PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION 



The following pages comprise little more than a 

 transcript of the journal kept by me during a two 

 months' journey from Shanghai, the metropolis of 

 the coast, to Chung-king, the commercial metropolis 

 of Western China. This journal was written up each 

 night, as I travelled along in the native boat, and was 

 despatched home by successive mail for the amuse- 

 ment of my friends in England. I have been induced 

 to publish it in the belief that impressions formed and 

 recorded day by day on the spot, give a better idea of 

 the actual state of things in China than many of the 

 elaborate and carefully compiled books which attempt 

 a more exhaustive description of the country. 



So much interest is now felt at home in the 

 " Flowery Land," and such very erroneous conceptions 

 appear to be entertained in regard to China, her 

 wealth, her strength and prowess, and her value as 

 an ally — qualities of which, in my opinion, only the 

 remote potentiality exists at present — that no apology 

 is needed for presenting a literal picture of the country 

 I traversed. 



