Year: 1869

The completion of the Suez Canal, whicn


will soon be at hand, will undoubtedly marx q


new era for the prominent Asiatic coun-


tries Besides furnishing them with In


creased commercial facilities it will give


them the benefit of intercourse with the
higher types of Western civilization. They
will acquire new methods of thought, new
means and manners of living and, although
the change may be apparently slow, it will be
none the less radical and important. The main
field of speculation as to the probable results
of the canal has been hitherto confined to China
and India In the last named region the
change will not be so apparent; for, beyond
increasing the amount of business, it will pro-
badly do little, as the country is so thoroughly
under English control. In China the effect
will be greater, and the changes that it will
work will be more apparent; for the Chinese
are now for the first time disposed to reap the
benefit of Western experience. Agreat move
ment is taking place in the Flowery Empire,
and its surplus population is eagerly seeking
an outlet. A liberal policy has been inaugu-
rated by its government in its intercourse with
foreign Powers and they, in their turn, fol-
lowing the lead of the United States, have at
last commenced to treat China in q manner
that her size and Importance demand. We
have seen the last Of ''opium wars and of the
old ''gunboat policy" The Chinese are ready
to accept the teachings of modern science, and
modern machinery in that fruitful land will
work wonders in the way of production, and
will save the large cost which the world has
so far been paying for the transportation Of
her raw material


The Suez Canal will, however, work won
ders in the hitherto partially unknown and
comparatively undeveloped Malay Archipelago.
The immense islands of Timor and Borneo and
the rich fields of Java will feel the impetus
that largely increased trade cannot fail Of
giving them. The Ceebes the Philippines,
all the islands that compose this immense
group, are thickly populated, and the large
revenues that the Dutch draw from those that
are under their control show that the Malays,
if properly treated, can and will become USE
full citizens. The Sea Dyaks in Sumatra and
some of the other islands are given to piracy, it
| is true; but this can be suppressed and their
| energies turned to the development of the
valuable fisheries that are found in that region.
The Land Dyaks, although formerly addicted
to head hunting to an unpleasant degree, can
and have been utilized, and in many places
cultivate the soil, which in this favored cline
is wonderfully productive. Large coal fields
exist throughout the group, tin and other
valuable minerals abound, and gold, which is
found throughout the neighboring Australasian
group, can certainly be found among these
islands We have seen the success that Sir
James Brooke had in this part of the world,
and there is no doubt that under wise manage
ment and with market within reach these
hitherto only partially developed regions can
| be made to increase their productiveness in
the most wonderful manner


| If the example of the Dutch be followed, as
shown in their management of Java, the hap
piest results may be looked for with certainty.
There the prejudices Of the natives are not
wounded and with only q small force of SOL
diers they have maintained order and security
for life and property. No fearful mutiny like
that of India has disturbed their rule. In
many remote districts the only European is
| the Resident, who acts with the native chief;
his orders always take the form Of advice and
are always obeyed. Besides the native popu-
lation, Chinese are found in large quantities
throughout these islands as traders and COM
mon laborers, and If there be q demand for
them, thousands can be readily procured from
the teeming millions Of the Celestial Empire.
Industrious and satisfied with small wages, and
the Central Pacific Railroad will stand as an
everlasting monument of what they can ac-
! complish in the way Of labor.


| The Suez Canal will work wonders in these
rich islands, will develop country rich in all
tropical productions and filed with the most
valuable minerals 1t will open to science
region rich in historical remains-one which
offers q boundless field to the antiquarian and
the naturalist, and which affords the choicest
problems for the chronological student to puzzle
over.


The International University Boat Race.
AS the time approaches for the international
boat race between the crews Of Harvard Uni
versity and Oxford University the excitement
in sporting circles increases. The daily and
weekly papers Of London give up much space
to the subject. 1t is manifest from their COM
ments that whatever may be the result Of the
race the American competitors have been
steadily gaining the respect Of their English
l.
almost all largely against them, but now it Is
admitted that 'the race is likely to be close"
and although one journal says that ''if the