The sun., 1891-11-15

One Of the most interesting books Of travel
that has been published lately Is Tbs Land
Of the Lamas: Notes of q Journey Through
China. Mongolia. and Iybet by WILLIAM WooD-
VILE RocKH1LL Century Company As tho
title implies. this book is more the narrative Of
gentleman than the work Of . professional
traveller aud writer. and It owes much Of it,
charm to this fact
Mr. Rookhill personally. 10 most interest.
ing man. having graduated at st. CyE .sArved
four years with the French army in Algeria.
conducted cattle ranch In Colorado. and
acted as Charge d. Ahaires in Korea. In 1884
he was attached to the American Legation
at Peking. later became its secretary. and
while there he first became interested In the
unexplored country Of Tibet.
For four years he studied Tibetan with .
Lama who lived at Peking. and By that means
became sufficiently adept In that difhcult Ian
guage. and In Chinese. TO feel justified In VEN
turing into Tibet, accompanied by a few Chi-
nese servants only By dressing and travelling
like Tibetan he was able to pass himself o6
as a native.
In the winter Of 1888 he began his travels.
The first part Of his journey from Pekine to
Hsl-Ning. being over q route described BY
other travellers. is lightly touched upon. but
Immediately afterwsrd comes one OF the most
interesting parts of the book-the authors
first impressions Of Tibet which are most
graphically described. While at Kumbuon.
not far from Hsi-Ning. he saw the celebrated
butter bas-reliefs, which are exhibited every
year in the great temple at that place. and as .
largo fair was going on at the same time
he had q fine opportunity for observing the
people. whose looks. dress. manners. and Gus.
toms he describes quito fully. OF course liv-
ing like the people and with the people. his
faCilifioa nntinO fhafr manila rtftaa Uar
unusual His complete knowledge OF Tibetan
leads him. however. into one fault-that Of
using great number OF native names-but we
must do him the justice OF adding that he
usually explains them.
He describes quite fully. in different parts Of
the book. the laws which govern the numerous
Lamaseries. the Lamas who live In them. and
also their different sects.
He takes care to mention the exports and
imports OF the largest towns. and to snumelsts
tho resources OF the country he passed through.
After reaching Baron Ts'aidam. a village in
northeastern Tibet. he found that it would he
impossible for him to penetrate into the coun.
try as far as Lh'asa, owing to the difficulty OF
procuring servants and pack horses. but more
important still. his funds were running low:
he was therefore forced to content himself
with returning to China through eastern
Tibet. a route which even the Chinese con-
slider very dangerous. Before setting out on
tins part OF his journey, In order to encourage
his men, he consulted local saint as to the
probable success OF this undertaking. The
answer was favorable. owing probably to sev.
cral presents. among which were razor and
q cake OF Pcars's soap. which latter puzzled
tho saint imm ,nsely. Mr.. Rockhill still
further increased his friendly disposition
by telling him that where he came from
Il WAS used by "goddesses OF music and
crowned heads" and therefore 1t was fitting
present for so holy person. In due time he
reached Ta-chim-lu. the most westerly city in
Ssu-chiran. n border province of China. safely.
but having experienced many interesting ad-
ventures on the way From there he proceeded
to CHA King where no hired q small open
boat In which he descended tho Yang-tzp-
Kiang. to the head Of steamship navigation.
connecting with Shanghai His Typographical
notes are numerous and thourough. and his
maps seem to have been made with great caro-.
The book is also enriched with foot notes
and appendices giving statistics and opinions
OF othor authors. the NEUROLOGICAL origin OF
tho Tibetans. together with tables Of the vari-
ous local pronunciatlons In different parts ot
Tibet and Mongolia But withal the most In
terestlng parts OF the book relate TO his per-
sonal experiences. his interviews with die
ferent Lamas and Tartar chiefs. and to 40
difficulties arising from the road and with us
men, all of which are told In charmlngly easy
and unassuming manner. The illustrations
give clearer glimpse into this strange coun-
try. and emphasize Mr.. Rockhills interesting
descriptions OF IT.
II is understood that the author. in spite OF
his own partial failure and that OF Preiewalskt
and others, has set out again for the Land OF
the LAmas and all good Americans will hope
that he may succeed this time In reaching tts
innsrImYst Inn IIa % %rsSessss and laying bare issssS'