The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-20 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Japan, the Amoor, and the Pack. By Henry A.
Tilley. With eight illustrations. Smith and
Elder.
This is a lively and pleasant volume of travels
which by no means restricts itself to a description
of the Japanese Empire. The author was on board a
Russian ship of war which was bound on a voyage
of circumnavigation, and accordingly he transports
us from Rio Janeiro to Cape Town, from Singapore
to Manilla, and, after quitting Japan, to the Russian
settlements at the mouth of the Amoor, where he
was the first Englishman who had landed. After-
wards we visit in his company California, the
Sandwich Islands, and Tahiti, from whence he brings
us once more by South America to the shores of
Europe. Of course his account of many of these
places is only slight and superficial, but
the 'volume has something of the effect
of a panorama, showing us in rapid succession the
manners and customs of very different races in very
different localities. The large uncultivated tracts
of fertile land in Brazil with its scanty and lazy
population, form a striking contrast to the over-
crowded districts of China, where every inch of
ground is carefully made the most of. Of Capo
Town we have an agreeable description. Tho
feeling towards the English does not seem to be
very friendly, most of the Dutch inhabitants obsti-
nately refusing to speak a word of the language.
The traveller describes the old Dutch landowners
as possessing more than the usual amount of na-
tional stolidity. While he was there, however,
they made up their minds to have a railway, after
much exertion on the part of the more energetic in
beating the idea into the heads of their neighbours.
A comparatively short time will therefore see Cape
Town in direct communication with the interior,
a fact which will, as the writer justly
observes, from an epoch in the history of the colony.
Of Japan and its people he gives much the same
account as other recent travellers, adding a succinct
outline of what is known of its history and connec-
tion with Europe. Of its internal government he
speaks as follows :—"A description of what is
known of the political state of Japan can be given
in a few words. It is about the most absolute des-
potism that exists or has ever existed, yet tempered
by ancient customs having all the force of laws.
The policy which has ruled this nation surpasses
all that Machiavelli, Metternich, or Talley rand ever
dreamed of; Fouche would have been a demigod
could he have had such a police and such spies."
At present, he remarks, little is really known of the
internal policy of the empire, and he advises that all
communications professing confident explanations
should be received with caution. The people, he
describes as intelligent and eager for information,.
During the residence of the Dutch in Desima he
considers that the Japanese were the chief gainers
by the intercourse. They obtained information
from Europe on politics, science, and litetature, and
translated many books, especially those on medi-
cine. In the study of this art they are peculiarly
interested, and very skilful. The European
&dor
who accompanied our author, visited a patient whose
severe wounds had been dressed by a Jrapanese sur-
geon,and declared that he could not have been better
treated in any European hospital. The Japanese
seem also to have possessed notions of science
for many ages, and are now giving great attention
to European machinery, railroads, and fire-arms.
They are very painstaking in their study of lan-
guage— " Some of the officials whom I 'net in Japan
had acquired one or two Euror,ean languages
merely from visiting English, kmerican, or other
ships, learning a few wordy, at a time in their
intercourse with officers
.and...-men,and carefully writ-
ing down such words in Japanese for future use.
In Kanagawa and Hakodadi many of the shop-
keepers had learned so much Russian as to make
themselves intelligible to the Russian sailors." In
industrial arts and manufactures, they equal, if not
excel the Chinese, while in painting and drawing
they are much more advanced. They
are remarkable for the neatness and finish of all
their manufactures, and possess, as a nation, both
taste and skill. Their mirrors are of bronze, the
reflecting surface being silvered and polished, and
the back ornamented with various devices. Mr.
Tilley informs us that, since his return, he has seen.
some Etruscan mirrors precisely similar to those in
use in Japan. The old adage, which tells u
s that
cleanliness is next to godliness, is not verified in
sarau, a hugethe continual ablutions of the
people, often performed in public, secure their
scrupulous cleanliness, but the national religion is
at a very low ebb. The writer expresses an earnest
hope that if any attempt is made to establish mis-
sions among them, only one denomination er
Christians will engage in it. The establishment of
rival missions has always proved a great drawback
to the successful propagation of Christianity ;
but in Japan " where all classes except the lowest
may be said to have no religion at all, and where
all are educated, sceptical, and sarcastic, any
rivalry between those who attempt to introduce
a new religion will at once preclude whatever
chance there possibly might be of conversion." The Japanese are quick witted and full of curiosity.
They have large public libraries, and books are as
widely circulated as in Germany, and much
cheaper. The author considers them a much
finer people than the Chinese, although both be-
long to the Mongolian race. Of course, in his long
voyage, Mr. Tilley met with many adventures, and
encountered some of the sudden and terrific stomas
of tropical latitudes. One melancholy event cast
a gloom over his visit to Japan. A young
Russian officer and a sailor, belonging to the ship
he sailed in, were murdered by some Japanese,
without, as it seemed, any provocation. Various
causes were suggested, many of them political, and
as the criminals were never discovered official
collusjon appears probable. He gives us a lively
description of San Francisco and Californian ways,
which do not seem to have impressed him very
favourab!y. Of the Sandwich Isands, which
are rising in importance, we have an
animated account, and also of ' Tahiti, which
occasioned so much discussion some years
ago. His narrative of his visit to the Russian
colonies of the Amoor will also attract the reader
from its novelty. Altogether it is a pleasant and
unaffected record of extended travel in which the
author wisely makes the narrative of what he has
seen more prominent than his own opinions and
reflections. These are a little tinged with Russian
views, but are, on the whole, straight forward and
moderate. We commend his work to the attention
of the general reader who seeks information, com-
bined with entertainment.

Household Medicine. By John Gardner, M.D.
Smith and Elder.
This is a very useful volume for any family to
possess. It contains a vast and varied store of in-
formation on the topics to which it refers. A correct
idea will be gathered of its nature from the follow..
ing summary of contents :—" A familiar description
of diseases, their nature, causes, and symptoms ;
the most approved methods of treatment, and the
properties and uses of remedies, including many
new and valuable wiediaines, with directions for
preparing them, and rules for the management °f
the sick room, expressly adapted for family.use."
The author remarks, very truly, in the preliminary
chapter that some knowledge on this subject is
essential to all, and particularly so to those who
are in any leading position, as head of a family,
&c., and he further goes on to say. :-..-
ive of the leardneesdtitluante-
"An acquaintance with medicine is attainable
to a very considerable extent by any person of
than the
ordinary abilities with a moderate amount of read-
guages, or the other physical sciences. Very few
ins and attention,isirerase.:Perect
acquisition of
n the sub- o f personssom o
smallwit h
aanymo
uendtucoaftioionfoarrme
aetnitoinrel(3::
so much no
hi is
hi useful and valuable.
Objections have been raised
ject ; and nothing
and treatises designed to impart a urged against
knowledge of medi-
eines to the public. These h
-are mainly andgene-
rally arisen from professional pre' d• -ju ices or jealousy,
and have consequently little • h wmg t. We cannot
if we would arrest the diffu • mon of information."
Those who peruse this volume will find that it is
one eminently calculated
to be of general service,
and that it conveys in a con •
cise and condensed form
some most important knowledge
on matters that
e attention must engage th tt •on of all at some period of
their lives, wh th e er as regards themselves or the mem-
bers of theirown i •
mmediate circle.lt is by the ignorant
that we invariablyfind
those
gross mistakes are
committed that have so often caused serious casual-
ties, and in some cases death, to result. The more
the general public becomes enlightened in its views,
and extended in its knowledge on medical subjects
the less probability exists of neglecting symptoms
of importance, or of resorting to simple persons to
procure a remedy. A publication like the present
one is sure to be valued, and besides it has the fur-
ther advantage of being the work of an experienced
practitioner. It is therefore to be expected that
this new work will be as successful as some of its
predecessors on the same subject have been, and
prove a valuable addition to the library of many
homes.