TEANSACTIONS OF SECTION E, 763 



have taken place under the Minister of Finance, de Witte. Railways Leinp: 

 acquired by tlie State, all freights and traffic rates generally reduced. Means of 

 communication are increased and improved. Prospects for English trade in Central 

 Asia and Russia were discussed. English-made goods enjoy a reputation in Russia 

 of heing superior to those of French and German manufacturers. English commerce 

 has not hitherto had a fair share of the plums in Russia's commercial pie. No 

 reason to be seen why English houses sliould not share in the markets where 

 French and German commerce finds such ready outlets. 



4. The Towns of Northern Mongolia. By Dr. A. Maekoff. 



Mongolia, and especially its inner life, have hitherto not been properly studied. 

 Travellers mostly confine themselves to noting only that which strikes the eye. 



I. Urga and its monasteries, divided into three parts, are described ; (1) the 

 monastery, (2) Gandan (temples and residence of Buddhist students), and (3) 

 Maimachen (merchants town). Bogdo Ula, the ' holy mountain,' stands to the 

 south of Urga. The author described the Mongol veneration for the ' holy moun- 

 tain ' ; no capital punishment is allowed to take place within sight of it ; it is the 

 reputed birthplace of Chinghiz Khan, to whom yearly sacrifice is made at the foot 

 of the mountain. The author mentioned the piety of the Mongols and their belief 

 that gifts to monasteries secure reward in after life. Richness of monasteries is a 

 consequence of this belief. Description of temples: (1) The Duchin golobyin 

 Sume ; its gold cupola hung witli innumerable silver bells, which are always ring- 

 ing. It is inaccessible to non-Buddhists. (2) The Barun orgo (chapel of Abalai 

 Khan), less a temple than a museum, with its ancient relics, including an old throne 

 with figures thereon representing former Mongol heroes, (u) The Maidari temple, 

 largest of all, which, besides its great idol, contains idols of 10,000 Buddhas made 

 in 1799. Description of Urga market-place and its trade ; the insanitary condition 

 of the streets, the insupportable dust in summer, the ineffectual canal system for 

 watering the streets; the Chinese quarters, their house*, occupations, and the 

 immorality of the inhabitants. 



II. Ulejasiitai, second largest town in North Mongolia and seat of Government- 

 General. Soldiers main population ; tradesmen all Chinese. Labourer's hire 71. 

 per annum, including food but not clothing. Very picturesque neighbourhood. 



III. Kohdo. Descriptio!! of prison ; cruel treatment of prisoners ; minor 

 offenders allowed to walk into town occasionally, when they have a board affixed 

 to them to show they are prisoners. Town remarkable for cleanliness. Trade is 

 in the hands of Chinese. 



5. Notes on the Topography of Caria. By W. R. Patok and J. L. Myres. 



A series of short journeys in the neighbourhood of Mylasa, Keramos and 

 Halikarnassos result in a number of corrections of the physical features : especially 

 a considerable extension N. W. of the basin of the Kartal ddre, which issues at 

 Keramos ; it has a common watershed with the China Chai, which joins the 

 Mseander near Aidin. 



The geology of the district determines its physical feature ; the limestone 

 plateau is drained partly by swallow-holes from enclosed basins, partly by deep 

 ravines ; beneath the limestone crystalline rocks are upheaved in two parallel 

 N.W.-S.E. anticliuals, one forming the range of Latmos, the other exteudiug from 

 the root of the peninsula of Knidos, through that of Myndos, and as far as Patmos. 

 About Myndos and in Kos was a volcanic area, active both before and after the 

 deposition of the cretaceous limestones. 



Remains of ancient Carian and Lelegian civilisation have been examined, and 

 the following ancient sites have been identified and verified : — Pedasa, one at 

 Karajahissar, one near Bites (Ghiuk Chalar) ; Kindya at Utch-bounar ; Telmessos, 

 two towns and the oracular temple on the Kara Dagh ; Karyanda at Ghiol ; 

 Termile at Tremil ; Pelea at Borghaz ; Taramptos at Taranda. 



