REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 103 



exports. China sends beans, coal, tobacco and paper in considerable 

 quantities, but not much else ; although the Chinese residents import 

 various articles for their own use. Owing to the intervention of 

 Hongkong as a port of transhipment, it is impossible to arrive at the 

 exact figures of trade, but there can be no doubt that it is growing 

 yearly. The figures given in the Yearbook show that exports to China 

 increased in the years 1905 to 1914 from Guilders 5,185,000 to Guilders 

 18,500,000 and the imports from China from G. 2,168,000 to G. 

 9,403,000, 



The Yearbook shows that agriculture, mining and the development 

 of the country are being energetically pushed ; the process of sugar 

 manufacture is the most up-to-date in the world ; the health of the 

 labourers in the mines is cared for ; the forests and rubber industry 

 are being developed, and the islands have a great future before them, 

 in which the Chinese are aiding by the use of their labour and business 

 qualities. 



An interesting feature is the establishment of "village rice banks." 

 which have prevented middlemen from abusing the natives' temporary 

 need of money. Good maps accompany the publication, which may be 

 recommended to all who are anxious to acquire knowledge of these 

 beautiful islands in the South Sea. N. S. 



The Encyclopaedia Sinica. By S. Couling, m.a. Shanghai : Kelly 

 and Walsh, Ltd. 

 The very favourable opinion formed of this work, which appeared in 

 last year's Journal, in the review of the first part, is amply confirmed 

 by the completed volume. So far as it has been possible to examine 

 it, the work on the whole, is remarkably exact and reliable. 



Mr. Couling has been fortunate in his collaborateurs and the 

 writers of Special Articles. The articles on Meteorology, Lexicography, 

 Maritime Customs, Marriage, Minerals, Music, etc., Ornithology, 

 Paintings, Poetry, Post Office, Railways, Taoism, are invaluable. In 

 fact all the articles long and short are useful without exception. 

 The only regret is the absence of many others. The articles on 

 Missions would form a valuable volume by themselves. Mrs. Couling 

 must have spent great labour in compiling them. These and her other 

 articles form a large contribution to the Encyclopaedia. Many of the 

 articles are useful even where there are special works dealing with the 

 subject in question. The article on Medical Missions is a case in 

 point. This presents a conspectus of information that is scattered 

 through many articles, in other books like a Century of Missions. 



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