Serendipity recently led me to an interesting historical travelers' account of the people, culture, and traditions of a bygone era in China and Japan (see below) while doing some further reading triggered by another interesting story: A famous American silk merchant businessman (James Harrison Wilson Thompson) was mysteriously lost in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia in 1967 (last seen by Margaret Landon, the author of "The King and I"). In 2017, some film makers thought they may have finally solved the mystery.
Further googling and reading led me to Thompson's grandfather, a famous Civil War Union General, James Harrison Wilson - and a book that he wrote and published in 1888 of his travels to Japan and China - which captures a fascinating glimpse into the cultures of that time - and is exceptionally well written - by an astute observer.
Book: China. Travels and investigations in the Middle Kingdom : a study of its civilization and possibilities : with a glance at Japan ...
- by Wilson, James Harrison, 1837-1925
- Publication date
1888
