A WOMAN IN THE ANTIPODES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2156, 23 May 1914, Page 9

A WOMAN IN THE ANTIPODES.

Many New Zealandcrs will remember Miss Mary Hall, the English traveller who wrote that excellent book, "A Woman's Trek from tho Cape to Cairo," and a who'spent .sorno months in the Dominion a couple of years or so ago. Miss Hall has now added to'the high estimation in which she is held in this country, both as a writer an'd lecturer, by a second book of.travel experiences. This is "A Woman in the Antipodes" (London; Methuen and Co.). In this handsomely-produced and copiously-illus-trated volume, Miss Hall gives us a well-written, and deeply-interesting description of what she saw during her lengthy sojourn in. this country. Sho was singularly energetic and seems to have omitted no part of the Dominion where- there is anything to attract tho visitor from other lands. She writes quite enthusiastically, and yet without any trace of "gush," of the superb scenery to ho found in both islands, being specially laudatory of the weirdly wonderful Hot Lakes. District, tho stately grandeur of tho Southern Alpine Region, and the groat lakes of the south, and the exquisite beauty of the "finest walk in the world." and the famous West .Coast Sounds. Of. Stewart Island also she gives an interesting account. Miss Hall is a discriminating observer,, but while, when occasion offers, she. points out defects in our railways and coastal steamer system, and waxes quietly satirical oyer the rough and ready accommodation with which the tourist has in places to content himself and herself. It is • pleasant to a New Zcalander to notice the high appreciation in which Miss Hall holds the freedom from stiffness, and class- snobbishness which prevails in tho Dominion, and to welcome her eulogies of tho fine,climate and the splendid scenery of New Zealand, which she says is truly, and not in name only, the i'England of tho Pacific." It is clear that Miss Hall greatly enjoyed her sojourn in the Dominion, and desires to give practical testimony of her satisfaction by warmly commending the country as a field for English tourists and those who would found new homes at the Antipodes. About one-third of tho book is devoted to tho author's ex-, pericnecs in New Zealand,'the remaining' chapters chronicling her experiences in various parts of Australia, in Papua,, and the Philippine Islands, and her further journcyings from Manilla to HongKong, and thence to Peking and Moukdon, whence she found ho- way, via Harbin, and by means of the TransSiberian Railway, to Moscow, and so, in due course, back to her native country. Miss Hall gives a gossippy and essentially readable account of her wanderings, and her narrative is agreeably punctuated by many shrewd nild humorous observation:! upoii tho manners and customs of tho various races amongst whom she has 'been a temporary resident. Specially interesting is her account of Psp-iti and of China; indeed, amongst the many descriptions 1 have read of Peking as it is to-day, I can recall nothing.so crisp and picturesquely vivid as are Miss Hall's verbal vignettes of life in the ancient Chinese capital. Every chapter of tho book contains something well worth reading, for the author's point of view is always individual and original, and there is a refreshing absense of that Baedeker—inspired padding which is too frequently represented in the (illusions of tho average globe-trotter. The book would be of special value to anyone, especially any ladies, who may be contemplating a visit to the Australian States, to Java, Sumatra, Singapore, and China, for it is full of useful hints for travellers as to what to see and what to avoid. Apart from its special interest lor New Zealanders, the book stands out as a dia-

tinctly successful effort in tlio iiteratuic of latter-day travel. The illustrations, of which there tiro a very largo number, havo been well chosen and well reproduced. They greatly enhance the value, and interest of tlio text. Maps of New Zealand, Australia, and China, with a route map of the Trans-Siberian Hailway, are also commendable features. (Price, 155.)