6 Suggestions for the Yunan Expedition. [Jan. 



It is believed that both, this gentleman and Dr. Anderson have made 

 full preparations as to suitable instrumental equipment, and every arrange- 

 ment, for obtaining the best information as to the physical character of the 

 country to be traversed, and for laying down the route, and sketching as 

 much of the subtending country as possible, with the view to improving 

 our Geographical knowledge of Western China. 



It is not practicable to lay down detailed instructions on every occasion 

 of an exploring expedition starting, as to outfit, equipment, and the use of 

 instruments, neither is it necessary to go into the elements of surveying, 

 adjustment of instruments, and practical astronomy, as best adapted for 

 such purposes. But the members of this expedition may advantageously 

 be referred to, and supplied with, that valuable little pamphlet prepared and 

 published by a Committee of the Council of the Royal Geographical Society 

 in 1871 (price 1 shilling) entitled " Hints to Travellers," which contains 

 all that any explorer can possibly require to study and work up, for the 

 determination of " Time," " Azimuth," " Latitude" and " Longitude ;" 

 also on portable instruments, together with types of all the Computations, 

 Formulae, &c. with Tahles for Barometrical Heights, observations on 

 the proper selection of instruments, adjustments, meteorological instruc- 

 tions, hints on the projection of routes, tables for rough triangulation with- 

 out the use of instruments or computations, measurements of the velocity of 

 rivers, and various other useful, easy and expeditious methods of ascertaining 

 all that may be necessary to know. 



This little work, addressed to " persons intending to explore a wild 

 "country, and who who want to know what astronomical and mapping 

 " instruments, and what observations for latitude and longitude ought to 

 be made," will be found of the most eminent service, and it takes up but 

 very small space to carry about. If other works can be taken as part of 

 the outfit, on such expeditions, these may be mentioned. 



Galton's "Art of Travel." 



Jackson's "What to Observe." 



" Admiralty Manual of Scientific Enquiry," revised edition. 



" Manual of Survey for India," 3rd Edition, 1875. 



Books in fact in the present day are so numerous and cheap, so practical 

 and abridged for portability, that the list might be extended indefinitely. 

 Enough however appears to have been quoted, for the real necessities of 

 Indian Geographical explorations. 



G-eology. 



There is no information in hand regarding the geology of the region 

 between that already described by Dr. Anderson in western Yunan, and 

 the east centre of China. Some further information regarding the age and 



