INTRODUCTION 
geologic boundaries coincide with the natural one, 
excepting only that part extending from Kalgan 
to Shan-hai-kuan. Here the faunistic and floral 
boundaries undoubtedly lie far more to the north, 
coinciding rather with the political boundary. 
In the present volume the term “ Sino-Mon- 
golian Frontier ”’ indicates not so much the political 
boundary as here set forth, but rather the bound- 
ary marked out by Shih Huang-ti when he built 
the Great Wall, which as already stated defines 
to a great extent the natural boundary. 
The subject of this book is a series of explora- 
tions, carried out by the author accompanied in 
each case by at least one other European, through 
districts, which, lying in close proximity to the 
Great Wall, may be included in the title as already 
defined. 
The work carried out on these explorations was 
in the nature of scientific and geographical re- 
search, including the collection of biological speci- 
mens, the making of geological notes, the carrying 
out of compass traverses, and the general investi- 
gation into the lives, customs and conditions of 
the natives. 
These explorations were as follows :— 
1. A journey through North Shensi, the Ordos 
Desert and Western Shansi, by Malcolm 
P. Anderson and the author in connexion 
with the Duke of Bedford’s Exploration 
1x 
