THE FACE OF
MANCHURIA
KOREA
& RUSSIAN
TURKESTAN
TAMERLANE’S TOMB
THE FACE OF
MANCHURIA
KOREA
& RUSSIAN
TURKESTAN
WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED WITH
XXIV PLATES BY E. G. KEMP, F.R.S.G.S.
AUTHOR OF “THE FACE OF CHINA”
NEW YORK
DUFFIELD & COMPANY
1911
All rights reserved
Less than three years ago I made a journey witha friend, Miss MacDougall, across the ChineseEmpire from north-east to south-west, andwhile my interests in the changes going on there wasintensified, a profound anxiety took possession of mymind as to the effect these changes would produce inthe national life. The European and other Powerswho had wrangled over the possibility of commercialand political advantages to be obtained from theChinese Government (after the Boxer troubles) havewithdrawn to a certain extent, but like snarling dogsdragged from their prey, they still keep covetous eyesupon it, and both Russia and Japan continue steadilybut silently to strengthen their hold upon its borders.These borders are Manchuria and Korea, and it is inthis direction that fresh developments must be expected.I read all the available literature bearing onthe subject, but so rapidly had the changes occurredthat books were already out of date, and they failed tomake me see the country as it now is.
As an instance of this, let me quote Whigham’s(correspondent to the Morning Post) “Manchuria andKorea,” published in 1904.[1] “One cannot seriously[x]believe that Japan would ever invade Manchuria,unless, indeed, she be caught by the madness withwhich the gods first visit those whom they wish todestroy; but if ever her army did occupy Moukden shewould only find another Moscow in the ancient capitalof the Manchus, and when all is said and done whatwould be the use? She could never hope to hold theLiao valley for ever against Russia; Great Britainmight just as well try to hold Normandy again againstFrance.... The conclusion is that as far as Manchuriais concerned, Russia is even now more or less invulnerable,”&c. &c. This was published the year theRusso-Japanese war took place.
Taking heart of grace by the kind reception of myformer book on China, I determined to visit Manchuriaand Korea, and to try and d