Scottish missionary Alexander Williamson (1829–90) spent several years preaching in northern China. From 1863 to 1866, he was there as the first overseas agent of the National Bible Society of Scotland. During this time, he travelled as far as Mongolia and Manchuria, a considerable undertaking in those days. He later became secretary of the Society for the Diffusion of Christian and General Knowledge among the Chinese, and formed the Chinese Book and Tract Society in 1884. In this illustrated two-volume work, first published in 1870, he records the observations he made during extensive travels that took him via the home of Confucius while propagating the Bible in Chinese script. Volume 1 offers introductory remarks on China's physical geography, people, culture, government and foreign influences. It also provides descriptions of the northern Chinese provinces and accounts of travels starting from Shandong province.
Contents
Preface; 1. Introductory observations bearing on the present and future of China; 2. Barriers in the way of progress in China; 3. Moral forces in China; 4. Receptivity of the Chinese; 5. The country and its government; 6. Civilization and means of intercommunication; 7. Province of Shan-Tung; 8. Province of Chih-Li; 9. The Province of Shan-Si; 10. Provinces of Shen-Si, Kan-Su, and Honan; 11. The terrace deposits in North China; 12. Journey round the Shan-Tung promontory; 13. From Peking to Che-Foo via Grand Canal, and the country of Confucius and Mencius; 14. Journey through the provinces of Chih-Li, Shan-Si, and a portion of Shen-Si and Honan; 15. Journey through Chih-Li, Shan-Si, etc. continued; 16. Journey through Chih-Li, Shan-Si, etc. continued; 17. Journey through Chih-Li, Shan-Si, etc. continued; 18. Journey through Chih-Li, Shan-Si, etc. continued; 19. Journey through the southern and central portions of Shan-Tung.
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