Manchuria has been prominently before the eyes of the world ever since the dark days of the Boxer war, and its importance, politically and commercially, has brought out several volumes which have devoted portion of their space t" this northern land. The present struggle within its boundaries between two great world Powers has invested it with an interest which for the present places it at the top of the list among the countries which we wish to know about.
Manchuria has surprisingly few volumes
works, the Jesuit missionary, P. Amiot, wholly devoted to it. Excluding Chinese issued in 1770 the frst book. Tt was entitled '"Eloge de La Ville de Moukden et de ses Environs." It gives a transi: of that remarkable poetical effusion written by the Emperor Kienlung in praise of Mukden, but contains notes so copious and comprehensive that it might justly have been entitled "A general description of Fengtien provines." More than a century pasted before s second volume wade its appearance, It was "The Long White Mountain," by H. E.M. James, and this was followed a few years later by Consul. General Alexander Hosie's " Manchuria Its People, Resources, and Recent His: tory." There have been five small volumes issued by members of the Manchu-ian Mission body, but these works have dealt with mission work. Japan has, ut present writing, no publication wholly devoted to the subject, and even Rossia has only one work worthy of designation as a book. There are, however, in all the principal Iunguages, especially Russian, Enylish and Japanese, many volumes which contain more or less reference to Manchuria, in addition to innumerable pamphlets,' reports of scientific societies, and magazine articles about this little known land.
Thus, Mr. Weale enters a rich field only little exploited, and in these days when superficial observers, with an affectation of knowledge, glut the market with volumes which are worse than useless, it is refreshing to have placed before "Manchu and Muscovite," a work which exhibits signs of careful and intelligent study of the general Eastern situation combined with extensive personal observation on the spot.
We have now three excellent works on Manchuria: James' "Great White Moun tain", a most readable volume containing much interesting information on the his: tory, the customs of the people, and the writer's personal experiences while on an extended tour through the country; Hosie's Manchuria," an invaluable book of reference dealing' with the geography and more especially the resources of the country, as well as the customs of the ple; and now the volume under review which is in reality devoted almost entirely to recent history.
The author, a gentleman well-known in Shanghai (B.'L. Putnam Weale is a pen-name), visited Manchuria last autumn and travelled along the main line of the Manchurian railway with side trips by road or river to Kirin, Ninguta, Petuna (Bodune), and Tsitsihar.' 'The results of his observations were published' in the columns of our contemporary, the Shanghai Times," between October, 1908, and March of this year. They were well written, and deserved a larger circle of readers, "Manchu and Muscovite" is scarcely a book of reference on things Manchurian, and doubtless the author intended that it should not be. Hosie presents details and invites the reader to form his own conclusions, and Weale has digested the details and presents the conclusions. The latter method produces a work generally more readable, the public are safe-guarded against the forming of incorrect opinions, and the author is released from the drudgery of years, of tedious research which is necessary if the volume be encyclopedic.
The book is so excellent, it covers so thoroughly the ground designated by the title, that we wish such few adverse criticisms as appear below te be considered as suggestions for alterations ina second edition rather than as remarks in disparagement of the present work, 3 Our author commences his volume with an interesting historical sketch entitled "Prologue to the Cri-is." It covers 65 es, and commencing with a period two thousand years before Christ, carries us along rapidly through Manchu history to the later days of the frontier disputes with Russia, and closes with a brief reference to the so-called "Cassini Secret Convention," which in the form that it was announced, he does not believe ever existed. The first four chapters are devoted to the author's trip by steamer aod his impressions of Dalay and Port Arthur.. Chapter V is devoted t " Business ina New World Way," and is the first of the several essays that follow in support of the author's thesis, which, briefly, is to show that Muscovite
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.