels occurred in July 24 years, 

 in August II years, and in September 11 years. He recorded the 

 lowest and the highest water levels at Chungking from 1891 to 1922. 

 From 1893 to 1922 the lowest water levels occurred in February 14 

 years, in March 15 years, and in April i year. The highest levels 

 occurred in July 13 years, in August 13 years, in September 2 years, 

 and in October i year. The following are the average monthly water 

 levels for Ichang and Chungking, compiled by Captain Pitcairn 

 (1923a and b) from the records of 30 years : 



Ichang Chungking 



Mottth feet feet 



January 2.6 2.2 



February 1.5 1.3 



March 2.7 1.7 



April 7.7 5.2 



May 15.4 11-4 



June 22.6 23.4 



July 30.4 382 



August 30.7 38.0 



September 29.2 26.4 



October 24.2 26.2 



November 14.0 i3-3 



December 6.3 6.0 



In the year 1923 Captain Pitcairn obtained the records of the rain- 

 fall in numerous cities of Szechwan and noted all the rises or "floods" 

 of the Yangtse River at Chungking of 4 feet or over, the highest being 

 28 feet. Every one of the rises in the water level of the Yangtse was 

 found to be due to monsoon rains in the Red Basin of Szechwan. 



Temperatures vary in every city and locality and are influenced 

 by many circumstances, especially by the altitude and the distance from 

 the Equator. It has been estimated that the temperatures on the 

 western borderland of Szechwan vary about 3° F. for every thousand 

 feet of altitude. 



There is a great variety of soil in Szechwan, and the following 

 general statement is an over-simplification. Loess is found in northern 

 and western Szechwan, in Sikang, Kansu, and Shensi. It is a rich 

 soil but is often in dry regions, and its fertility depends on rain and 

 irrigation. North of Kansu and Shensi is the Gobi Desert. In north- 

 western Szechwan, in western Sikang, and in Kokonor there are roll- 



