A'GRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 125 



the new generation, will do both themselves ;ni(l the country 

 service ijy ac((nirin,!^- Intel li^'cnt comprehensicn of the principles 

 on which the agricultural bacteriological methods described by 

 Professor Lohnis are founded. 



The Psychic Life of the Thong a Tribe.— On 



page 175 of the previous volume reference was made to the Rev. 

 H. A. Jnnod's book on " Social Life amongst the Tlionga people." 

 A second volume, having for its main subject the psychic life of 

 the same tribe, has now been published. This book, like its 

 predecessor, is divided into three sections, one of which deals 

 with agriculture and industries amongst the Thonga. and the 

 second with the tribe's literary and artistic life. Thc>.;- two 

 sections occupy the first half of the book, tlie remainder being 

 devoted to Thonga religion and superstitions. These three 

 heads, however, scarcely afford an idea of the comi:)lexity of the 

 tribal life as delineated by M. Jnnod with an ability that carries 

 conviction as to his right to speak authoritativelv. The wealth of 

 detail in which the work abounds, combined with its comprehen- 

 sive width of range, together constitute a striking testimonv to 

 the author's large and almost unique exi)erience of Thonga 

 customs, and to the ethnographic value of the facts recorded by 

 him. Those facts are marshalled in the manner characteristic 

 of the scientist who recounts the results of his exhaustive studies. 

 The section of the liook dealing with Thonga agriculture naturally 

 divides up into two chai)ters. The first of these, beginning with 

 a brief description of the soil, and of Thonga customs in regard 

 to land tenure, passes on to the subject of grain, vegetable and 

 fruit culture, and general agricultural practice. The author 

 wisely disclaims the idea of a sharp demarcation of what he 

 calls the i^sychic life, seeing that grain-threshing and horticulture 

 have each their distinctive taboos. Such a taboo, for instance, 

 is connected with the planting of new or foreign trees, including 

 mangoes, oranges, etc. Other aspects of Thonga agriculture 

 discussed — with regard to which the author contributes a great 

 store of information — are the preparation of foodstuffs, the 

 breeding of stock, the chase, and the piscatorial art. A few 

 pages on alcoholism and its concomitant vices are also inter- 

 posed, and then one becomes interested to learn that, amongst 

 the culinary dainties of the Thonga. caterpillars, locusts, and 

 white ants are universally appreciated. The features of Thonga 

 industries described include costume, dwelling-places, and 

 various small appliances, such as pottery-ware, basket-work. 

 carved wooden utensils, and metal-work. The author i^roceeds 

 to introduce his readers to the niceties of the Thonga grammar, 

 and this, after a brief excursus on the^Jribe's literarv faculties, 

 leads on to a chapter on the proverbs, riddles, and enigmas of 

 the Thonga. The reader next makes acquaintance with Thonga 



