A well-nown writer of modern times expressed a fervent Lope "that national libraries would before long be established in every considerable _city—containing chosen books, the best in every kind, prepared for that national series, in the most perfect way possible, their text printed all on leaves of equal size, broad of margin, and divided into pleasant volumes, light in hand, beautiful, and strong, and thorough ax examples of binders' work." Conspicuous amongst the specimens of bookbinders' skill "may now be found "Mount Omi and Beyond," written by an author of whom the Far East may be justly proud, The whole volume is re-~ with interest of the most absorbing ni, a spirited and striking description of that part of "China which exists far removed from Western influence." The work, purporting as it docs to be a faithful account of the ascent of Mount Omi, and explorations into the country beyond, teems with information, useful alike to the meteorologist, geologist, and botanist, at the sume time rendered pleasing to the ordinary wayside reader, who cannot fail to be entertained, and satisfied therewith. The author quotes from Rockhill, the Tibetan traveller, in confirmation +f his opinion regarding the constant rainfall in Western China," Lhe mistaken romer: of all timber and brushwood from the in sides, is the cause of these acci-We are reminded by this of the opposite extreme in South Africa, where at one place the Boers suffering considerably from lack of rain, absolutely refused to believe that the removal of a number of trees would accelerate mutters and bringing the much desired rain. The effect was proved, after stubborn resistance on their parts, but they still remained unconvinced. The author and his wife are indeed to be congratulated on their philosophic de-jour, Ws they climbed the lofty moun-me day 919 ragged rock-hewn steps, visiting en route quaint Bud-Ghist temples, meeting enthusiastic bands of pilgrims, and finding "every spot_on this unique mountain delightful." One realmes the temerity of these explorers on reading the description of their ascent of the "Goddess of Mercy Clif," a sheer} precipice with a fall of 1,000 foet, and only j attainable by ladders' fixed against the side, with no handrails! "Three ladders in all, with twenty to thirty rungs apiece, put in anyhow, at anes and dis The mountain sir must: indeed have been exhilarating and health-giving if after fourteen hours of severe climbing, with short rests for hasty meals, they were not overfatigued. The book further entrances its readers by vivid details of the country and its people beyond the famous mountain and the photographic illustrations throughout form no small feature of the whole. On closing the volume, the reader must carry away a deeply-formed conviction of the immense advantage which would inevitably accrue to European nations at large, if the country of Tibet. was thrown open, and access to that favoured spot no longer barred by the "crafty and astute Chinese."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.