Public-domain ebook
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In: Travel Writing·History - Other
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #45167.
This work is a detailed travelogue that chronicles Alexander Michie’s overland expedition from Shanghai through the Chinese interior, across Mongolia and Siberia, and finally to Petersburg. In his opening remarks he notes the absence of a continuous English account of the whole route for more than a century and a half, and he sets out to correct misconceptions about life in those distant lands. The narrative proceeds chapter by chapter, beginning with the bustling ports of Shanghai and the riverine journey to Tientsin, then moving inland through the walls of Peking, the deserts of Mongolia, and the steppes of Siberia, before tracing the final leg across the Urals to the Russian capital. Along the way Michie interweaves observations on geography, customs, commerce, and the social fabric of the peoples he encounters, while acknowledging the assistance of knowledgeable friends such as Edwin E. Bishop.
Michie writes in a Victorian‑era voice, blending meticulous description with personal reflection. His prose is formal yet vivid, peppered with the occasional digression that reveals his curiosity about the cultures he meets. Readers who relish 19th‑century exploration literature, historical geography, or the gritty details of caravan travel will find this account engaging. It appeals especially to those interested in the interplay of British, Chinese, Mongolian, and Russian societies during a period of rapid diplomatic change.
The opening · free to read
Although some portions of the route have been eloquently described by Huc and others, I am not aware that any continuous account of the whole journey between the capitals of China and Russia has appeared in the English language for nearly a century and a half. Important changes have occurred in that period; and, if I may judge of others by myself, I suspect that many erroneous notions are afloat respecting the conditions of life in these far-off regions, and more especially in Siberia. Observation has modified my own pre-conceived opinions on many of the subjects touched on in the following pages, and I am not without a hope that they will be found to contain some information which may be new to many people in this country.
If I have indulged in irrelevant digressions, I can only say that I have limited myself to those reflections which naturally suggested themselves in the course of my travels; and the subjects I have given most prominence to are simply those which happened to be the most interesting to myself.
My thanks are due to various friends for useful hints, confirming and correcting my own observations; but I am especially indebted for some valuable notes on Siberia, its social phenomena, gold mines, &c., to Edwin E. Bishop, Esq., whose long residence in the country, and perfect acquaintance with the language and customs of the people, constitute him an authority on all matters connected with that part of the world.
22, BERKELEY SQUARE, October 28th, 1864.
CONTENTS.
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