PREFACE

Summary

This little book does not pretend to the importance of a work on China. Its aim is simply to enlighten the home public as to the actual circumstances in which residents in that remote region find themselves, and to supply a few scraps of information, part of it new, and part of it hitherto misapprehended, respecting the Chinese themselves. Existing relations between China and the leading Western powers are inevitably tending towards results, the importance of which to both sides cannot be exaggerated, and I shall consider myself fortunate if the few words, which I have herein ventured, should lead to a better understanding in England of our true position and interests in “Far Cathay.”