DR. SVEN HEDIN

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1933, Page 7

DR. SVEN HEDIN

RETURNS TO CIVILISATION,

ASIA’S SECRETS REVEALED

LONDON, August 17

Important discoveries, throwing fresh light on the his.ary of the earth, have been made in Central Asia by the Sino-Swedish expedition led by Dr Sve n Hedin, distinguished geographer and traveller, reports the Pekin eoru'e.spoiident of “The Times.” The expedition explored an -airea of 2600 -miles iin s ix years. Dr Hedin Js -collating the -results, which.it is expected will fill thirty volumes. The discoveries include gossamer insects, preserved i,n rocks 100,000.000 years old, and fossils of the Mesozoic period 20,000,000 years ago, so perfectly preserved that the antenna- of ,a giant dragonfly is distinctly observable. Handscrip.s 2COO years old have been -found inscribed on wooden strips used before p:per was invented, describing the campaign against the Hung raiding the silk -route to Rome.

Dr Bohlin, examining the mountains of. Nans-han found fossil s of unknown animals, and ostrich egg-shells 2,000,000 years old, in a region where it is believed the o-strichs were imprisoned by mountains which rose during earth movements.

Dr Hoerner h?s- discovered proof of wiandering lakes, the migration of which isolated the once flourishing city of Edsina, which Marco -polo describes. The city became desolated, and only day wails now -remain. Dr Ambolt, who wag mis sing for nine months in the north of Tibet after losing his carava-n in a blizzard, made experiments relating to the earth's gravity, including pendulum tests measured to one-millionth of an inch for fifty-five hours, enabling only a few minutes’ sleep at a time Stone-age implements have been found, but no fossils of ancient man, who Dr Hedin believes witnessed the great ona’th movements which Dr Bohlin’s studies suggest Occurred in comparatively recent times. The expedition wa, s practically separated -from civilisation for the six years. One of the 1 few links wa s an aeroplane making a -trial air mail flight from 1 China to Europe, which ■ alighted alongside a- small group gathered to celebrate Christmas, and presented them with a Christmas tree.