whose deeds, centuries ago, spread terror by what vessel he was borne away, he never magistrate to commit, either the old smuggler or any of his crew; for his vessel was looked upon with dread and terror, whenever it came up and lay moored in the river beside Our Old Town." The volume is neatly got up, and freely illustrated with cuts depicting the features of the Old Town, whether from nature or the author's descriptions does not appear. Oriental and Western Siberia: a Narrative of sport, the lover of adventure will find a fair The structure and Functions of the Eye illustrative of the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God. By Spencer Thomson, M.D. (Groombridge & Sons.)-As a study illustrative of design in the world there is, perhaps, no object that affords so good an example in so small a space as the human eye. The laws which govern the movements of the planets through space around a central sun are simplicity itself compared with the complicated adaptations necessary to make the human eye the medium of conveying a knowledge of the external world to the mind. On this account few subjects have been studied more thoroughly by the natural theologian and philosopher than the anatomy and physiology of the eye. The philosophical study of the eye has enriched science with brilliant discoveries in the nature of light and its properties, and has led to the inventions which have almost perfected the two most important instruments used by man- the telescope and the microscope. Dr. Thomson in this little book looks at the eye from the theological point of view, and endeavors to bring out in all their force those minute adaptations in the structure of the eye to the reception of light and the formation of pictures of external objects, which demonstrate the " power, wisdom, and goodness of God." Dr. Thomson does not profess to have made any new discoveries in this region of research; but he has the merit of having written a book upon it in such a manner that it cannot fail to interest those who peruse it, and will probably draw them on to study further illustrations of the wisdom hid in creation, and in which all branches of natural knowledge abounds.-Athenæum. It happens, however, that Mr. Atkinson can write. Easily and cheerfully he tells his adventures, describes the friends he found by his road-side, the mines, the raids of Tartar horsestealers, the precipices, the strange flowers and fantastic rocks with which he made acquaintance, nor does he forget to tell of the wild sport he had over a shooting ground not yet appropriated by his countrymen. It may be that his book will send an adventurer or two next season to look for a week's snipe-shooting in the valley of the Ob. Seventy-two double snipes in three hours and a half are handsome answer to the claim made by a single gun. Mr. Atkinson's book is, in fact, most readable. The geographer finds in it notice of ground heretofore left undescribed, the ethnologist, geologist, and botanist find notes and pictures too of which they know the value, the sportsman's taste in gratified by chronicles of From The Spectator. up cheerfully; and when he meets, as he ATKINSON'S ORIENTAL AND WEST-continually does meet, with scenery of rare and ERN SIBERIA.* MR. ATKINSON is an artist, whose love of nature and of fresh subjects for his pencil has carried him into places where few or no Europeans have ever penetrated, and continually taken him into regions where only Russians, or exiles in Russian employ, are likely, or indeed able to go. Nor is it the journey, or the distance from St. Petersburg to the frontiers of China, which forms the leading feature of his travels. In the few great towns, there were, it is true, conveniences, luxuries, and social agrémens enough; but the whole route was a succession of hardships, privations, and, to a less hardened traveller than Mr. Atkinson, suffering. A journey from Moscow to Ekaterineburg, on the frontier of Siberia, is, especially at the close of winter, an arduous undertaking, from the incessant and severe jolting, as well as the continuous strain upon the constitutional powers, through travelling day after day and night after night; the very couriers themselves after a long service being, as Mr. Hill told with fever. us, laid up This, however, was only monotonous fatigue. In the Altai Mountains and their circumjacent regions, Mr. Atkinson was exposed to the extremes of cold and heat, to storms of more than Tropical violence, to the perils of flood and precipices, to hardships, hunger, and risks from wild beasts. In the vast range of country which our ancestors vaguely called Chinese Tartary, but which modern science has arranged in particular divisions and given them particular names, the sufferings from cold and weather generally might be less; for to attempt the mountains, deserts, or steppes, in the wintry season or certain weather, would be death. The Tartary trials were rather in the line of thirst, hunger, fatigue, and danger from the robber hordes; though on this last point we think Mr. Atkinson prone to enlarge a wee bit. Except on two occasions, there is no evidence whatever of felonious intent, unless rival reports and ill-favored looks are to be taken as proofs. Yet through common or uncommon hardships or dangers our artist-author bears striking beauty, sublimity, or wondrous form, The continuous ravel of Mr. Atkinson ex tended from St. Petersburg to Ekaterine burg; and thence, after a sojourn, to Barnaoul, the head-quarters of the Altai mining district, as Ekaterineburg is of the Ural chain. Beyond an artistic coup d'oeil of the countries traversed, some observations on the people at the different stopping-places, and aaventures with divers station-masters and peasants, there is nothing very original in this continuous narrative, though all is fresh and characteristic. The remarkable quality of the book is its wanderings and explorations into almost unknown places from some town which the writer made his headquarters. The regions thus subjected to scrutiny may be reckoned as three in number: 1. A considerable part of the Ural range with its adjacent spurs and lowlands; 2. The mountainous regions of the Altai, embracing about five degrees of latitude, 500 to 550 North, and some seventeen of longitude, from 830 to 1000 East; 3. Various excursions into the steppes lying South and West of the Altai, and a long pilgrim age through the desert of Chinese Tartary. There is a fourth exploration among the Salan Mountains, in the neighborhood of Irkoutsk. In an artistic sense, this part had better have been away: it is curt, of less interest in description and adventure than the previous parts though of a similar nature, and it closes poorly. The story would well have ended with the visit to the country and some of the alleged descendants of Genghis Khan. The time Mr. Atkinson occupied in his wanderings was seven years; the precise dates are not distinctly stated, but we infer that his journey commenced in 1847 or 1848. Of course nothing but the highest auspices enabled it to be performed; for no common papers would have availed to carry Mr. Atkinson whither he went. But he travelled with a passport of the Emperor Nicholas. Oriental and Western Siberia: a Narrative of "This slip of paper proved a talisman where Seven Years' Explorations and Adventures in Siberia, Mongolia, the Kirghis Steppes, Chinese Tar- ever presented in his dominions, and swept tary,and part of Central Asia. By Thomas Witlam down every obstacle raised to bar my prog Atkinson. With a Map and numerous Illustra-ress." The passport was accompanied by tions. Published by Hurst and Blackett. ર ministerial documents, and instructions preceded the traveller. At the remotest státions he found orders to facilitate his objects. Once only delay or extortion was in ignorance attempted in Siberia, by a luckless Jew contractor, and behold the result! "Kiansk is a moderately large town, consisting mostly of wooden houses, inhabited by many hundreds of Polish Jews-a race whose nearer acquaintance I have no desire to cultivate. Instead of the yemtschick driving to the post-station, he took me straight to the house of a man who had the contract with the post-office authorities to supply horses. He, too, was a Jew, and strove to delay me, by asserting that he had no horses; subsequently he offered to provide them if I would pay double price. Had I consented, I should have been subjected to the same extortion at every station beyond, as the fellow would have sent forward to inform his gang. I proceeded to the police-master; who the moment I had stated my case, called in one of his people, and gave some orders which I did not understand; then told my servant, who acted as interpreter, to say that the matter would soon be settled, and desired me to remain. In a few minutes I observed two mounted Cossacks ride out of the gate, and in a very short time return, bringing the culprit with them. The police-master or dered him to give me horses immediately: the fellow swore Ye Bhoga!' (by God) he had none; and unless I would pay double his friend would not give them. No further argument with him was attempted: the police-master gave orders to the Cossacks; the Jew was hustled into an adjoining room, and two other Cossacks having joined them, he was laid on the floor, and stripped of his clothing from the back downwards. The birch was just going to be applied, when he bellowed out that he would give the horses: the police-master then declared that he should have twenty-five blows for causing the delay; but I begged that he should be set free; when orders were given to release him: at this moment, however, the Cossack raised his birch, and it fell on the target beneath; the men let go their hold, and the old sinner sprang to his feet with a frightful howl." As in the case of Livingstone's South African explorations, time has told favorably for Mr. Atkinson. His mind is saturated with his subject. The larger part is the result of a passing impression, but he has had similar impressions continuously; so that what he sees is rather novel than strange to him. Geographical discovery in Livingstone's sense he did not accomplish; the na ture of the country was known before, and the principal places as well as features were laid down. There is as much of adventure, and among peoples as curious, as any the African traveller encountered. Regarding the management of the Russian mines, and the marbles or semi-precious and precious stones, there is a good deal of information, as well as some very curious facts respecting work and wages, and the effects of Government monopoly. Here is an example, from the Ekaterineburg district; and our author as an artist speaks with more authority than a mere traveller, who might fancy all carving is alike. "Most magnificent jasper tables are made in this Zavob, inlaid with different colored stones, in imitation of birds, flowers, and foliage. In 1853, I saw one of them in Ekaterineburg, on which four or five men had been employed for six years-not an uncommon circumstance; indeed some examples have occupied a longer period. The cost of labor alone in England, (provided the material were found there,) would effectually prevent such work ever being executed in our country. Here wages are almost nothing: I have seen a man engaged carving foliage on some of the jasper vases, in a style not excelled anywhere in Europe, whose wages were three shillings and eightpence per month, with two poods, or thirty-six pounds, of rye-flour per month, to make into breadmeat he is never supposed to eat. I have seen another man cutting a head of Ajax, after the antique, in jasper of two colorsthe ground a dark green, and the head a yellowish cream-color-in very high relief, and intended for a brooch. It was a splendid production of art, and would have raised the man to a high position in any country in Europe except Russia. He also, poor man, received his three shillings and eightpence per month, and his bread. There are many men employed in these productions possessing great genius: were they free to use their talents for their own benefit, this country might send into civilized Europe numerous works of vast merit. A married man with a family receives two poods of black flour for his wife and one pood for each child, on which they live and look stout. "I have watched men cutting the emerald, topaz, amethyst, aquamarina, and other stones, into different shapes; which they do with perfect accuracy, and in good taste. Some of these brilliant have no doubt gems ere this adorned Imperial Majesty. These men also receive a like remuneration. in the cutting and polishing works. Two superintendents or master workmen, each of whom receives 240 roubles banco per annum, about £11 sterling, and their 'black flour (rye.) There are also 160 workmen employed, divided into four classes "A first-class workman receives 4 roubles banco per month A second-class do A third-class do A fourth-class do or boys, and their black bread." do 2 94 do 1 38. 8d. 28. 9d. 18. 10d. do 11d. thing to do in private, if it is only reading a newspaper; many men require privacy to follow their employments without distraction. But what could a feudal baron or an Asiatic "We now observed several men spring on their horses and ride to meet us-this was certainly a mission of peace. When we met one of the men rode up to me, placed his hand on my chest, saying Aman.' I followed his example, and we rode on. As we approached, there seemed to be a great commotion in the aoul [encampment]; two Kirghis had mounted their horses and gone off at full gallop. Others were busy collecting bushes, and all seemed occupied. Our escort guided us to a large yourt [tent] with a long spear stuck into the ground at the door and a long tuft of black horse-hair was hanging from beneath its glittering head. A fine tall man met us at the door; he caught the reins of my bridle, and gave me his hand to enable me to dismount, and led me into the yourt. chieftain do in solitude ?-he would only be These essential resemblances to medieval frightened by his sins and superstitions. Europe are indicated in Mr. Atkinson's sketches of the Tartars; and mixed with such things are traits of the external accomThe most interesting parts of the volume paniments of chivalry, hawk and courser, are those which relate to Russian society hospitality and courtesy; though according scattered throughout these vast wilds; to the to the traveller the people are thieves all character and manners of the native tribes-The following extract gives part of the visit Calmucks, Girghis, and various others; and to one of the chieftains or Sultans" of to the Mongolians or Tartars who overran Chinese Tartary, and nearly one of the best the Eastern world under Genghis Khan and of a very bad lot. Timour. These last especially are not only interesting as pictures of man in a particular mode of existence, but as calling to mind, with some aid from reflection, the state of European society during the middle ages. Of course this resemblance is not formal. An agricultural people in the wooded and temperate parts.of Europe must differ from a pastoral people in the table-lands of Asia, with a climate extreme both in heat and cold. There is, too, a vast difference, which must be borne in mind, between England as it is now and as it was three centuries ago. It is only since the Tudor times, and the discovery of America, that commerce, manufactures, the arts, and the application of science to each and all, have produced the vast material wealth which everywhere meets the eye, "This was Sultan Baspasihan, who welas well as the numerous comforts and luxu- comed me into his dwelling. He was a ries everywhere found. More than all, it is strong, ruddy-faced man, dressed in a black only within the same period that the numervelvet kalat, edged with sable, and wore a ous classes of society and their more numer- head was a red cloth conical cap, trimmed deep crimson shawl round his waist; on his ous subdivisions now existing in Western with fox-skin, with an owl's feather hanging Europe, especially in England, have grown from the top showing his descent from Genup. During the middle ages, the lord, the ghis Khan. A Bokharian carpet had been priest, the vassal, and the serf, constituted spread, on which he seated me, and then sat society. Beyond habiliments and power, the down opposite. I invited him to a seat be lord differed little from the retainer: a higher In a few minutes two boys entered bringing side me; which evidently gave satisfaction. seat and nicer titbits constituted his personal in tea and fruit. They were dressed in advantages, and not wholly that perhaps as striped silk kalats, with fox-skin caps on their against his greater vassals. The incessant heads, and green shawls round their waists. living in public, traces of which continued They were his two sons. The Sultana was till the fall of the old régime in the semi-out on a visit to the aoul of another Sultan, public dressing and dining of the Kings of France, and which is so repugnant to our ideas, was almost a human necessity in early times, as it is now in the East. An educated man in Western Europe can find some two days' journey distant. "The yourt was a large one, with silk cur tains hanging on one side, covering the sleeping-place-bed it was not. Near to this stood a bearcoote' (a large black eagle) and a falcon chained to their perches; and I This the paper. When the Sultan saw this, I fancied that it made a strong impression on his mind; the superiority of our arms, and the way they were used, could scarcely be without its effect. After this there was a general cleaning of arms to have them in perfect order." perceived that every person entering the bring out theirs. I gave them powder and "On looking round, I noticed that a set of daring fellows had been watching my movements. Also that the fatted sheep had been killed, and the repast would soon be given. The Sultan expressed a wish to see our rifles used, and ordered three of his men to DCCXIV. LIVING AGE. VOL. XX. 20 The use of the hawk is obvious; the black eagle is trained for larger game which a falcon could not kill. A sporting party was made up for the traveller; our countryman and the Russian subjects showing their skill in fire-arms on the wild boar, the Tartars exhibiting their hawking and eagling. The "We began our march, going nearly due East; the Sultan's three hunters leading the van, followed by his Highness and myself; his two sons and the eagle-bearers immedi ately behind us, with two of my men in close attendance. A ride of about two hours brought us to the bank of a stagnant river. fringed with reeds and bushes, where the |