XII RESEARCH IN CHINA. 
Geological Survey was asked to join us in China as topographer of the 
expedition, in case it should be found that we could avail ourselves of 
his services. 
In July, 1903, Mr. Blackwelder and I sailed for Europe, and after con- 
ference with scientists abroad, went by the Siberian railroad to Peking, 
where we arrived late in September. The Chinese authorities, already 
advised of the scientific purpose of the expedition, courteously accorded 
us every facility, and early in October we proceeded to the province of 
Shan-tung, where the remainder of the autumn was spent in detailed 
geologic studies of two selected areas, and in general observations en 
route from Tsi-nan-fu to Tsing-tau. We returned to Tientsin December 
11, and after brief preparation Mr. Blackwelder left, with a single Chinese 
companion, for Liau-tung, where he conducted a reconnaissance in the 
peninsula north of Port Arthur. 
With Mr. Sargent, who had joined us, I remained at Tientsin making 
preparations for the journey to central China, which had been determined 
upon after consideration of several alternative plans. During the Christ- 
mas week, in response to a request of the American Minister, Hon. E. H. 
Conger, I made a study of and report on the artesian water conditions 
of Peking. 
The journey to central China and thence to Shanghai occupied the 
first five and a half months of 1904. Our route was so chosen as to avoid, 
over long distances, that pursued by von Richthofen, and yet was so 
related to his that a comparison and checking of observations was prac- 
ticable. From Pau-ting-fu in the province of Chi-li we went westward 
150 miles to the Wu-t’ai-shan, the highest range in northern Shan-si, 
and thence southward 100 miles to the old city of T’ai-ytian-fu, where we 
arrived early in March, having spent two winter months in the bleak and 
inhospitable mountains. The cold was, however, never very severe, as 
the thermometer did not fall below zero Fahrenheit; there was but little 
snow, and the weather was generally favorable for topographic and geologic 
work, except for occasional dust storms, which clouded the atmosphere. 
From T’ai-yuan-fu, Shan-si, to Si-an-fu, Shen-si, we had hoped to pro- 
ceed by an indirect route, which should include a survey of the Huang-ho 
in its long course from north to south between the two provinces, but it 
became evident that such an undertaking would delay us till the months 
before the beginning of the rainy season in central China had elapsed; 
and in a choice between the two sections the advantage seemed to lie 
with southern Shen-si. Accordingly we proceeded as rapidly as possible, 
via the great highway from T’ai-yiian-fu to Si-an-fu, and reached the latter 
city on the rst of April. 
We proposed to continue our journey from Si-an-fu to the Yang- 
tzi by some route not previously surveyed. It chanced that just at that 
