568, General Notes. [ August, 
exploration was made just before the ‘invasion of the Chinese, 
the inhabitants being of Aryan stock and of the religion of 
Islam. 
The Lob-Nor lake is elliptical in shape, is 90 or 100 versts 
in length and 20 versts in breadth. It is 2200 feet above the 
sea level. It is much overgrown with weeds, and, though sur- 
rounded by salt marshes, the water is clear and sweet. 
The flights of birds of passage which make a be of 
Lob-Nor in their migrations, were very carefully observed by 
Prejevalsky, millions during February passing on their way across 
the desert. None came from the south across the lofty and cold 
plateau of Tibet, but cross it where it is narrowest, 7. e., in the di- 
rection of Khotan. The region explored by Prejevalsky lies to 
the north of Tibet. The article is illustrated by a ma 
On all sides, this great depression, forming a basin surrounded 
by the loftiest mountains of the globe, has been approached by 
intelligent travelers. On our maps this basin of the Lob-Nor has 
been placed far beyond the great central mountain range of the 
Kuen-Lun, and nearer the Tian-shan system ; whereas, according 
to Prejevalsky, it lies at the foot of the Altyn-tag, which he 
believes is, without doubt, the northern rampart of that mighty 
region of mountain and plateau, whose southern boundary rises 
over the plains of India, and thus extends in breadth over 
nearly thirteen degrees latitude—a distance equal to that from 
Naples to Hamburg. 
- In concluding his examination of the results of this very suc- 
cessful exploration, Herr Von Richthofen remarks that new dis- 
coveries bring new problems, as, for instance, the existence of a 
body of fresh water in a spot where all former accounts tell of a 
great salt sea, and where every theoretical conclusion would con- 
firm us in the belief that such was the case. Count Béla Szécsenyi 
has already departed from Shanghai with the expectation of reach- 
ing the southern side of the Tarrim basin. 
Meanwhile Col. Prejevalsky left Kuldja on August 28th, 1877, 
for Guchen, intending to penetrate into Tibet by Hami, Tsaidam 
and the upper course of the Yang-tse. Unfortunately, after reach- 
ing Guchen, sickness obliged him to return to Zaissan, and he is 
-= now on his way home to St, Petersburg. 
_A more recent journey by Captain Gill, in Western China, sup- 
plies, states the Geographical Magazine, an interesting confirma- 
_ tion of the apparent existence of a belt of exceedingly moist 
_ region between the Tibetan plateau and the lands encompassing 
_ it on its north-eastern and eastern sides. Prejevalsky, in his 
“ Mongolia and Tangut Country,” notices this feature while as- 
cending the mountains south-west of Tajing; the Père Armand 
erya oe it during his residence at } Mupin, north of Ching- 
Mr i While ohte his way from the last- named 
