MANCHURIA.*
• EVER since the Russians founded a military port at Vladivostock, situated at the extremity of the sea-coast territory south of the Amur, which General Ignatieff extorted from the Chinese in 1861, attention has more or less been attracted to Manchuria, and newe from that region has been welcome. In 1885-86, Mr. H. E. M. James, of the Bombay Civil Service, and Lieutenant Younghasband, of the 7th Dragoon Guards, spe'nt their "leave" in travelling over Manchuria, reaching as far north as Tsitsihar, and as far east and south-east as Sensing and Port Arthur. In fact, they went up and down and athwart the country, and Mr. James has produced a book the contents of which are ex- cellent in form and substance, but the shape and weight of which are irritating as well as distressing. He records of himself that on one occasion, when he was bitten by a large black ant, "the foreign devil' jumped and made remarks," language which only faintly indicates the nature of our feelings after a prolonged manipulation of this thick and heavy volume, which is a per- manent obstacle to the studying of the admirable map placed at the end. Mr. James was obliged to reach India by sea, but the "bold dragoon," who should have an instructive story to tell, travelled from Tien-tsin through the centre of the continent, and emerged through the Himalayas at the Viceregal Court in Simla. Both seem capital and enterprising travellers, and their example is much to be commended. Mr. James has devoted one- half his book, by no means the least interesting, to the historical, social, agricultural, and religions aspects of Manchuria. Ile modestly suggests that those who take it up solely from an interest in travel should skip the first six chapters ; but we strongly recommend them to do no such thing, but to read straight on. They will profit by neglecting the author's advice and following ours. Everything is good about the book, except its wearisome weight—nearly four pounds—and its squabby form.
Manchuria, then, is a most interesting province ; it is the cradle of the ruling house, having given Emperors to China for more than two hundred years ; and the comparatively recent encroachments of Russia, pushed forward to gain open water on the Pacific as the basis of a maritime power, have made it the source of anxiety to Pekin. It is a territory worth fighting for, not only because it is hard by the capital of China, but for itself and its people. At present, except on the east, a strip of Mongolia, up to the Amur, intervenes between the Russians and Manchuria Proper ; but that does not lessen the solicitude of the Chinese, who know well enough that the danger lies on the eastern side. "I believe it is not disputed," writes Mr. James, "that when the two countries were preparing for war in 1880 over the Kuldja question, orders were given the Russian General to occupy the frontier towns of Ninguta and Sensing." In fact, the evidence of Chinese precautions, the arsenal at Kirin, the fort at Hun-ch'un, the lines near Port Arthur- Lu-shun-k'ou—the attention paid to drill, armament, and telegraphic communication, the very large bodies of troops trained by Europeans as well as the Militia, all show that China, if she does not fear, anticipates a struggle for her Northern lands. Corea itself, into which our travellers did not
penetrate, though they crossed and were welcomed beyond the Russian boundary near the mouth of the Tumen, is a tempting morsel; and, altogether, the Chinese are well advised in keeping • The Long White Mountain; or, a Journey in Manchuria. With some Account of the History, People, Administration, and Religion of that Country. By H. E. M. James, of H.M.'s Bombay Civil Service. With Illustrations and a Map. London Longmans, Green, and Co.
guard over the districts to the south of the Amur. China never forgets, and is tenacious, but we may fairly doubt whether she will attempt the recovery of the sea-coast, although it was" one of the first territories occupied by the great Nurhachn before he commenced his descent upon China Proper." Mr. James says his friends have asked him whether he thinks the Chinese will eventually overrun the world, and his answer is decidedly, "No."
"In the first place, the Chinese would find it difficult to combine together, as they do not understand each other's dialects ; and in the second, a rusty repeating-rifle is almost as useless as a bow and arrow. In other words, until Chinese habits and ways of thought are changed, a process that will take many generations, they will not attain to that pitch of discipline, purity of administration, and self-control, which alone will enable them to use European methods and appliances of war effectively. When they have attained to it they will not want to devastate the world. Should they try to do so, in the meantime, they will be vanquished with the greatest ease."
The actual question, however, is,—What are the chances of China in a war with Russia upon this Northern frontier; and how far can she resist successfully those farther advances towards open water and strong naval stations which it would be silly to sup- pose Russia does not meditate ? And the answer seems to be, that if she has time and a succession of able rulers, which may happen in the future as it has in the past, she may be able to hold her own. A Siberian railway, and a powerful fleet in the Pacific, would lessen her chances ; but it seems to us that the Russian establishments must be far more solid than they are before either Corea or Manchuria are likely to be won.
It is evident, however, from the account given by Mr. James, that Manchuria is a fine country, sadly in need of an honest and effective government, like the rest of the realm governed from Pekin. Although, except in one part, it is a highland region, the land is fertile, the climate tem- perate, "at any rate in summer," the produce varied, and the mineral wealth—coal, iron, gold, and silver—considerable. It has fine rivers which could easily be made navigable, and is plenteously supplied with good timber. The rivers abound in fish, and the hills are alive with fur, sables, for example, and tigers wearing skins "far handsomer" than those of India.
Millet is the principal grain, but "peas and beans form the great produce of Manchuria," which also bears the poppy and the tobacco-plant, the tusser silk, and vegetables common to our own gardens. One specialty is the ginseng plant, prized as a medicine, especially as a remedy for exhaustion, bodily or mental. "The wild root," but it must be full grown, "sells for £10 or £12 the ounce on au average, and large roots fetch fancy prices like large diamonds. When cultivated, it is worth only four or five shillings a pound." Mr. James con- siders that Manchuria is reasonably well off, and affirms that "the people of Manchuria fare better as regards the inner man than people of the same rank of life in any other part of the world." The great emigrations of the last twenty years have brought there millions of settlers, " and the land is being reclaimed as rapidly as in Manitoba." Unhappily, much is wanting to make it prosperous. There are no roads, the traffic goes on in winter when the swamps and streams are frozen, and contemplating its volume in one place, he says,—" How a light American railway would pay !" Some rivers are bridged by the soldiers and the local guilds, but he came upon several Krupp guns which had got so far and could go no farther until the next season of frost. The difficulties of transit are so great that commerce is strangled, and there is famine in one place while superfluous plenty lies in another. There is no post, and no manageable currency. In a handful of" cash" brought him were three coins of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. In addition, there are "brigands," and Mr. James says that "the only place in Manchuria where life and property may be said to be really secure," is within certain forest districts governed by "local guilds" and wholly exempt from Imperial control. He met with no molestation from brigands himself; but he saw gangs of them in chains, and had plenty of evidence of their activity. If roads were made, and justice administered, the robbers would soon disappear. In some districts the settlers live in fortified homesteads, and all go armed. But the people are cheery and industrious, though the Manchu is less laborious than the Chinaman proper. The latter, however, has long become the more numerous, for the Manchu is now a rarity, not forming a tenth of the population. Even
his language is fading out, being expelled by Chinese. Yet he has what the Chinaman has not, an alphabet—which he owes
to Nurhachu—and seems a manlier person altogether than the Celestial. The tomb of that conqueror is near Monkden, a town containing 250,000 persons, where there is a palace, having its walks and roof covered with tiles of the Imperial yellow. No barbarian may enter therein. "The hunters in the hills told us," writes Mr. James, "that Nurhachn's pack and boots (for great man as he was, he began life as a pedlar, said they) were pre- served in the palace as sacred relics." He was really the son of a petty chief, but popular legend has made him a glorified packman.
Readers in search of something new, students, politicians, and geographers, may all profit by the perusal of this latest report on the country, people, products, and condition of Manchuria. Mr. James has furnished proof of the existence of the Great Wall, threatened by sceptics, as all else ancient is ; and has extinguished a fine chain of lofty snowy peaks, rivalling the Alps, which, like some fabulous eminences in that mountaineer's paradise, will figure on the maps no more. Mr. James modestly apologises for the publication of a new book of travels ; but when he has read it, the reader will feel that the apology was not needed; for "Manchuria merits alike the attention of historical students and statesmen," and both may benefit by reflection on the in- teresting subject as it is put before them in this bright and useful volume.
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