Gursee or THE Yanxerze Gorces. By Cornell Plant with HI and White Drawings by U. A. Donnelly, Kelly Walsh. Shangl There is a melancholy feeling in reviewing the almost post-humours we! se soon did his death follow on its publication—of Captain Plant on the Yangtze Gorges which he knew so well. Indeed none knew them better, and although the coming of the Loongmow and other vessels has robbed the journey from Ichang to Chungking of nea ly all its terrors and much of its exhilaration, one cannot but regret that better use should not have been made of his unique experience. In this little book he describes the journey in detail with minute recommendations to. travellers who still prefer the old-fashioned native houseboat, which they will find most useful. And lapped as we are nowadays in cotton wool when we travel, there is a fascination about the - thrilling and adventurous journey which Captain Plant describes, which must appeal to all and would surely tempt everyone who had the necessary time to make the ex-° periment. It would almost seem as if the Yangtze, that truly Great River, had conspired with Tibetans and anti-foreign officials and all who dread and would push. back Western influences to keep back the invader. From Captain Plant's simple and vivid narrative, one recoils appalled, by the dangers that must be overcome. The Chinese say that during the weeks of low water the average daily loss of life at the Glorious Dragon Rapid is three, and that the annual toll among the boatmen from Ichang to Chungking ts 1,000 lives. And the outside world never hears of it.
There is a very interesting historical chapter on the different attempts that have been made to introduce steam navigation, from the late Mr. Archibald Little onwards, and the account of the journey is enlivened with many charming legends. The book is beautifully illustrated with many very clever drawings by Mr. Donnelly, as well as by numerous photographs. Slight though the work is, it is done with loving care and shexld prove as attractive to the stay-at-home as it certainly will be useful to travellers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.