STREET SCENE, JEYPORE, SHOWING PALACE OF THE WINDS 157 COURT DANCERS AND MUSICIANS, JEYPORE 162 THE TAJ MAHAL, AGRA 169 ALABASTER SCREEN ENCLOSING ARJAMAND'S TOMB, TAJ MAHAL 175 INLAID WORK IN MAUSOLEUM OP ITIMAD-UD-DAULAH, AGRA 182 SCENE ON THE GANGES, BENARES 188 BENARES BURNING GHAT, WITH CORPSES BEING PURIFIED IN THE GANGES 191 BENARES HOLY' MEN 198 A BRAHMIN PRIEST 203 A CALCUTTA NAUTCH DANCER 207 GENERAL POST-OFFICE, CALCUTTA 212 SHIPPING ON THE HOOGHLY, CALCUTTA 215 CALCUTTA COOLIES 222 HONG KONG HARBOR 229 HONG KONG'S MOUNTAINSIDE 233 A FORMER "HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR" OF HONG KONG 240 TEMPLE OF THE FIVE HUNDRED GENII, CANTON 247 From photograph by A-Chan. CITY OF BOATS, CANTON, WHERE GENERATIONS ARE BORN AND DIE 254 EXAMINATION BOOTHS, CANTON 261 From photograph by A-Chan. PRINCIPAL SECTION OF MACAO 270 FRONTIER GATE BETWEEN CHINA PROPER AND THE PORTUGUESE COLONY 275 MONUMENT AND BUST OF CAMOENS, MACAO 279 IN A FAN-TAN GAMBLING HOUSE, MACAO 288 TYPICAL BUSINESS STREET IN A CHINESE CITY 293 From photograph by A-Chan. EXHIBITION OF BODIES OF CHINESE MALEFACTORS WHO HAVE BEEN STRANGLED 300 SIMPLE PUNISHMENT OF A CHINESE MENDICANT 305 CHINESE BUDDHIST PRIESTS 311 BRONZE DAIBUTSU AT KAMAKURA, JAPAN 319 From photograph by Frederic C. Penfield. A GARDEN VIEW OF THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, TOKYO 328 From photograph by Frederic C. Penfield. JAPANESE JUNK, OR CARGO BOAT 337 EAST OF SUEZ CHAPTER I THE WORLD'S TURNSTILE AT SUEZ When historical novels and "purpose" books dealing with great industries and commodities cease to sell, the vagrant atoms and shadings of history ending with the opening of the two world-important canals might be employed by writers seeking incidents as entrancing as romances and which are capable of being woven into narrative sufficiently interesting to compel a host of readers. The person fortunate enough to blaze the trail in this literary departure will have a superabundance of material at command, if he know where and how to seek it.