
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
II "MISSOURI" AND HIS FALSE TEETH
III WONG LEE—THE HUMAN BELLOWS
IV HAWAII—AND THE FISHERMAN WHO'D SIGN THE PLEDGE
V THE UMPIRE WHO GOT A JOB
VI THE JAPS' FIVE-STORY SKYSCRAPER AND A BASEMENT
VII JAPANESE GIRLS IN AMERICAN COSTUMES—THEY MAR THE LANDSCAPE
VIII CEREMONIOUS GRANDMOTHER—"MISSOURI" A HEAVENLY TWIN
IX USHI, THE RIKISHA MAN
A spirited American wanderer sets out for the far‑east, bringing his blunt humor and a curiosity for everything from bustling bazaars to quiet temples. His early encounters weave together the chaos of a war‑torn landscape, surprising bull‑fighting spectacles, and the befuddling charms of strangers with unforgettable nicknames like “Missouri” and Wong Lee. The narrator’s candid voice captures both the astonishment and the absurdity of navigating foreign customs, often with a wry twist that keeps the listener smiling.
As the journey unfolds, he meets a parade of colorful characters—a fisherman with a surprising pledge, a rickshaw driver named Ushi, and missionaries whose zeal borders on comic excess. Through vivid descriptions and sharp observations, the book paints a lively portrait of early‑twentieth‑century Asia, revealing the quirks of daily life while gently poking fun at cultural misunderstandings. Listeners will feel they’re sharing a cup of tea in a dimly lit teahouse, hearing the clamor of markets, and laughing at the inevitable mishaps that befall any traveler far from home.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (233K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Melissa McDaniel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2012-08-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1857–1938
A globe-trotting American humorist and travel writer, remembered for lively books that turned long journeys into sharp, often funny observation. His work has an easy storytelling style that still feels companionable today.
View all books
by Royall Tyler

by Ben Jonson

by Friedrich Gerstäcker

by Ben Jonson

by Richard Ligon

by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

by Guido Gozzano