400 HUNAN— THE CLOSED PROVINCE OF CHINA 



yards, one stream to swell the Yangtze, the other flowing southward 

 and ultimately into the China Sea, 800 miles away. 



The presence of this pass will permit a railway line to he con- 

 structed hetween Canton and Central China with an ahnormally low 

 ruling gradient. The distance hy rail hetween Hankau and Canton 

 will he ahout 700 miles. Of this distance 690 miles need have 

 nowhere a gradient exceeding one-half of one ])er cent, that rate 

 heing used crossing the s})urs as they jut out to the Siang or the Pei 

 River. The range itself can he crossed I)}' five miles on either side 

 of ascending gradient not exceeding one })er cent, including an allow- 

 ance for the existence of curves. 



In Eastern Asia the magnetic variation is small. At Hankau the 

 variation was found to he 45' E. and at Canton 20' W. We located 

 the line of no variation just after crossing the Nanling Range. 



South from the Nanling Range, at the Meling Pass, flows the Pei 

 River, and south from the Cheling Pass flows the Wei River, the two 

 streams joining at Shaochau, the coml)ined stream taking the name 

 of the Pei River, which it retains to the junction with the West River 

 at Samsui. 



Kuangtung has heen explored hy foreigners, and the larger part 

 of it has heen carefully mapped, certainly as high as Shaochau. I 

 am not aware that an actual surve}' of the Wei River has heen pre- 

 viously made, but its correct course is shown on the map which 

 accompanies this paper. The line covered by our surve3'and shown 

 on the map is one of the oldest and most im})ortant trade routes in 

 the country, of which no accurate and definite information was 

 hitherto available. The countr}- is populous and rich, especially in 

 minerals, and will be one of the great factors in the coming material 

 development of China. 



NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY 



The active membership ticket for the season 1900-1901 will admit 

 only one person to lectures instead of two as heretofore ; but mem- 

 bers will have the privilege of purchasing one season ticket, admit- 

 ting one person, for two dollars, if desired. This change has been 

 decided upon in pursuance of certain recommendations made b}'' 

 President Bell to the Board of Managers last June. The substance 

 of the address is here given, by direction of the Board, for the infor- 

 mation of members. 



