GILES (Herbert A.)
From Swatow to Canton: [Overland.]
RARE
Giles (1845-1935) joined the Consular service and was posted to Peking in 1867. After spending some twenty-five years in various positions in China he returned to England where he was given a professorship for Chinese at Cambridge in 1897.
The present account of his overland journey from Swatow (Shantau) to Canton is largely devoted to the Hakka-occupied hinterland. Being a fluent Chinese speaker the account of his travels is enjoyable for the authors commentary on the conversations that he has along the way as well as a variety of amusing anecdotes. “28th. - We are seriously thinking that if this rain lasts much longer it will carry most of our happiness away, that happiness consisting at present chiefly in tinned soups and Château Pomys, both of which luxuries are disappearing at an alarming rate…” (p. 27)
The frontispiece is a facsimile of Chaoyun’s gravestone in Huizhou - she was the concubine of the famous Sung poet Su Dongpo (1037-1101). “Cost of trip, for one traveller and three servants, say $250.00.” (Note at the end of the book).
Rare. Cordier erroneously gives 1874 as the date of publication. Cordier 301
