918 General Notes. [ September, 
The Thousand Caves.— Col. Przewalsky, in his account of — 
the Nan-schan mountains on the confines of Mongolia and Th 
describes the “ Thousand Caves” excavated by the Buddhists in 
it 
and adorned with mosaics, and in some places remains of the 
larger images exist. Each of the smaller caves is from twenty- 
eight to thirty-five feet long, twenty-one to twenty-eight wide, 
twenty-eight high. The larger caves have twice these 
dimensions, the figures in them are sometimes twice the natura 
size, and in their center stands a colossal figure upon a pedestal, 
surrounded by smaller figures. Two of the largest of these 
colossi are Da-fu-jan, eighty-five to ninety feet high, and some 
forty-five feet wide, with feet twenty-one feet in length, and forty- — 
two feet apart between the great toes; and Dsho-fu-jan, which is 
about one-half these dimensions. In two of the caves there are 
upon the walks colossal idols in a recumbent position; one of 
these, called Schi-fu-jan, is surrounded by his seventy-two chil- 
dren. The head, the hands which are clasped over the breast, 
and the bare feet of this figure are gilded, and the garments striped - 
with red. These figures are finished off with a mixture of chy 
and chopped reeds. At the éntrances of the larger caves 4 a 
sometimes in the interior, are representations of heroes, often with 
grotesque or animal faces, and with swords, snakes, etc., 1n a 
hands. In one cave such a hero is mounted upon an Ciepm™ 
while in another a similar figure rides upon a fabulous beast. 4 
The Pamir —The Proceedings of the Royal Geographical minke 
ciety (March, 1884), give a map illustrating the Russian XP" 
tions in the Pamir, the “ Roof of the World,” and highest regiat 4 
Ibn Reschid, emir of this region, has recently defeated 
Ibn Saoud, the heir to the Wahhabite throne. 
was escorted from Damascus by three horsemen sent 
7 E 
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purpose, and is lodged in one of the finest houses of the “i 
has collected much geographical information, and has 0? 
