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77.

[[underlined]] CHAPTER V. INVESTIGATIONS IN CENTRAL SHENSI. [[/underlined]]

[[underlined]] Arrangements for Coöperation with the Peking Historical Museum. [[/underlined]]

  The next few weeks of the winter of 1923/4 we spent in Peking. On January 9th I received my appointment as Honorary Adviser to the Peking Historical Museum, thus qualifying myself to act with that institution in the prosecution of archaeological researches.
  We proceeded forthwith to act under the terms of the new agreement. In February, 1924, Mr. Ch'iu, the Vice-Director of the Museum, and Mr. Tung, my Chinese associate, went to Central China. Their mission was to ascertain the possibility of excavating some of those ancient sites along the Yangtze River whose existence Mr. Tung and I had noted during our reconnaissance of the previous spring. After a brief absence, however, they returned to Peking, stating that disturbed conditions and especially the prevalence of banditry forbade any thought of field operations for the present in the area that they had visited.
  A few days after their return, word reached us that a Han Dynasty tomb of considerable importance had lately been found a short distance northwest of the town of Hsin-yang[[circled]] Hsien [[/circled]] [[image - arrow indicating Hsien should be typed after Chinese characters]] 信陽.  The precise spot, we learned, was situated on the upper waters of the Huai River淮河, just within the southern border of the province of Honan.  Mr. Ch'iu at once placed himself in communication with the gentry of the region with a view to the conclusion of an agreement under which we might investigate the new discovery.  Their response was most friendly; but they advised that, for our own safety, we postpone work there until the local bandit situation had improved.
  After considerable discussion, therefore, we decided to utilize our time by undertaking an archaeological reconnaissance in the valley

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Chinese characters needed characters added.