14 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



the evidences of ice action are well disclosed, and the whole 

 deposit is most instructively exhibited. Since the deposition of 

 these various systems great regional disturbances have taken 

 place and the strata has commonly been bent up from a great 

 depth. The summits of the very highest peaks in western 

 Hupeh are usually comprised of Silurian (? Devonian) shales. 



None of the useful or precious minerals occurs in quantity in 

 western Hupeh. Coal is scattered through the entire region, 

 but is nowhere found in abundance and the quahty is in- 

 different. Iron ore is worked in places and in one or two 

 localities the quality is good, but usually it is poor. Copper 

 occurs in two districts (Chienshih and Hsingshan) but is not 

 worked to any great extent. Salt, so abundant throughout 

 the Red Basin of Szechuan, does not occur. The sandy clays 

 and marls are used in brick and tile making, and lime is burnt 

 in several places and used for building purposes. Both the 

 clays and the limestone here mentioned belong to the Permo- 

 Mesozoic beds. The carboniferous limestones are quarried and 

 used for various construction works. 



In the Gorges the main stream is joined by numerous lateral 

 branches which flow through glens of wondrous beauty. These 

 streams, winding their way through, usually fiU nearly the entire 

 bed of the glen and are bounded by walls of cliff 300 to 1000 

 feet sheer. Waterfalls are numerous and wherever it is possible 

 vegetation is rampant. The tops of the cliffs are worn into 

 curious and grotesque shapes. Caves abound and in these 

 stalactites and stalagmites occur. Subterranean springs are 

 common and many of the small rivers originate from such 

 sources. They issue forth from some cave, or from the face 

 of a cliff, or well up through level rocks. The Hsingshan 

 River is an example of this mode of origin. The Chinese attach 

 much legendary lore to all these caves and subterranean springs, 

 and frequently associate fine temples with such spots. 



In the vicinity of the Yangtsze the more commanding peaks 

 and crags are crowned by temples, usually belonging to the 

 Taouist cult. Commonly these temples cap seemingly inac- 

 cessible points, and one marvels how the material used in 

 erecting them was transported thither. Whenever possible a 

 few trees, usually Xylosma racemosum, var. pubescens (Winter- 



