SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have not been eneerved for review in other forms.] My Life in Mongolia and Siberia. By John, Bishop of Norwich. (S.P.C.K. 2s. 6d.)—We are glad that the Bishop has been at last persuaded to publish these notes of travel taken thirty years ago. Mr. Sheepshanks started from the Great Wall of China early in August. His outfit consisted of a cart drawn by a camel, another camel to carry baggage and provisions (the latter occupying also as much space in the cart as could be spared), and two Mongol servants, who had a team of eight other camels. The payment agreed upon was .223 (80 tools of silver). Of the two Mongols he speaks very highly; they were simple, honest folk, and not a little afraid of him. (On the one occasion he had to reprove them—they were cooking their own meal before they cooked his—it was sufficient to shake his fist in the face of the elder of the two.) The experiences of travel across the steppes are curious and interesting. The same qualities are to be found In a higher degree in the narrative of what the traveller saw of Lamas of high and low degree. He had the privilege of a glimpse of the Grand Lama himself, a highly dignified person, who pays a heavy cost for his elevation. For some high reason of State, he is not permitted to pass his twenty- third year. The ceremonies of fire-worship—for this the rite practically was—are worthy of special note. Buddhism accom- modates itself with wonderful elasticity to national ways of thinking. The traveller's impressions of the Greek Church must not be passed over. The authorities were very civil to him; but it is abundantly clear that if there is to be any rapprochement between the two Churches, all the movement will have to be made on this side. The Easterns are far more civil than the Romans, but they are not less determined to insist on submission. Terms of communion would include the abandonment of much of our Anglican position.
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