For the greater part it is lined with rows of lofty trees, limes, elms, and 
poplars. The majority of these were planted by General Ma’s troops after 
they had quelled the Mohammedan rebellion; hence the road is known as 
““Ma’s Avenue.” The notorious Tung Fu-shang similarly planted with trees 
many of the parts neglected by General Ma. Needless to say in a country 
so barren as the greater part of Kansu, these trees afford an inestimable boon 
to the jaded traveller. There are, of course, some pleasant spots along 
this wearisome highroad, such as the eastern slopes of the Yung-yao Pass, 
and the country adjoining the Yung-shou Hsien Pass, about four days’ journey 
from Hsi-an Fu; but for days together the traveller may see nothing but bare, 
brown hills, and dry, stony valleys. The country from Ching-ning Chou to 
Lan-chou Fu was suffering from a protracted drought. The natives said 
that insufficient rain had fallen for three years. The dust was terrible, and 
it was with no little satisfaction that we arrived at the end of our nineteen 
days’ journey, to find the other members of the expedition, whom we had not 
seen for months, comfortably ensconced in a pleasant garden outside the walls 
of Lan-chou. 
54 
