nike j. p. alsford

In 1858 as a stipulation of the Treaty of Tientsin the British Empire expanded its treaty ports to include the port of Tamsui on ’s northeastern coast. John Dodd was one of the first merchants to enter the newly acquired Treaty Port. Working for Dent & Co. he ar-rived and settled in in 1864. His life in was culturally rich and diverse. He was seen as a saviour to some and pugnacious to others.
     During the Sino-French War of 1884–1885, John Dodd wrote a detailed account of the life of a British merchant in . His diary is not only inspirational to all those who study history, but it is vital in our un- derstanding of life of colonial migrants living in Asia during the nineteenth century.
     Attention to this overlooked aspect of British history in is important because it explains the turning point in British relations to local communities. The fact that some of the British merchants remained in during the conflict—albeit not by their own choice, had an enormous impact on the perception of the British community in the eyes of the local Taiwanese.
      This book not only provides the diary written by John Dodd but also gives an outline account of the events that led to the Sino-French War. Furthermore, this book unravels the mystery surrounding Dodd’s life before and after and the impact he had on ’s local industries.