CHINA, MONGOLIA, AND JAPAN. 63 



of several principal anticlinal axes of elevation in China Proper. In this sketch 

 I shaU endeavor to give more reasons for the locating of these ridges, which, on 

 the small, general sketch-map, are represented by the limestone and granite streaks. 



In describing the structure of the northern part of Chihli and Shansi, a range 

 was often mentioned under the name of the Barrier range. Its trend is here west of 

 S. W., and its prolongation would cross the Hwang Ho in Pauteh (chau), and thence 

 run S. W. through Shensi and Ivansuh, coinciding with the watershed between the 

 eastern and western reaches of the great bend of the Hwang Ho. We have already 

 seen that this range has elevated the Devonian limestone in its northeastern part. 

 The Hwang Ho traverses it through an immense gorge, a fact which in China is 

 almost proof of the presence of the limestone. West of this range are the coal 

 localities of the Ninghia (Fu) and Lanchau (Fu). 



The next great axis, to the eastward, seems to originate, like the former, in the 

 mountain-knot of the Ourangdaban, near the Tushi gate of the Great Wall, N. W. 

 from Peking. Following a S. W. course it forms the range which we crossed at 

 the Nankau pass, and crossing the Shansi boundary it is known as the sacred 

 Wutaishan. Still further to the S. W. it crosses the Hwang Ho under the name 

 of the Lungmun shan [mountains of the Dragon gate]. In northern Chihli we have 

 seen that this is a granite range flanked with the Devonian limestone ; the latter 

 formation is indicated to the S. W. in the lime Avorks west of the Fan river, in the 

 caverns of Taning H. and the lime of Kih C, in the celebrated Lungmun gorge, 

 through which the Hwang Ho passes this range and in the caverns of Fungtsiang F. 

 I have siipposed its continuation bordering on the highlands of western Sz'chuen, 

 forming the watershed between the Sz'chuen and Tibetan sources of the Yangtse. 



Between these two apparently principal axes there seem to be minor ones, but I 

 have colored the intervening space as Coal measures. In it lie the coal basins of 

 Siuenhwa F. in Chihli ; of Tatung F. and Tsingloh H. in Shansi ; and of Yulin 

 F. and Pingliang F. ui Shensi. 



We come now to the central axis of elevation, to which attention was called in the 

 beginning of this paper, and the establishing of which was there based on a study 

 of the map. Where, this range crosses the Yangtse, we have seen that it consists 

 of two anticlinal ridges of limestone with an aggregate breadth of 80 miles, and 

 containing between them a coal basin. In its continuation S. W. to the Nanling 

 mountains it seems to occupy a large part of Kweichau. The only data for this 

 portion of the range are, the numerous gold washings at the base of the watershed 

 between Kweichau and Hunan, that I have taken as indications of the granito- 

 metamorphic formation, and the caverns and marble localities of Shihtsien F. and 

 Chinyuen F. In its continuation to the N. E. it is crossed by the river Han, and 

 gives rise to the sources of the Hwai river. It disappears at the edge of the great 

 delta plain to rise again as the watershed of Shantung. In this province the nume- 

 rous gold localities that stretch through the centre from S. W. to N. E. indicate the 

 presence of the older metamorphic rocks, which, indeed, according to my own 

 observation, form the coast near Chifu. The stalactites of Taingan F. and Kii C. 

 are the only data for coloring in the limestone. The continuation of this range 

 further to the N. E. is found in the limestone islands that stretch from Shantmii? to 



