66 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



to become fascinating, and may easily be carried too far. The 

 facts above recorded are best left until the geology of China 

 generally is more accurately known. 



Coming down to historical times we learn that the region 

 previous to the advent of the Chinese was peopled by an 

 aboriginal population divided into the kingdom of Pa in the 

 east and the kingdom of Shu in the west. This aboriginal 

 population has entirely disappeared, but records in the shape 

 of well-constructed caves having square entrances are found 

 scattered all over the Red Basin. These caves are especially 

 abundant around Kiating Fu. A little investigation of these 

 interesting places has been attempted, and fragments of pottery 

 and odds and ends discovered. The entrances to these caves 

 could only be closed from the outside, and from this fact, and 

 other details, it is probable that they served as the burial-places 

 of the chiefs and more wealthy among this extinct people, 

 rather than as dwelling-places or harbours of refuge. Doubtless 

 they have been subsequently used for these latter purposes, 

 but that they were designed for tombs seems to best explain 

 their origin. From Chinese history we learn that as early 

 as 600 B.C. the kingdom of Pa had relations with the Chinese 

 kingdoms of Ts'u, which occupied the regions north of the 

 barrier ranges. Later, Pa princesses married Ts'u kings. 

 Ts'u was in time conquered byTs'in (another Chinese kingdom), 

 which gradually absorbed Pa, and finally conquered Shu about 

 315 B.C. A military road was commenced from the neighbour- 

 hood of modern Hanchung Fu, designed to connect with the 

 region around modern Chengtu, by Ts'in-shih Hwang about 

 220 B.C. This road, which enters Szechuan from across the 

 barrier ranges near Kuangyuan Hsien, is still in existence as 

 the great highway connecting Chengtu with Hanchung Fu, 

 Sian Fu, and, ultihiately, Peking itself. For the next fifteen 

 centuries the history of this region is full of w^ar, rebellion, and 

 internecine strife. Usurpers established petty dominion over 

 the country from time to time, only to disappear amongst 

 awful slaughter and bloodshed. There is scarcely a square mile 

 of the whole region but what recalls scenes of valour, treachery, 

 and carnage. In the latter half of the thirteenth century the 

 famous Tartar, Kublai Khan, carried his arms victoriously 



