TWO BOOKS ON THE ABOR
In Abor Jungles. By Angus Hamilton, F.R.G.S. (Eveleigh Nash. 18s. net.)—In view of the avowed opinion of Lord Curzon and Lord Minto that the danger-point of our Indian frontier has shifted from the North-West to the North-East, where the Chinese have been steadily developing their influence about the boundaries of Assam and Burma, Mr. Angus Hamilton's chronicle of the Aber punitive expedition and the Mishmi and Miri political missions, comprising a full account of the material with which we have to do in this region, its manners, customs, and morals, is of exceptional interest. First reported on in 1826, but hitherto almost unknown to the white man, Aborland, though small, is supremely difficult of attack, owing
to natural conditions which are, perhaps, without parallel—a combination of precipitous mountains and riotous vegetation produced by almost the heaviest rainfall in India, with consequent extremes of temperature thrown in. Mr. Hamilton has nothing but praise for the gallantry and cheerfulness displayed through- out the expedition by all ranks, on whom jungle-marching, especially when conducted on the bivouac scale, imposes the severest possible strain. Mr. Hamilton's book is illustrated by a profusion of excellent photographs, and contains the first published map of the country, showing the proposed extension of the British frontier towards Tibet.—On the Track of the Abor. By Powell Millington. (Smith, Elder and Co. 3s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Millington's cheery account of the hard- ships and difficulties overcome by the Abor Expeditionary Force is positively Kiplingesque in its infectious optimism, and exhibits just the typically light-hearted disregard—on the surface —of the drearier and deadlier side of even such "suburban" warfare, shown by the immortal subaltern in "A Conference of Powers."
Previous page
