Dr. Saunders has applied his scholarship and faculty for research {9 an interesting presentation of the History and underlying significance of the three Asiatic civilizations of India, China and Japan. He naturally avoids anything in the nature of a connected record of the political events governing the destinies of the countries concerned. He uses the Somi-historical but, mainly mytholoical records of the Upanishads to show how the Aryan invaders came into India, adopted the indigenous Dravidian ' culture, with essential modifications, and became what we: know to-day as Indians. He gives sympathetic account of Buddha as the first clear-cut figure in Tidian history; and the great Emperor Asoka, on whom Buddhism had, so strong. fan influence, follows, in the gallery. Even to-day' Asoka's memory stands frm in India, as firm as his own Tooking the latest Capital of Indi Asoka's rule was essentially paternal. He kept his country free from foreign invasions and civil warfare. Dr. Saunders gives this picture of him Stimulated and inspired by his regious filth, Aoka set "himself "to tulsi the Tndian ideal of kingship, Stead fonds #0 Be made, wells 12 be dug, and. trees to be planted alone: these roads "to give shade to men and. beasts' He organized the distribution of charity, and established "hospitals for canto og well as men. He more tua more discouraged the taking life and. inculcated respect for animal world. Tt-may be noted that, certain animals should be exempt from Slaughter; and Asoka's list is a strange tone, from parrots. to queen-ants.. Tt Scena that the royal peacock, the from of lis family, continued for, 8 to supply the Emperor's table, faithough in one of his later edicts!
expresses 'a resolve to eat if no This ideal king was not happy his married fe. His queen was so Jealous that she could not tolerate Sven is interest in the Bo.tree of the Buddha's enlightenment, and she actually had Asoka's son by one of her rivals blinded. That son was called Kunala because his eyes were so beautiful that they resembled hose of the Kunala bird.
The Golden Age of the Guptas, the Southern Kingdoms, and the rule of the great Akbar bring to a close the author's Interesting revelations of the background of the India of to-day.
Chinese civilization is then handled with a remarkable faculty for appreciation which does not leave many Roticeable gaps. The philosophers of China inthe Classic Age, the splendour of the Tang Dynasty, and the Sung Era are comprehended in a very stimulating study.
At this moment the Japanese Empire is about to celebrate its two thousandth anniversary. The hundred pages devoted to the development of Japanese culture and adaptation of that culture to Influences from China and elsewhere is particularly topic The chronological tables are well arranged and are most valuable to anyone who wishes to get a general survey of the progress of civilization in Asia in comparison with the important events in the history of Burope. The interest of such a table: can be gathered from the disclosure hat the expansion of the Empire of Sri-Vishaya in Malaya was chronolofleally coincident with the Mohammedan invasion of Northern India, the rule of the Tang Dynasty in China, Japan's establishment of direct contact with China, and the Flight of the Prophet Mohammed, known the Hegira.
The book is well Ulustrated with photographs of works of art in the three countries concerned and its dilography has been carefully compiled. Altogether it is a most attractive volume for the student of Oriental affairs—nat
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.