Book Notices
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Book Notices
BOAT LIFE IN EGYPT AND NUBIA. By William C. Prime.
TENT LIFE IN THE HOLY LAND. By William C. Prime, author of “Boat Life in Egypt,” &c. New York, Harper & Brothers.
The number of works of travel now pouring from the press is like that of the travellers themselves. There are far too many of them, and the majority are insipid and worthless. But Mr. Prime and his volumes are not to be included in this category. He evidences in a rare degree, the capacity of enjoying himself abroad, and of inspiring his readers with a reflection of the same pleasure. He is none of your railroad travelers, who visit a place merely to say they have been there; nor does he display that intense nationality which blinds a man to the contemplation of everything beautiful in foreign landscapes, and prejudices him against every custom which differs from those of his own land. Mr. Prime is a true cosmopolitan. He sees something to admire even in the nonchalance with which a Cairo merchant declines to deal with him, because he has only arrived when the regular hour has come for closing the shop; and he records without disparaging remark the promptness of an Egyptian woman to conceal her face with her only garment, though in so doing she completely exposes the rest of her person. Animated with true Christian feeling, superadded to a strong veneration for traditional sanctity, he kneels with sacred emotion in the garden of Gethsemane, and yet views, with feelings hardly less strong, though of a different kind, the tomb of Mahomet at Mecca. His faith in the sublime verities of which the former was the scene, does not induce him to regard the other with bigoted aversion. His adoration in the one case, does not lead him into intolerant denunciation in the other. He treats Mohammedans and their conduct and belief with impartiality, and records whatever he has seen to their credit, no less than the reverse. He appears to be a man of clear observation, accurate judgment, and catholic sympathies. The results of his observations and adventures, as recorded in these volumes, are eminently interesting. He tells enough about the countries and the people to interest the seeker after knowledge; and he gives enough of personal adventure and incident to amuse the leisure even of the most casual reader. His style of narration is lucid and entertaining; but the merit of the books does not rest here. In his Tent Life in the Holy Land, Mr. Prime throws considerable light on Biblical investigations; and will be found to have done much to assist the student of Scripture in his illustrations of Oriental subjects. A remarkable feature in these travels is, that the author was accompanied by his wife—a fact which greatly tended in many instances to the success of his endeavors to accumulate information—in one instance even procuring him an introduction into an Oriental harem. Mr. Prime’s volumes in many respects demand more than the cursory perusal which the majority of travelers’ productions receive; they contain enough of solid, valuable addition to our knowledge of Eastern lands, to entitle them to be introduced into every library.
The author, Mr. Prime, formerly resided in this city, and followed the profession of the law. A more congenial occupation, however, arose from his connection with the Journal of Commerce, to which he was a valued contributor. His father, the Rev. Nathaniel Prime (the historian of Long Island), many years ago was pastor of the South 3d street Presbyterian Church; and sincere regret was felt by many of our citizens at his death last year. From such a parent the author early learned to feel an interest in the Holy Land, and imbibed a wish to visit the scene of the Saviour’s pilgrimage on earth. In carrying out the aspirations of his youth he has also made a valuable addition to the literature of his native land.
In conclusion, we cannot refrain from expressing our admiration of the elegant yet substantial exterior of these volumes. The binding department of Messrs. Harper’s extensive establishment is under the charge of our fellow-citizen, Mr. Peter Rosenquest, who has been for nearly a generation in the employ of the firm.