THREE YEARS' SERVICE IN CHINA.* COLONEL FISHER'S book is strictly

what it professes to be—a

narrative of his private adventures and of the events in which he was himself an actor between December, 1857, the date of the occupation of Canton by the allied English and French forces, and the capture of the Takoo Forts in September, 1860, after which ill health compelled him to leave the army. The history of the recent campaigns in China has, he says, been already ably related by others, whom he makes no pretence of rivalling. He aims only at laying before the reader a faithful record of his own observations and doings, and thus in some sort giving an answer to the question, "What are the duties of an Engineer officer in a campaign?" So modest a proem well-nigh disarms criticism; and, therefore, though we are told little that adds to our acquaintance with the wonderful race among whom our author sojourned, and though not unfrequently trivial details seem to us to be dwelt upon with disproportionate minuteness, we are content to pass but a light censure on these offences, and willingly admit that the merits of the book greatly out- weigh its defects. Colcnel Fisher always says what he has to say in plain straightforward English, and eschews all attempts at being funny, or at "fine writing."

The allied commanders found Canton in sad plight. It is difficult without being oneself an eyewitness to form any idea of the wretchedness which a siege entails on a large and densely populated city, where the machinery of life is so highly com- plicated. Besides the inevitable destruction of a large amount of property, the entire stoppage of trade at Canton bad thrown many thousands out of employment, and the misery of the poorer inhabitants was extreme. The judicious regulations, however, of the allies, who made no attempt at interfering in purely Chinese matters, soon began to restore confidence. In spite of all that he was led to expect, Colonel Fisher could detect no signs of ill will toward foreigners among the common people. On the contrary, he says, they are quiet and peaceable enough, desiring to harm no one, and disposed to look with kindly eyes on all who contribute in the slightest degree to their trade and welfare. "My test," he says,—

" Was the behaviour of the little children, old enough to understand their parents' conversation, but too young to be such adepts in dissimu- lation, or to have such power of self-command, as to exhibit towards us the utmost confidence ; little children would let me take them out of their father's arms, as I rode down the street, and enjoyed a ride with me as much as if I had been their best friend." (p. 13.)

He justly argues that if the parents had habitually represented us as ferocious barbarians, or even as reckless invaders, the main

cause of the calamities of their country, the children would have been little likely to show this confidence. The truth is, that implicit obedience to the rulers de facto, whoever they may be,

seems an instinct in the Chinese. Wo suspect there is a connec-

• Personal Narrative of Three Years' &rake in Mina. By Lieutenant-Colonel Fisher, C.B., RE. Lcniou Bentley. 186&

tion between political freedom and fulness of bread. How can a man attain to independence andself-confidence on a handful of rice and the webbed foot of a duck per diem, which is by no means an uncommon allowance with Chinese labourers? Besides, as Com- mander Brine, in his "History of the Taeping Rebellion," has pointed out, as the only dream of ambition to a Chinaman is to get into the service of the Government, it is before all things essential to him that there should be a government. The follow- ing is as good an illustration of this obedience to authority and love of order, strong even in death, to could well be found :— " A great many beggars die in Canton. I do not mean to assert a mere truism, but actually die oat in the open air ; a good many in the

public streets, but there is a courtyard in the western suburb which appeared set apart for the express purpose, and there several beggars may be seen who have begged their last, and lie down, tree, order- loving, citizen-like Chinamen, to die in the spot appointed for those mysteries." (p. 37.)

Colonel Fisher was much struck by the artistic talents of the Chinese. It is a great mistake, he says, to suppose that they always draw in the delicate finnikin way one sees on the rice- paper pictures commonly brought to this country. On the con- trary, many of their drawings, especially in Indian ink, have great breadth and boldness of execution.

"'They appear,' he says, to have a great appreciation of beauty in form, and in some of their old sketches, drawn for themselves, and not for foreigners, they seem to have studied the lines of their trees and figures, and combined them into very graceful and pretty compositions. They appear to have a strong spice of refinement, and an elegant and sometimes whimsical way of finding a vent to their feelings in the ex- pression of some ideal beauty floating through their minds. Thus, the artist will draw and find purchasers for a sketch containing nothing beyond three or four blades of grass prettily intertwined, or a single branch of bamboo, or a faint outline of a draped human figure, the effect of the combination of lines being the sole merit of the sketch. There is something refined and pleasing in seeing a grown-up man out walking on a fine day, carrying in his hand a cage containing his singing bird, to which he chirps as he walks with the affection of a fond nurse proud of the baby. This is his way of enjoying himself. One can imagine such a man appreciating whatever is most beautiful in nature or in art,'" (p. 125.) We may probably say with safety that the Chinese are the most industrious nation on the face of the earth. However in- significant may be the result to be attained, if it can be attained by mere labour that is never grudged. Witness"their elaborate conttivances for blowing up our troops at the Takeo Forts. In- finite trouble and expense had been bestowed in constructing a trap into which it was in the first place extremely unlikely any one would fall, and which could at most destroy only four indi- viduals! In their agricultural operations it is the same.

" I saw a man once,' says Colonel Fisher, who had a plot of ground, in which he was g oing to plant out some cabbages. He knew there were beetles and other insects in the ground which would eat them, so, when it was all ready, he put bits of cabbage-leaf, about two feet apart, an over the plot, placing a stone on each to keep it from beino, blown away. He left them for a time, and then visited them at intervals, finding insects at work on them each time. These he killed, removing carefully the re- mains, for fear of their scaring away the brethren. At last, when he could catch no more, he planted out his cabbages. AU this I saw done with my own eyes, and the good man seemed to think there was nothing unusual in it, but that it was the most natural way in the world of securing the safety of his vegetables at the cost of a few leaves.'" (p. 15I.)

In this untiring industry lies the true wealth of China. Our duty there, as it seems to us, is to foster this industry by providing markets and means of communication, but to abstain as much as possible from political action. At present, at all events, so far as Western ideas can act with any effect on the condition of the people, it must be through the medium of trade. The Chinese are keensighted enough to discern the benefit they may derive

from unrestricted commercial intercourse with Europe. We believe the great English mercantile houses there, and the justice and fair dealing which as a rule characterize them, will be found the most effective missionary establishments. What destiny is in store for China it is as yet impossible to say, but, so far, almost all witnesses agree in testifying that Christianity has made little or no progress. Nor does this result strike us as

surprising. Before it can be otherwise, men must be found who can separate the great principles of Christianity froin the forms which may, indeed, express them to minds steeped in the influences of Western culture, but serve only to obscure them from the apprehension of the remote East. To evangelize India and China demands broader views than find favour either with the College of the Propaganda or with Exeter Hall.

Colonel Fisher took part in the unsuccessful attack on the Peiho Forts in June, 1859, of which he gives a very graphics account ; and when the fleet retired he was directed to remain in those regions in the Cruiser, and look out for spots which might serve as a base for future operations. In this task he

richest by far of all the unexplored portions of the world,—rich spent three months, and managed to survey a good part of the coast of the Gulf of Peh-cheli, and to pick up information about the country, to the great disquiet of the Chinese authorities, who, although they did not know what his precise aim was, suspected that he was after no good, and complained that by this prying about he was causing them "to eat misery." He also bore no unimportant part in the successful campaign of 1860. An inci- dent occurred in the early part of it, while the troops were sta- tioned at Ta-lien-hwan Bay, which deserves to be quoted as, in Colonel Fisher's words, "a striking instance of cool calm pluck and endurance." Two officers of the Engineers, Captains Gordon and Lumsden, had crossed from one side of the bay to the other, to inquire for letters. As they were returning, the boat was struck by a sudden squall in the middle of the bay, and imme- diately capsized. It was nearly dark, and they were far from any help.

"Lnmsden struck out, Gordon began to accompany him ; but, doubt- ing his powers, he, after going some distance, resolved to return to the capsized boat, to which the Lase= crew were clinging. He had almost reached it when he sank from exhaustion. Lumsden for a long time failed to come across any help. Fearing to exhaust himself during the night, and reserving his strength for any emergency, he contented him- self with keeping afloat, lying on his back a great part of the time. What a situation I—floating on your back gazing into the sky—darkness all around you, alone with your thoughts and retrospections ! So he passed the greater part of the night. At length, after the lapse of six long hours, whilst still in this position, a sound as of surf breaking on the shore was borne to his ear. Now was the time for action—he turned, and, swimming, gained the beach. Here he lay and quietly slept until daylight showed his position, when, rising, ho set off towards his camp, which was some miles distant, meeting by the way his friends, who had come out to search for him, scarcely hoping ever to see him alive again." (p. 375.) Far back in the past as the annals of China extend, we do not believe that for her the play is played out. It is impossible not to look forward to a time when Australia, California, and the South American Republics shall have grown into empires, and China will have to enter the lists with them in the struggle for dominion. The past has been a blank for the shores of the Pacific. From them, too, may arise in future ages conquerors and prophets who will shake the world.