248 



The National Geographic Magazine 



The amount of vapor taken into the air 

 over Salton Sea must be considerable in 

 the course of a year, but to adduce defi- 

 nite and satisfactory proof that it has in- 

 creased the rainfall is a very difficult 

 problem. That it has increased the rela- 

 tive humidity in a slight measure is un- 

 doubtedly true. Aqueous vapor in the 

 absence of a strong wind circulation is 

 diffused very slowly throughout the at- 



mosphere. It is, therefore, improbable 

 that any considerable portion of the local 

 supply of vapor ever passes beyond the 

 immediate confines of the desert. The 

 writer knows of but one case where there 

 is a reasonable presumption that the local 

 evaporation has increased the rainfall, 

 and the increase in this case amounts to 

 but two or three inches annually over the 

 area whence the evaporation proceeds. 



WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF THE EAST 



The Little Black Brother 



A Tamil child in everyday costume of silver 



and gold. The after-dinner pose 



All these illustrations are copyrighted 

 by the National Geographic Society, 

 1907, and their republication zvithout per- 

 mission is prohibited. 



THE following illustrations were 

 made and collected by Eliza R. 

 Scidmore, Foreign Secretary 

 of the National Geographic Society; 

 author of "Jinrikisha Days in Japan," 

 "Java, the Garden of the East," "Winter 

 India," "China, the Long-lived Empire," 

 etc., etc., and are here given to show 

 something of the personal side of the 

 people of the East. 



The Far East is a constant source of 

 wonder and fascination to westerners. 

 The marvelous architectural triumphs of 

 India, Burma, and Siam, displayed in 

 gorgeous temples and enormous rock- 

 hewn edifices, atid the delicate artistic 

 skill of Japanese carvings, pottery, and 

 tapestries excite our admiration and re- 

 spect ; but after all it is the men, women, 

 and children of these countries who ap- 

 peal to the traveler most strongly. Miss 

 Scidmore has passed many years in the 

 East, and the special facilities which 

 have been given her on account of her 

 sympathetic appreciation of the best in 

 oriental character have enabled her to 

 obtain unusual photographic impressions 

 of the people. 



A knowledge of the people of other 

 lands is as essential to the success of 

 a nation nowadays as the understanding 

 of human nature is essential to the suc- 

 cess of an individual. It is believed that 

 this series have much educative value 

 and are worthy of considerable studv- 



