Mss Eur F594/10/7

Content warning: The papers of Arthur Moore Bennett (1877-1950) contain his personal views and opinions, with explicit language and terminology which today are deemed unacceptable and offensive and may cause upset.

Typescript volume covers the period 1912-1917, and was written in 1927. Missing pages have been torn from the beginning of the volume, and would have included section headings and lists of photographs. There are also pages ripped from the end of the volume. Moore Bennett describes his feud with the Foreign Office and his press campaign in the Times regarding commercial trade with China. Refers to life in Yunnanfu and describes many individuals in the town. Describes his marriage to Dolly, including matters relating to sex. Describes in detail railway surveying trip in Yunnan from West river towards Canton, including details of the countryside, rivers, canyons etc. and difficulties of the terrain. Includes letter from G.E. Morrison, Peking, dated 30 Dec 1913, regarding Moore Bennett's proposal that Harry Halton Fox be appointed Commerical Attaché in Peking. Describes further surveying trips in China and describes the families and houses he stayed in, including their daily chores and activities and the food provided. Compares life of Chinese in Yunnan with the hill peoples of Burma, and includes notes on taxation, family size, food, use of slaves, birth ceremonies, sexual maturity of girls, marriage, funerals, religion, sickness, prices of goods, customs and habits, encountered in Yunnan, Kweichou [or Kweichow, Guizhou] and Kuanghsi [Guangxi]. Describes his efforts to interest the British Government in railway project in China. Trip to Hong Kong to discuss business and subsequent trip to Peking to discuss obtaining concession for a railway line from Burma to the West river, or the West river to Yunnan. Return to London by train via Moscow. Holiday in Cornwall on the outbreak of the First World War.

Images include: three black & white photographs of Yunnanfu, 1913, showing the pagoda at the entrance to the lake, the canal, and West Mountain with forest and temples of Hsih Shan; coloured pen & ink sketch map showing Moore Bennett's journeys from 1906-1922 in Burma, China, Siam [Thailand], and French Indochine; coloured pen & ink sketch map of Yunnanfu and its environs; black & white photograph entitled 'Mengel the Magnificent' showing white European man; black & white photograph showing group on the boat Mimi 'Lakeward bound'; black & white photograph of Mr and Mrs Graham with Moore Bennett; black & white photograph of two dogs 'Brother & Lady' 1916; black & white photograph of Tai Fan hill, north of Yunnanfu, entitled 'Where Fox gave his Tiffin New Years 1914'; black & white photograph 'by the BAT, Yunnanfu'.