168 PREHISTORIC EUROPE. 



the prevailing winds. The lighter dust, which is carried on the 

 wings of the wind and frequently transported for distances of 

 several hundred miles, leaves but a slight film upon the surface 

 of the ground where it falls. And if this be so, one cannot but 

 be amazed at the length of time required for the subaerial sifting 

 of material, and for the transport from the dry central regions of 

 Asia of that finest dust with which so large a portion of China 

 eventually became covered to a depth varying from 50 or 100 

 feet up to 2000 feet. There are many other difficulties that 

 seem to stand in the way of Kichthofen's theory of the origin of 

 the Chinese loss, but these need not be urged ; 1 and we may 

 well admit that the accumulations so admirably described by 

 him in his beautiful work have been very considerably modified 

 by the action of winds. But however satisfactory his theory 

 may be as an explanation of the loss of China, it appears to me 

 to be quite inapplicable to that of Europe. Our loamy accumu- 

 lations refuse, as I believe, to be so explained. My reasons for 

 thinking so I shall venture to bring forward ; but before doing 

 so, and in order to carry my reader with me, I must first give a 

 rapid outline of the principal features of that remarkable epoch 

 in the world's history which geologists speak of as the Ice Age 

 or Glacial Period. 



1 M. l'Abbe David has stated his objections to the theory in question. — See 

 Journal de mon troisieme voyage oV exploration dans V Empire Chinois, t. i. p. 94 ; 

 and Mr. Kingsraill has likewise combated Baron von Richthofen's views. (See 

 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., 1871, p. 376 ; The Border Lands of Geology and History ; 

 an Inaugural Address, delivered to North China Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc, 1877). 

 In place of the wind- theory Mr. Kingsmill will have it that the Chinese loss is a 

 marine deposit, a view which seems on the face of it as difficult of belief as that 

 which he opposes. 



