THE NEXT GREAT BOOK.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE NEXT GREAT BOOK.

Probably the next great book of travel (says the Literary World) will be Dr. even Hedin's account o? his two years' wanderings in Tibet, Western China, and the desert of Gobi. Ho claims to have travelled about 6000 miles, of whiph only about 500 were through kuown country. He left his home in Stockholm* on 24th June, 1899, for St. Petersburg, whence he journeyed by rail to Anaijan, and thence on horseback to Ka&hgar. Ho then made his way to tho Lake of Lob Nor, where hia 6000 miles of exploration began. One of the greatest dangers he encountered was the frequent sandstorms in the Gobi desert, whioh occur on an average twice a week, making day as black' as night, and lasting from a day to two whole days. He did not reach Lltusa, the capital of Tibet. Ho lost four of his men from fatigue and privation, and says that had he weighed the perils ahead of him before starting he would* never have achieved anything. Among his discoveries were the remains of seme ancient Ohinose and Mongolian cities, from the ruins of which he obtained many MSS. and sculptures. He has prepared a very large scale-mop of a huge tract of 'previously unknown country. Dr. Hedin was expected in Calcutta cm 25th January as tho guest of Lord CUrzon, the Indian Viceroy, and wUI travel Home to write his book an*d prepare an account of his ocientifio researches. There will pr6bably be aa great a competition for the former as for Dr. Nansea's book, whiah Messrs. Archibald, Constable and Co. obtained and brought out.