Our Book Shelf

Abstract

MR. COOPER is already well known as an enterprising traveller and delightlul story-teller through his “Travels of a Pioneer of Commerce in Pig-tail and Petticoats;” the present narrative is one of the most attractive published for a long time; it is one of the few books now published one feels inclined to read through at a sitting. Mr. Cooper tells his story without apparent effort, and in simple, unaffected style. For many centuries China has had the monopoly of supplying the Thibetans with tea, of which they are most extensive consumers. The Lamas of Thibet have the exclusive privilege of retailing this tea, and both they and the Chinese naturally do all in their power to prevent the possibility of any rivalry in the lucrative trade. It was on this account that Mr. Cooper was prevented from completing his intended journey from Shanghai overland to India. In the present work the author describes an attempt which he made to penetrate into Thibet from the Indian side, for the purpo e of discovering whether it would not be possible to open up a way for the introduction into that country of the abundant produce of the Assam tea-plantations. He proceeded from Calcutta to Sudiya, on the north-east frontier of Assam, from which, after making all due preparations, he set out on his adventurous journey in the latter part of 1869. Notwithstanding that Mr. Cooper was accompanied by a Khamtee chief, Chowsam—a fine manly fellow—who knew the country well, and was feared and respected by the people through whose country Mr. Cooper had to pass, the latter, amid great hardships, succeeded in penetrating north-eastward along the Brahmapootra, only about loo miles, when, through the determined opposition of the Thibetan officials, he was compelled to turn back. · No doubt Mr. Cooper failed in accomplishing the object on which he had set his heart, but his journey has been the means of giving to the world a book full of interesting information about the peoples and the countries where he sojourned, both in Assam and the districts just beyond its north-eastern frontier. The book contains a great deal of information on the present and past condition of Assam and the Assamese, and much information on the state of the tea-cultivation in that country. Mr. Cooper is particularly observant of men and manners, and most readers will find in his book a great deal that is quite new concerning the small tribes that live along the route by which he attempted, in the interest of commerce, to enter Thibet; his description of the Khamtees is especially interesting. Mr. Cooper does not pretend to give any scientific record of the natural history of the country through which he passed, though he makes occasional observations that may interest naturalists. The following description of the land-leeches which pestered him during his journey, seems to us particularly interesting:—

The Mishmee Hills; an Account of a Journey made in an Attempt to penetrate Thibet from Assam to open new Routes for Commerce.

By T. T. Cooper, Acting Political Agent at Bhamo. (London: Henry S. King and Co., 1873.)