MAST AND SAIL IN EUROPE AND ASIA.
Mast and Sail in Europe and Asia. By H. Warington Smyth. (John Murray. 21s. net.)—This is a book in the presence of which the "armchair" critic feels peculiarly helpless. What has he got to say to "the outcome of some years of varied sea travel" ? Is he likely to have "had experience," and "in many cases handled for himself the principal types of sailing craft in Europe and Asia" ? Here and there, it may be, his observa- tions touch those of the author. He may remember, if his memory goes back far enough, the luggers of the Kentish shore, of Deal and Broadstairs and Ramsgate, and have seen that they have almost disappeared. They were handled by as fine a class of seafaring men as this island has ever bred, and did wonders of courage and skill,—for had they not the Goodwin Sands to keep them up to the mark ? But they have given place to something better suited to modern conditions. Let the reader imagine this little bit of experience multiplied many fold, and he will have some idea of Mr. Warington Smyth's book. He takes the reader, after a general introduction, to the Baltic, Denmark, and Sweden. It is curious to see the different lines of development which the craft of even near neighbours have followed. Diversity of conditions, which a landsman would scarcely notice, finds its proper expression in build and rig. Then we come to Holland, which has a chapter to itself. "A book might be written on the Dutch boats of the day," says our author, "and a rich reward awaits the man who can devote himself to the study of
them." There' are worlds, it seems, still to be conquered, and not far away. Chap. 5 brings us to Scotland, where we find, as we might expect, no little progress. Have not the "Fife" and the " Skeffie" been combined into the " Zulu," so named in the days when Cetewayo was in every one's thoughts? After this we visit the East Coast, the Channel from the Forelands down to the Cornish coast, Ireland—the "Irish have never been a seafaring race "—Brittany, and the Mediterranean. The Indian Ocean, Malaya, Siam, and China come under review. Our author has something to say for the much despised junk. "The Chinese are the Dutchmen of the East." What is the harm of their giving their craft eyes wherewith they may see their way about, if a good judge can say of them that "it is doubtful if any class of vessel is more suited or better adapted to its purpose" ? We must not forget to express our admiration for the illustrations, which both adorn and explain the text.
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