New-York tribune., 1896-12-27

manoeuvring along prec,pitous cliffs. among
snowy rocks which seem often to have no better
foothold for the markhor than for the nuh'er
and perhaps the most refreshing thing about the
present volume Is the picture IT gives US OIL
man suffering all sorts OF hardships for the rev
shots that ultimately fall to his rifle The Hima-
layas arc patchy as to their vegetation IN those
regions visited by Mr.. Stone He traversed
chiefly a bleak and worse than inhospitapie
hunting ground. meeting with much good 1ort-
une. but paying for 1t In terrific work. Icy
windc tear across the frozen hills and at the
same time hot sun scorches through the back
of the hunter who lies sometimes for hours
watching through telescope the movements
Of his game The tremendous wild YAK would
be an Impressive quarry under any circum-
starces with his martial horns thrust out above
q burly head. The ponderous body. not unlike
that OF buffalo, swathed in long hair. leaves
an impression Of startling ferocity even IN MT
Whymper's little sketch But to feel to the fui
the excitement Of his infuriated charge one
must see him outlined against the sky with the
austere lines OF the Himalayas behind him.
around him. In the very craSs al his feet. IL ~
especially to Mr.. Stones credit that he reVives
the sense Of really grand and solemn back
ground to his deeds of slaughter without saying
IL.
.husasm which urges the huntsman on after
the feeting ibex and the thunderous yak. but he
leans back in his chair and finds most delight In
the panorama Of majesty and primeval sontuue
which the author artlessly unfolds
II is a more richly colored picture which Dr.
Weston presents in his book on the japanese
Alps vet II we are indebted TO him for one thng
more than another it is for his wholesome re-
tl,otd ttN-o
Japan which has made even superb Full itself
seem an acceptable motive for the adornment or
a fan He has climbed mountains in the central
Japanese range which recall the gigantic peaks
Of New-Zealand in their sombre stateliness. 1t
is true that the figures of these giants are not
among the highest in the world. Hodakadak"
the loftes. granite peak in Japan. Is only lol'~
feet above the sea. But what a relief II Is I"
explore these noble heights with DIR. Weston
after the dainty puerilities of those innumer-
able travellers who have seen In Japan only the
cherry trees, the gardens and the quaihthess
OF the natives. DR.. Weston gives us sNiHc'ent
anecdote concerning the latter. He tells us
particularly of one little settlement upon Onna-
TAXA "the womens hill" whereon all the fami-
lies are governed by the women folk. ara there
are notes all through his volume which point to
careful observation of q picturesque people. But
the charm OF this volume lies in its description
OF a beautiful, mountainous country. and In Its
celebrating accounts of outdoor life among
the ric, valleys and wooded slopes OF Japan
Let the ardent canoeist read the passages deal
ing with the voyage down the TenryUgawa IN
one of the native boats. After having had
eyperience OF nearly all the most famous rapids
Of this land OF swif. streams says DR.. Weston.
Il can safely affirm that all others are tame by
iha Aipht
Of about ten hours through one breathless success
sion o: seething. flashing water amid rocks
so confused to the unpractised eye that it seems
incredible that the trip should be made in safety.
DR. Weston is Jess vvacious writer than NJ.
Stone. and his book is not rich in incident
that on Himaayar sport. but the two WORKS so
we'll together, and full OF the same inspra-
tion full of the same keen mountain airs md
hints Of natures quiet grandeur