The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-16
Reviews.

Briefly described, this is the narration Of
a Journey from the westernmost part OF the
railroad in Missouri, across the Pacific 10
japan, and across the continent of Asia to
the frozen capital of Russian civilization.
This Journey was begun in the autumn
1860 and ended in 1865 and it is due to the
ACCOMPLISHED traveller to remark at the out
set that his descriptions are in all cases
short, graphic and pointed, and that he has
evidently turned to good account his large
opportunities Of obtaining novel and vala-
able information.
The opening chapters Of "Across Amerl-
.ssca and Asia" describe Arizona, with its
wild Indians and wilder frontiersmcn, and
are filled with the romance OF real Western
life. Enough is told of the deviltry and
treachery of the redskins to palliate the re-
prisals of the borderers; but Professor Pun
pelly (p. 33) looks back upon the history OF
our intercourse with the original owners OF
our country cas- sad commentary on the
protestant civilization Of the past two CEN
'turies," and is outspoken in expressing his
opinion (p 35) that the Indians should be
protected by the government Gin their rights,
''and made to respect the rights OF Others" ="
This is the whole question in dozen words.
Upon arriving at San Francisco, Professor
Pumpelly was engaged by the Japanese
Government to explore part Of the Empire
and set sail for Yokohama, staying long
enough at Honolulu to enable him to give q
lively sketch OF the manners and condition
OF the Sandwich Islanders. The labors OF
the untiring missionaries have had some
effect: but the costume introduced by the
missionaries fifty years ago, is still (ao'ri-
bile dtctu) the dress OF the native women,
and on some of the islands (p. 74). the peo-
pie "bring on Sunday oil their clothing in q
sbundle to the door Of the church, where
sthey dress, and after service, dofIlng their
costume carry it homeward under their
'arms."
An account OF an excursion TO visit the
Daibutz, colossal statue of Budda, opens
the description Of Japan, and in the ensuing
chapters the author sketches the history,
political condition, religion, the social hab-
its and customs, the geology and geography,
and the climatic peculiarities ofthat remark
able country There is nothing dull in what
are usually the dul,est OF details. A we'll
told anecdote or bit of telling delineation of
character, meet the reader before geology
or mineralogy can tire.
Professor Pumpelly is emphatic in his de-
nunciatlon (p. 125) Of the policy followed
by the West in treating with the East. He
says: ''The representatives of the Western
governments are clothed with almost sove-
"reign power, and are only too often also
'imbued with the prejudice OF race. That
(which they would not dream OF doing in
'the face of an European power, they often
sdo not hesitate to practice toward a weaker
''Oriental naton-constantly violating in
'ternational law, at the same time that
.sthey demand of them an observance OF it. "
The author, therefore, heartily approves OF
the policy of bringing China into TIE circle
of independent nations, and dedicates his
work to the "chief author OF that policy
the Hon. Anson Burlingame.
The growth of the revolution in Japan
caused the government to bring to an end
its engagement with Professor Pumpelly
who next went to Shanghai OF the geog-
raphy of China, and OF the habits Of its peo-
pie, the author gives full account, conclu-
ding his volume with the story OF his adyen-
lures while crossing the table lands OF Cen
trail Asia and the snowy wastes Of Siberia.
| Or the Chinese the author speaks with 4
kindlness that would astonish the Caliior-
MIA Democracy. As one who knows, he
says (p. 2Gl) that the Chinese have o high
sense of family and commercial honor, that
they are charitable, frugal, temperate and
industrious, and that infanticide is less
prevalent, proportionately, in China than in
America. The whole question OF Chinese
immigration Is thoroughly and patiently
discussed. Chinese emigration should p.
263) '.rapidly raise our Southern States to q
''beight of prosperity never yet reached ny
'then, and render possible the completion
'and maintenance Of great works, ncceesa-
Try TO control the overflow OF the MisSis-
''sippi and to drain unproductive and NAL
'arious regions" But will the price be too
high? Professor Pumpelly treats Chinese
immigration Us q necessary step toward
'.the unifcation of mankind by the assimi-
'Iation of the best parts OF its different
'races into new type" and does not dread
their competitive or political influence; but
he wisely insists that they shall understand
'our social and political organization be-
fore they have voice, and that they shall
not acquire citizenship without residence
OF several years, and not less than the abil-
ity to read and write the English language.
We may remark that Professor Pompelly
talks with the nonchalance Of crcumnavi-
gator (p. 4O3) OF building railroad forty
six hundred miles long, from Shanghai to
Kazan, the eastern terminus of the Russian
Railroad, and that he was informed that the
labor OF the emancipated serfs in Siberia
has already improved sat least 80 per cent.
Upon the freedmen has devolvcd the duty OF
- Al. =