210 REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 



Catholic. It reviews many languages and peoples : quoting from their 

 prose and poetry as well as dealing with linguistic matters. The 

 Philoligist will find much matter of interest here. Sinologues will also 

 find several topics dealing with China. Dr. Lionel Giles replies to 

 Dr. Steele's criticism of his notes on the Nestorian Monument in the 

 previous number. 



Mr. A. Waley gives a rendering of more poems from Po Chu I. 

 Yf ithout wishing to be critical, as we have had no time to consult the 

 original, a few questions may be asked. (1) 'An early oriole sang on 

 the roof of my house.' Is the oriole such a bold bird as to stand 

 prominently on the roof ? It is rather a shy bird, and eschews 

 publicity. (2) 'The tallest of them is six roods high' : 'The lowest is 

 not more than ten feet.' Would it not be better to read, 'the lowest 

 is not less than 10 feet high. ' (3) The character for Lii must be wrong. 

 It is repeated three times, thus it is hardly a printer's error. The 

 correct word may be %fc. The word fg: mei should be -fa. Theise 

 errors easily slip in, and Mr. Waley's criticism of the transliteration^ 

 in Encyclopedia Sinica that they have been carelessly done will there-! 

 fore be somewhat modified by a locus poenitentia. Of course two 

 blemishes is no justification. But the absence of aspirates and other 

 marks whilst a matter of regret is easily excused. This is a thorny 

 subject, but generally the criticism should be received in a spirit of 

 meekness. Mrs. Ayscough of course was using a translation of the 

 Canons which was already in existence, and the source of which she 

 gives in brochure of a lecture on Chinese Painting, and published 

 3rd April, 1917. 



The Awakening of Asia. By H. M. Hyndman, Cassell & Co., 1919 

 From his comfortable fireside within the peaceful purlieus of Wei 

 Walk, Hampstead, old Mr. Hyndman discourses on the awakening o 

 Asia. The book is full of those half truths which are half lies. H 

 begins the section devoted to China with the entirely inaccurate state 

 ment that 'practically all Chinaman can read, write and cast accounts 

 This is but an example of many inaccurate statements by which h 

 develops his theme of 'the blighting influence of the Occidental 

 The author seems to forget that trade is mutually beneficial. In th 

 case of China trade is in reality an exchange of piece goods of qualit 

 for such raw materials as silk, oil seeds and hides. 'Asia for th 

 Asiatics' is Mr. Hyndman's war cry. And there seems no need for i' 

 Besides the merchants, there are as many engaged in teaching an 

 healing the sick, bringing the benefits of modern education an 

 scientific medicine to thousands of orientals. And these are mostl 



