A Yankee on the Yangtze. By William Edgar Geil. (Hodder
and Stoughton. 6s.)—Mr. Geil, who is profoundly interested in missionary work, landed at Shanghai—of which place, "in China but not China," he gives a vivid description—and made his way by Nankin, Hankow, the Yangtse Gorges, Lnchow (where he found a flourishing Australian mission), Tongchuen, Yunnan (the Switzerland of China), to Mandalay and Rangoon. (A. map would have been serviceable ; many of the places which Mr. Geil names are not to be found even in a recent atlas.) Everywhere he gives us vivid descriptions of native life ; and he loses no opportunity of suggesting what seems to us admirable advice to missionaries. His journey may be described as an unofficial inspection of missionary work. There is much foolish and some malevolent talk about missions. The motives of the men are questioned ; their work is depreciated. Much of this adverse criticism may be dismissed as unworthy of attention. The judgment of men who practically disbelieve in religion and are shamed by the religious standards of life is not worth nothing. But it is clear to any one who will read between the lines of what is written here that there is want of common-sense, faddism, and various weaknesses which, though not inconsistent with sincerity and goodness, do hinder the work. It is here that Mr. Geirs counsels should be especially valuable. This book is well worth study, while it is full of humour and entertaining narrative and description.
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