Arehaia. 493 



It represents too that order of progression from lower to higher 

 conditions of the world, and of its tribes of organic life. These 

 things lay quite beyond the reach of early human knowledge and 

 the precision with which they are stated indicates that the narra- 

 tive is vastly more than guesses at truth or anticipations of natural 

 science. 



The view which we have thus taken of scriptural cosmogony is 

 that to which the learned writings of Kurtz has led the way — it 

 is that, too, which in some of its features has been so grandly 

 stated by Hugh Miller in his " Testimony of the Rocks." In 

 some of its details it agrees with the views of Sime in his little work 

 entitled " The Mosaic Record in harmony with the Geological." 

 Whatever aid has been derived from these and other works, we 

 have yet in our criticism followed an independent line of investi- 

 gation, and presented views both of the text and of geology, 

 which to us are somewhat new. 



Space will not permit us further to enlarge on the other topics 

 of deep interest to be found in " Arehaia." We can only say that 

 the second part of the book which treats of the unity of the 

 human race and ably discusses the difficult questions which it 

 involves, is worthy of attentive perusal. In this department our 

 author is rather in advance of the naturalists of the present 

 period. His treatment of the whole subject exhibits a ripeness 

 of thought, clearness and acuteness of perception together with a 

 sobriety of judgment, not often to be found in writers upon the 

 discursive topics of ethnology. To those who wish to become 

 acquainted with the present condition of ethnological science, 

 we can recommend nothing better than the chapters which pertain 

 to it in Dr. Dawson's book. 



We cannot but commend the publishers for the enterprise and 

 spirit which they manifest in the publication of this volume. It 

 is well got up, and if not quite so good as can be produced in Eng- 

 and, it is yet equal to anything of the kind on this continent. 

 It can be read with comfort, and altogether it is a handsome 

 book. We trust that the reading public will show their appreci- 

 ation of this native production — it is all Canadian — by the speedy 

 purchase of the entire edition. 



A. F. K. 



