word than the previous example. Still we fully recognise the difficulty there is in spelling these and similar words with the very imperfect syllabary now in use in Japan, and sincerely sympathise with the widespread craving for books of this kind amongst all classes, high and low. One more curio in this book we must mention. It is an illustration to a lesson about "going up," and shews a horseman in full Japanese dress, on a gaily caparisoned steed, careering up a remarkably steep flight of steps. We hope that none of the students of this work will be tempted to essay a climb to the Moon Temple in the fashion here depicted, or we are afraid they may obtain a lesson in "coming down," which will effectually put an end to their schooling.

On the whole, however, these books are a healthy sign of the times. They show at least that among the people generally there is an earnest and widely diffused desire to learn, which is a great stride along the road to progress.-Hiogo News.

THE YEDO EXHIBITION.

The exhibition is held in the old Confucian temple, adjoining the Bunbusho or ministry of education. It is a building of considerable pretensions, approached by a series of flights of wide stone steps; which, however, do not lead straight up to the building; but from them one has to turn to the right to the great gate of the temple, which is entirely surrounded by a wall, the boundary of the steps. The effect that might have been obtained on such a commanding site, is, therefore entirely lost; and a feeling of disappointment is experienced to see so fine a situation so entirely lost for all scenic purposes. Such fine trees, in all the exquisite beauty of their spring verdure, cast their shadow over the grounds and wave in grace and beauty over the roofs, that even now it were the easiest thing possible, by the mere removal of the unsightly walls, to present a noble picture to the eye; but as it is certain that no such sacrifice at the shrine of beauty and art will be made, it is of no use dilating upon it.

We pass through the gates and find ourselves in a large quadrangle, the back of which is occupied by the great temple, and the other sides by a kind of cloister. In front of the temple, and facing the gates, the first thing that strikes one, is a huge fish, covered with scales of gold, one of those ornaments almost always seen embellishing the two ends of the roof of every castle, gateway, or great temple. This, we were told, was once one of the ornaments of the temple roof. Like the ball of St. Paul's, it looks much larger when close to it, than it does when on the roof. It is hardly possible, however, to hear, without a shade of doubt, that the bright yellow metal covering, is real gold. On one side of the courtyard is a long stand of plants, some of them rare, and many of them beautiful.

The exhibition itself occupies the cloisters and the temple. Passing into the former, to the left of the gate, we enter what forms a small square room, and facing us, over the opposite doorway, is a picture of the London exhibition of 1851. The few

objects in this room are a very ancient wood carving of "the first physician." He sits with crossed legs, his head covered with a cloth (carved) under which are two little prominences jutting up very like horns; and strongly suggestive of a very different celebrity. The nails of his hands and feet too are far more like claws than anything else; and had we been told it was an object of worship of the Yezidis, we could have been better satisfied as to its appropriateness. There are two or three pictures on the ordinary Japanese scrolls, of no merit hanging on the walls; and two castings in iron of Corinthian pillars surmounted by equestrian statues complete the show in this room. Passing on, the whole exhibition partakes more of the character of a museum than of what we are apt to consider an "exhibition" should be. And if we say that to foreigners there is much of a very secondary character to be seen, we must at the same time remark that the object of this collection was not simply to gratify them, but to instruct the Japanese. If foreigners will go, as we strongly advise them to do, they will see plenty to interest them, if they are capable of being interested by museums of any kind. They will see here on the walls, pictures of the most common description, even including three "Tableaux" of specimens of French manufacturers-such for instance as a Tableau d'Agriculture, a mere factory sheet of engravings of various implements made by some enterprising firm. They will see some colored engravings, of no particular merit or demerit, some wretched daubs of oil painting, and two or three really good highly artistic pictures. But these are not the things they need look at. Let them turn their eyes to the various cases in which are specimens of Japanese art of many kinds. First a case shewing the numerous ways in which paper is folded; the old Japanese saddlery, armour, and arms; pictures of Japanese celebrities of great age. There is a case containing little sample squares of the silks purchased for the Chinese emperor's bride. There are cases of small Chinese figures (very pretty) brought home and exhibited by the embassy. There is a small specimen of the earliest Japanese printing, 1,500 years old. There are portraits of Yoritomo, Taiko-sama, Nobunanga, Ashikaga, the first Satsuma, cum multis aliis. Crockery in small quantity is there to shew how closely Japanese can imitate foreign delf, if they try. There are specimens of all kinds of musical instruments, ancient and modern, Japanese, and Chinese. There is an original dispatch of Taiko-sama's, another of Yoritomo's. A picture of the first Corean (!) who arrived to teach Japanese civilization. A small bamboo table tied together with thongs, very ancient, to shew how they managed before they had glue and iron tools. Several bronzes, none of any particular interest to foreigners. A few (very few) specimens of very first rate old lacquer. Some of the presents made by the emperor of China-we did not clearly understand whether to the embassy, or to the Tenno. Stone implements of attack, before they had swords-minerals, fossils, stuffed specimens of natural history, birds, beasts, and fishes; specimens of woods; and indeed of many things too numerous to mention.-The Japan Gazette.

JAPANESE IN ROMAN LETTERS. There exists in the British Museum a curious volume in 12mo. printed in 1595 at the Jesuit college at Amacusa. And it contains a transcription in Roman letters of the Heike Monogatari

平家物語 a sort of historical romance of the period of the great civil wars in Japan, in which the two families of Hei and Gen were the leading movers.

The use of the Roman alphabet for the translation of the Japanese language is very practicable. The Jesuit missionaries some two hundred years ago saw the value of this, and appear to have employed that alphabet to very good purpose. They printed at the college press, dictionaries, grammars, and moral treatises with this alphabet. And if the Jesuits so long ago could do this, why cannot it be done now?. If the Japanese Government would patronise such employment of the Roman alphabet under a revised method, books would very soon be supplied for the millions who are now so ready to study Western science and learning.

The student of Japanese will easily understand the method of transcription, and some one will we trust, favour us with a translation.

meta fitobito no fateta yòdai no catçu mòxite cara, sate 'Rocutara no nhùdò Saqi no Danjō daijin 'Qiyomori cô to mòxita fito no guiôgui no fufona

coto uo noxeta mono de gozaru. Sate sono

Qiyomori no xenzo ua 'Quanmu tenvò cudai no coin Sanuqi no cami 'Masamori ga mago 'Guiò

buqiò Tadamori no chacuna degozaru. Cono "Tadamori no toqi made ua xenzo no fitobito ua Taravgi uo Tacamochi no vò no toqi cudasarete, buxi to nararete nochi, tenjò no xenxeqi uoba yurusaXicaru uo Tadamori ni "Tobanoin xerarenanda.

to mòsu teivò 'Tocuchò juin to mòsu tera uo tate, mata sanjù sanguen no dò uo tçucutte yxxen ittai no fotoque uo suyeyo, sono go fenpô niua doco naritomo acòzuru cuni uo cudasareôzuru to vôxerareta. Xicaru tocorode cano dó tera uo xenji no gotoquni fodo fete zófit xerareta niyotte, sono vorifuxi ni Tagima no cuni ga aita no sunauachi cudasarete gozatta. Tobanoin nauo guiocan no amari ni vchi no xóden uo yurusareta niyotte, 'Tadamori sanjú rocu no toxi fajimete xóden itasareta tocorode, cugue tachigacore uo sonemi iqidouotte, vonaji toxi ni aru toqi, 'Tadamori uo yamivchi ni xózuru to dancó xerateta uo Tadamori mo tçu taye qijte vomouaruru ua: vare ua nagasode no midemo naxi, buxi no iye ni vmareta monoga, ima furio no fagi ni auózuru coto ua iye no tame, mi no tame cocoro vy coto giafodo ni, xenzuru cotoro ua mi uo mattó xite, qimi ni tçucayeyo to yúfon monga aruzo to yùte, canete sono yóy uo aerareta: sote to yú ua, saudai no fajime cara vóqina sayamaqi uo yóy xite, socutai no xita icanimo xidoqe itague ni faite, fi no fonogurai cataye mucóte, yaua ra kono catana uo nuqidaite bin ni fiqi aterare tareba, yoso cara ua tada couori ya nado no yo ni miyeta. Sore niyotte, xoniu no me uo samaite core uo mi maraxita: sonovye cano 'Tadamori uo tódô moto ua ychimon de gozatta. Iyesada toysí mono vsuasa gui no cariguinu no xita ni moyegui vodoxi no yo roi uo qite, tçurubucuro no tçuqe, tachí uo vaqi ba sóde, teujó no coniua ni chódo caxicomatto yta. Core uo mite sono tocoro no banxu domo ga ayaximete yú yóuo; soco ni foy uo monoga yru ua natu monozo? Rójeqina yatsu gia: deyo, deyoto, xemetare ba, 'Iyesada core uo qijte sono coto gia, vatacaxi ga sóden no xúdono Tadamori no coyoi vonovono yami vchi ni mesareôta aru coto uo tçu taye qijte gozaru fodoni, sono narareôyuru yó uo mi todoqeô tote, cacute macari yru fodoni, ye coso ide mósu majiqete tote, nauo yari suuatta: corera uo xennai coto ti vomouareraca xite, sono-yono yami vchi ua gozanatalta.

Reviews.

Visits to High Tartary, Yárkand, and Káshghar (formerly Chinese Tartary), and_Return Journey over the Karakoram Pass. By ROBERT SHAW, British Commissioner in Ladak. With map and illustrations. London: John Murray. 1871.

Central Asia and the kingdoms which occupy its Table-Land have been for ages a mystery. The almost impassable mountains which constitute the counter scarp of this nearly inaccessible fortress render its exploration a matter of the greatest difficulty. Many travellers have penetrated within, from the time of Marco Polo downwards, and but few have returned to give us detailed descriptions of their visits. Numerous traders have indeed issued with slow and tedious steps from the mountain fastnesses to attend the various fairs on Indian soil, but they find their business promoted by attention to barter and purchase, and can ill spare time, even if they have the intelligence, to communicate more than a very vague and meagre account of the lands whence they come.

A history of the attempts to explore the flourishing cities of Central Asia-Yârkand, Kâshgar, and the towns at the foot of the T'ien Shan

would be both valuable and interesting. But we have to do now with the record of a successful expedition to these very cities, undertaken by a traveller who appears to possess all, or nearly all, the requisites for such travels.

The Atalik-Ghâzee or "Guardian of the Religious Champions" is king of the country of which the above-mentioned cities are the capitals. He obtained this title from the Ameer of Bokhara, the great spiritual head of the Musalmans in these regions and second only to the Sultán-i-Rum or Sultan of Turkey. The Atalik-Ghâzee has quite recently wrested this territory from the Chinese power. Mr. Shaw gives a circumstantial account of this work and relates many interesting episodes connected therewith.

After enduring great hardships on his journeys from Kangra to Ladâk and thence to the Kârâkash River, he succeeded finally in reaching Shahidoolla and Yârkand, and in obtaining an interview with the Atalik-Ghâzee. The conversations which took place between our traveller and His Majesty are highly instructive, and reflect well both the intelligence of the king and the tact of Mr. Shaw.

The vigorous contest of the Musalmáns in the assault upon Yârkand in 1863 he graphically describes as follows:

"During the spring of 1863 the Toongânees tried to arrogate the authority in Yârkand to themselves, and the Chinese offered to give them two-thirds of everything except the command. The Toonganees refused the offer, and so matters stood for a month. One day they slaughtered sixty bullocks, and fed all the chief Mussulmans of the city. That day week, in the middle of the night, the Toongânee part of the garrison set fire to all the Chinese houses, both in the new city and the old.

As the Chinese rushed out to avoid the flames they were cut down one by one.

division of the Yang-Shahr. The Toongânees then The remainder shut themselves up in the inner exhorted the townspeople to exert themselves, as now, or never, was their chance of freedom. Accordingly, the latter came to their assistance. My informant Juoma says he came with Akskal Ahmed Khoja, the chief Cashmeeree trader, and, as the weather was hot, they brought a "chah-josh" full of tea for the Akskal. When they approached the gates the Chinese began to fire upon them, and there was a general stampede of the townspeople; the Akskal being a fat man, was seized round the waist by two of his people, and dragged off at a run. After this the Chinese made the most of their advantage, by advancing along both walls to the gate, which they seized. Thus the Mussulmans who remained in the outer portion of the YangShahr were entrapped and massacred, to the number of 800. Trenches were then begun by the assailants, and approaches made by sapping towards the west side of the wall; this took a month. From these trenches mines were carried under the wall, and a portion, forty and fifty yards in length, blown down. Even then, the Chinese made such a resistance that no entry was effected until a levy en masse was made of the whole Mussulman population, who attacked simultaneously on all sides. The Chinese were so diminished in numbers (less than 1,000 were left) that they could not adequately defend the whole enceinte, and when the Mussulassault with much tumult, they withdrew from the mans (town and country people joining) made an walls. The Mussulmans, fearing mines, forbode to explosion which took place shortly, shaking the enter, and their caution was justified by a terrific ground for miles around. Fragments of bodies felt even in the old city, and so great was the dust that nothing was visible for an hour afterwards. Then

the Mussalmans rushed in and cut down the few survivors. The Ambân and the principal part of the garrison had died in the explosion."

The book abounds with curious notes on the customs and habits of the Central Asians, together with statements of facts of interest to the merchant. Among these are some remarks on Tea. For example:

"We met a caravan of camels laden with huge cylinders of compressed tea, three or four feet long and a foot in diameter. I am told that they are being brought back to Yârkand after having been sent somewhere else for sale, unsuccessfully. The Toorks do not like the compressed or 'brick' tea.

The practise of duping the common people with lying magic and charms is shewn in the following story of a Múnshí :

"The Moonshee gives me an account of some incantations that were done at Noorpoor, near his home. A certain religious mendicant announced that there was a 'jin' (or evil genus) in a certain house, and offered to expel him. The people gladly agreed, and supplied him with all the money he asked for. He prepared several hideous figures of AAl

'jins' and demons drawn on a sheet of paper with milk and fig-juice. The figures were thus invisible, till heated. At the time appointed, he made a circle of lights round the woman of the house, and had a brazier of hot charcoal put before her. After many incantations, he gave her this sheet of (seemingly) blank paper, and told her to press in to her breast, and the demon would enter into it. After this, he made her hold it over the hot charcoal, when, of course, the hideous figures made their appearance, signally proving the skill of the exorcist. This got noised abroad, and reached the ears of the native doctor, who had apparently imbibed, with his medical learning, a disbelief in magic. He set a man to catch the faqueer in a trap by offering to pay for the exorcism of a 'jin' from his own house. This man, being instructed beforehand, when the time came, drew out of his breast, instead of the prepared sheet, a similar piece of blank paper which had been concealed there. This paper was in vain toasted over the fire; to the confusion of the exorcist, no demon appeared. The next day he made up his bundles, and left the unbelieving spot."

Altogether we look upon this work of Mr. Shaw as an immense contribution to our knowledge of the obscure countries of Central Asia. What may eventually be contributed from the Chinese side and from Chinese boks it is hard to say, but that some valuable additions may be derived therefrom is hardly to be questioned. We have indeed before us a work entitled: the Si yu ki, procured after great trouble from Peking, which details much that will be very profitable, especially from a geographical point of view, as the distances between the cities and towns en route from the extreme East to Bokhara are given.

We shall have to revert to Mr. Shaw's book again when we take up this work of Records of Western Countries.

Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin, Governor of Jamaica, GovernorGeneral of Canada, Envoy to China, Viceroy of India. Edited by THEODORE WALROND, C.B., with a Preface by ARTHUR PENRHYN STANLEY, D.D., Dean of Westminster. London: John Murray. 1872.

The inner life displayed in the private letters of a great and good man are always interesting and instructive. We seem to be drawn out of ourselves in reading them to contemplate his sage and unfiltered remarks on men and things. And when the author of such letters has sacriticed his life in the course of duty, and has laid down his arms only when the inexorable enemy has confronted him, and died in harness, a halo of glory seems to crown his deeds, and the circumstances add zest to whatever of himself he has left behind.

Descended from 'Robert the Bruce,' Lord Elgin inherited true nobility of character. In his early days he excelled in classical studies and eloquence. Like all men of original mind, he lived apart from his fellows. Excellent deportment, diligence, and

right-mindedness were the characteristics of his college days. He had a taste, as all thinking men have, for the Ancient Philosophy, and this doubtless served to give a tinge of deep thoughtfulness to his future life and actions. He was well fitted to govern, as his character combined the suaviter in modo with the fortiter in re in an eminent degree. Appointed to the Governorship of Jamaica in 1842, he very nearly escaped shipwreck, and shortly afterwards lost his first wife. He was subsequently removed to Canada, where under great difficulties he displayed great firmness and forbearance. But his public life became more marked when he took the charge of the Chinese mission. In this the readers of the Phoenix will be most interested, and we strongly recommend them to read the book for themselves, as it touches on many of the circumstances of that and the subsequent expeditions in a manner which must commend itself to their sympathies. For example, Lord Elgin thus mentions the sacking of the Summer Palace :—

"I have just returned from the Summer Palace. It is really a fine thing, like an English park-numberless buildings with handsome rooms, and filled with Chinese curios, and handsome clocks, bronzes, &c. But, alas! such a scene of desolation. The French General came up full of protestations. He had prevented looting in order that all the plunder might be divided between the armies, &c. There was not a room that I saw in which half the things had not been taken away or broken to pieces. I tried to get a regiment of ours sent to guard the place, and then sell the things by auction; but it is difficult to get things done by system in such a case, so some officers are left who are to fill two or three carts with treasures which are to be sold.... Plundering and devastating a place like this is bad enough, but what is much worse is the waste and breakage. Out of 1,000,000l. worth of property, I daresay 50,000l. will not be realised. French soldiers were destroying in every way the most beautiful silks, breaking the jade ornaments and porcelain, &c. War is a hateful business. The more one sees of it, the more one detests it."

His impressions of his mission to Japan are well told in the following extract:

"On the whole, I consider it the most interesting expedition I ever made. The total absence of anything like want among the people; their joyous, though polite and respectful demeanour; the combination of that sort of neatness and finish which we attain in England by the expenditure of great wealth, with tropical luxuriance, made me feel that at last I had found something which entirely surpassed all the expectations I had formed.

And

I am bound to say, that the social and moral condition of Japan has astonished me quite as much as its material beauty. Every man, from the Emperor (who never leaves his palace) to the humblest labourer, lives under a rigid rule, prescribed by law and custom combined; and the Government, through its numerous agents, among whom are hosts of spies, or more properly inspectors (for there is no secresy or concealment about this proceeding), exercises a