A Visit to Japan, China, and India. By Robert Nicholas
Fowler, MA., F.R.G.S., F.S.A. (Sampson Low and Co.) — The modest dimensions of Mr. Fowler's book are a sufficient indication of the author's intention in writing it, namely, not to add another volume to the already formidable mass of descriptive literature which we possess con- cerning these countries, but to give us the views of an observant traveller upon some of those more important questions connected with them in which he personally has for many years taken especial in- terest. The writer has the rare knack of saying a good deal in small compass, and his unpretending account of his journey gives us in many instances a better idea of the countries travelled over than do the more elaborate sketches contained in larger works. Including the voyages out and home, Mr. Fowler's tour appears to have occupied something less than seven months, and is an instance of how much may be accom- plished in these days in a short time, by means of steamers and railways, when there is a careful economy of time and a judicious selection of objects to be visited, for he evidently made no attempt to " do " places .within an allotted period. He saw something of Japan, China, and India, and on all he has views sensible and philanthropic if not very original. His impression of the Japanese, gathered of course more from conver- sations with residents than from actual observation, is that they are a clever, industrious, and fairly honest people, who have made within the last few years wonderful strides towards civilisation, but who are likely to be met by more serious difficulties than seem to be generally apprehended. "It is impossible," says Mr. Fowler, "to open 53,000 acbools, to construct a navy, to make railways, to erect lighthouses, and to enter on other improvements, without enormous expense, and the question arises whether their revenue will be sufficient." As four- !Wks of this is supplied by the land-tax, a bad rice-crop is a very serious matter. In short, finance is the great difficulty in Japan, as elsewhere. In visiting the Chinese ports—for no attempt, of course, was made to penetrate into the interior—Mr. Fowler turned his attention very natttrally to three subjects,—the opium war, the atrocious coolie trade, and our position with regard to China. On the latter point, first, he strongly deprecates what is called a " spirited," or in other words, a warlike policy, on the ground that if we went to war, we should not be content to do so, as heretofore, on a small scale, but must exact material concessions which would probably have the result of over- turning the present dynasty, plunging the country into anarchy, and obliging us to govern China as wo at present govern India, a course for which it is evident that we are little prepared. As to India, Mr. Fowler is, upon the whole, a pessimist, and especially condemns the Opium trade and the weight of the salt-tax.
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