ward in a more or less unbroken line beyond Ffen-chou Fu, a large city about 

 seventy miles to the south-west, forms the watershed between the two rivers, 

 F6n and Huang. The average height of this chain is between 7000 and 8000 

 feet, but here and there great peaks like Mo-firh Shan rise to a far greater 

 altitude. These are usually of granite, or some similar crystalline rock, 

 probably of an intrusive nature. On the eastern side of this divide numerous 

 ravines running together form valleys, which vary in width from one to four 

 furlongs, and extend in a more or less easterly direction. Those near the 

 source of the Fen Ho in the Ning-wu district run south-south-east, and are 

 succeeded a few miles further down the course of the river by others running 

 south-east, whilst in the country west of T'ai-yiian Fu the valleys run almost 

 due east. West of the divide there are fewer large valleys, but these are 

 broader and run more nearly north and south between ridges of shale and 

 loess. They are joined on either side by numerous gorges, which cut down 

 through the strata to a considerable depth. The broad valleys join the bed 

 of the Yellow River some distance southwards. It was noticed that the 

 country east of the divide was much rougher and more irregular than that on 

 the west, whilst the hills were uniformly higher and more pointed. Reference 

 has been made already to the peculiar isolated peaks of Ch'ing-ting Shan. 

 West of these the ravines all had a south-westerly direction, opening finally 

 into the bed of the Huang Ho. 



15 



