20 REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES GEOGRAPHIC BOARD. 
kh has the sound of the oriental guttural. Example: Khan. 
gh is another guttural, as in the Turkish: Dagh, Ghazi. 
og has two slightly different sounds, as in finger, singer. 
q should never be employed; qu is given by kw. Example: Kwangtung. 
b.d,1 
l.ni, 
a. P. 
'•••> as in English. 
w, X, 
and 
z) 
y is always a consonant, as in yard, and should not be used for the vowel i. 
Thus, not Mikindany, but Mikindani. 
All vowels are shortened in sound by doubling the following consonant. 
Examplea: Yarra, Tanna, Jidda, Bonni. 
Doubling a vowel is only necessary where there is a distinct repetition of the 
single sound. Example: Nuulua. 
Accents should not, generally, be used; but where there is a very decided 
emphatic syllable or stress which affects the sound of the word it should be 
marked by an acute accent. Examples: Tongatdbu, Galdpagos, Palawan, 
Sariwak. 
In order to secure uniformity in so far as possible in the matter 
of transliteration of Chinese place names and in order that the system 
adopted may conform to what is apparently to be the standard in 
American publications, it is recommended that the following rules 
be adopted for observance, viz: 
(1) The spelling generally shall follow the list of Chinese post offices 
and Provinces as given in the Imperial Postal Guide, published for 
the use of the Postal Service by the Inspector General of Customs 
and Posts. 
(2) Names shall be printed as single words. 
(3) Forms sanctioned by long usage in standard publications in 
the English language shall be retained. 
HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE. 
Cases brought to the Board for decision are at once referred to the 
executive committee for examination and report. This committee 
examines each case, consulting printed authorities, such as mother 
maps, gazetteers, local histories, atlases, etc. Especially does it 
seek after, and it generally obtains, the local usage, to which it 
attaches great importance. Local usage is usually obtained by cor- 
respondence with county clerks, postmasters, and residents who are 
conversant with local conditions. This infonnation derived from 
correspondence is often supplemented by the oral testimony of indi- 
viduals having personal knowledge of the name under consideration. 
The information needful for deciding may be obtained quickly, 
within a day or two, or it may take months. When the executive 
