74 The American Geologist. August, 1904. 
b. The border of each step consists of two rectilinear or gently 
outward curving sections, (i. e. ; an easterly meridional and a south^/lv 
equatorial section), which are joined with one another to form a en - 
cent {Bogen) of larger or smaller radius of curvature. The more exac.. 
direction of the eastern limb is on the average S. by S. W. — N. by N. E., 
but inclines in the northern steps more toward the N. E. The direction 
of the equatorial limb varies little from W. S. W. — E. N. E. 
c. The equatorial portion of the border of each step crosses the 
meridional portion of the crescent next farther to the south. There 
is thus effected in the direction towards the pole an advance of the 
steps to the eastward like that of the wings upon the stage of a theater. 
But the equatorial section in the majority of instances stretches out 
westward over the point of junction with the meridional. A concentra- 
tion of the crescents is nowhere found. 
d. The morphographical relations given under a, b, and c, above are 
evident from the numerical values in the adjoining table: (See pp. ~2- 
.72>-) 
e. If we lay a tangential great circle through the point of intersec- 
tion of the meridian of 95° east with the equator and of the 66th par- 
allel* a little to the westward of Behring straits (in Longitude 185° 
east) the outward curves of the land-steps adhere to it with sufficient 
precision to make it probable that the falling together of both lines is 
not without significance.! 
f. The entire series of crescents forms a continental divide between 
maritime and inland east Asia, without regard to whether the former 
is narrow (as about the sea at Ochotsk (Okhotsk) and in the narrow 
stretcli of coast of Liau-hsi (Liao-si) between Pekin and Mukden, 
or whether it reaches a breadth of more than 1,000 kilometers, as in the 
plateaus of Manchuria and China lying outside the inland region. The 
.;im*portance of the divide is : 
1. Purely morphographic ; this is comprised in sections a. to e. 
2. Hydrographic. The great streams of east Asia have their sourc- 
es for the most part far to the west of this line, but first enter upon 
their quiet lower reaches where they cut through this line. This 
is true of Amur and Yellow rivers, the basin of the latter stream at 
the point of crossing being restricted to little more than the stream 
channel; of the Han-kiang (Han rivei), Yang-szc-kiang (Yang-tze 
river), Yuen-kiang (Yuan river), Hsi-kiang, and Song-ka (Song-koi — 
Red River). Eastward from the line 01 breaking through, the broad 
land areas are coursed by navigable streams, which, to the south of 
* This appears to be an error as the great circle described in the foot note 
■would pass far to the west of this point. — [Translator.] 
t This great circleruns past theplaces Ochotsk (Okhotsk), Ayan, Tsitsilkhar 
(Tsitsikar), Pau-ting-fu (Pao-ting), Hsianff-rang-fii (S^in^-y ang ), I-tscbavg-fu 
(I-chang), which lie at the foot of the individual steps at distances 
varying from 0—50 km. It penetrates then western K\vavg--si, 120 km. east of 
Pese-ting (Po-se), and forms the medial line between the Kwei (Knit crescent 
which projects somewhat towards the east and the Yunnan (Yunnan) cres- 
cent remaining to the west. It shonld be remarked that this section of the 
crescent lies in the continuation of another section of the crescent belonging 
to the same great circle, which forms the medial line of the Pacific ranges of 
North America, which are oriented essentially parallel to it. 
