New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-05

F. @. S
tratons. In Two Volumes Vol. ]. PIP. XII. ijs.
ner's Sons
When Dr. Lansdel was making the journey
corded in these volumes. he found the Russian
Transcaspian Railway completed a point
thing less than one hundred miles east OF Box
hara From that point he had to make Of
native means Of travel until he reached Rawal
Pndi in Northwestern India. Though his travel
by rail was enlivened with some incident. and the
rapid methods of grading, brdge-building and
track-aying in Russian Asia were OF interest. yet
the valuable portion OF his narrative a study OF
countries and peoples begins the borders Of
Russian Turkestan and ends at Leh. in Western
Tibet. Efforts enter Eastern Chinese Tibet
led to excursions from Calcutta into Nepal and
Bhotan. at the base of the Hmalayas. and there
was long journey by sea to Picking and to Japan
The latter however, save for its numerous inter-
ruptions. quite within the limits Of average
modern enterprise. But much Of Western China
through which DR.. Lansdell passed had rarely
been by Englishmen. All the Europeans
known TO have visited these places since the earli
est times can easily be enumerated. In fact. DR..
Lansdell does enumerate them. and enlarges the
account of his own exploits with a history OF
theirs. The future is likely to see an important
change in this matter. Every few months now
witnesses a dash like that Of Captain Bower
across Tibet new effort to reach the forbid
den city Of Lhasa Uassa) Ike that Of Mr.. Rock
hill. few years ago illusions to British inlu-
in Cashmere or in its dependency. Western
Tibet. were cautious. Nov DR.. Lansdell colors
these regions on one Of his maps as part of the
Indian Empire. From that side. the whole prob
lem Of reaching the Tbetan capital is merely
OF ways and means. DR.. Lansdell found to his
cost that the approach toward Lhasa from the
south was impossible. in view OF the barrier
formed by the native countries, Nepal and Bhotan:
but these must sooner later go the way Of the
rest. and then even Southern Tibet cannot hold
out long against the curiosity Of travellers. The
special value of DR.. Lansdes route as compared
with that OF Captain Bower or that Of NJ. Bonva-
lot and the Prince of Orleans lay in the fact that
1t ran from north TO south. The French explorers
started from Lob Nor on the southwestern verge
Of the Desert of Cobb. and gradually edged their
way TO Ta-Chen-Lu, where they were practically
sure Of an entrance to China proper by way Of the
Yang-tseKang. Captain Bower started directly
from what was real though not ostensbly
British frontier evaded the customary trade
routes. and wherever he stopped by peasants
or by officials found that a threat TO turn toward
Lhasa was sufficient TO insure open course
eastward. He emerged from Tibet at Ta-Chen-
Lu. DR.. Lansdell entered the Chinese Empire
near Kuldja. the eightieth meridian. almost
directly west Of Picking. and then followed
southerly course turning westward 10 Kashgar
and eastward 10 take in Yarkand and Khotan.
the road between those points which before him
Englishmen had never travelled. He thus merely
touched the western fringe Of the Chinese En-
pire But the Chinese Empire is vast expanse.
and he who skirts its western edge from Kuldja
10 the passes OF Karakorum Himaayas has not
only done his hundreds OF miles. but he has passed
far he
there were some international agreement TO pre-
vent the publication Of any book Of travels that
described the mental and physical anxieties of
tourists 20 places which had been already overrun
with sghtseers. Dr.. Lansdels book would be
somewhat reduced in size. but the remainder
would be worth whole library of a kind which
somehow gets into print
There was n reason which, the face OF 1t.
would have seemed conclusive against the sue
cess Of DR.. Lansdell's plan. His journey had for
its direct object the dissemination OF Christian
literature particularly the New Testament, In
the various countries through which he passed.
His book is a testimonial 20 the fact that there
are no obstacles TO this kind OF work II It Is
undertaken In the right way. Even Jews were
glad to get a copy Of the Christian Scriptures
and that Is perhaps clear evidence az could
be demanded OF the lack Of anything like in
tolerance at the bottom Of Asiatic society. This
fits into what is asserted by man to whom
birth and genius and travel have given the right
to speak with authority. Vambery says that
there was no such thing a closed or hermit
natic, before the advent Of the Europeans led
by the Portuguese. 1t simply the profound
selfishness OF Christendom which drove the
formerly companonable nations Of Asia to shut
themselves up. II they are emerging from their
shells now II Is only because they find tina, be-
~ tr 1t,,ex
else In the European mind. namely. a desire to
make races efficient. NO such idea existed In tho
old times of goid-huntlng. The wisdom Of the
Asiatic nations in their efforts at solfproscrva-
ton Is cxemplifcd by the fate Of the civilized
Americans whose literature and traditions were
destroyed before the Conquerors had time to
comprehend what II that they were con-
signing to TIE flames Of religious superstition.
Many man would give much to restore to learn
ing what hasty ecclesiastics destroyed with so
light a heart; IT a healthy instinct and a
praiseworthy one which made the Asiat.c races
close all the approaches by which the civilization
and the learned tradition they priced could be
endangered Imagine what the world would
have lost II 1t could be said Of Asia. as has
been truly said Of Mexico. unfortunately the
first missionaries. animated by false zeal. took
great care 10 secure these manuscripts TO destroy
them All those they could lay their hands on in
Tezcuco, they piled up In the market-place ana
burned The Aztec annals were thus reduced
70 ashes, and with them persisted the memory
Of important facts" But the loss in that case
was only the record Of sporadic civilization,
while II the temper Of Europeans in the six
teenth century could have worked out It's natural
tendencies there would not be scratch OF
a pen to show that there ever existed such a
language as Sanscrlt or such a man as Con-
fucius. Fortunately Asia was strong enough to
keep It's treasures till Europe had time to take
q second thought. An indirect result OF this
power Of passive resistance on the one side and
of the growth Of good sense on the other is the
discovery that English clergyman can dis
tribute Bibles and tracts and picture-cards to
his hearts content among the widest tribes OF