Notes

Abstract

COL. PREJEVALSKY is about to set out on a new exploring journey into Central Asia, which will probably last for about three years. His purpose is to explore especially the basin of the Lob-nor from Thian-shan to the Himalayas. Col. Prejevalsky proposes to visit this summer Eastern Thian-shan from Kuloga to Hama, and to pass the winter upon the Lob-nor and in the deserts which extend to the east of this lake, mainly to solve the question as to wild horses and camels. Next spring he will observe the migrations of birds on Lob-nor and proceed to Lhassa. He will then explore the upper course of the Brahamapootra and the northern slopes of the Himalayas, as also Eastern Thibet and Southern China, and if circumstances permit, he will return by Western Thibet and eater Russia by Kashgar. The programme of the expedition is as follows:—1. Geographical and ethnographical descriptions. 2. An itinerary sketch at sight. 3. Astronomical determinations of places. 4. Meteorological, psychometric, and hypsometric observations. 5. Observations of mammals and birds. 6. Botanical, zoological, and miaeralogical collections. 7. Photographic sketches. The Russian Geographical Society has expressed its emphatic approval of the programme, and the Emperor has ordered 24,740 roubles to be devoted to the expedition from the treasury.