486 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITEllATURK. 



to which the heads of the young men are not shaved. Strange to say, the 

 will of the king is as necessary for the adoption of either of these badges as in 

 any other of his despotic acts, a whole regiment being sometimes ordered at 

 once to adopt the ring. 



"That there is some tradition associated with this peculiar costume I have 

 little doubt, but could never obtain a further reply to my frequent enquiries 

 on the subject than that it was an ancient custom which, I believe, originated 

 with this nation, though it has been adopted by many others. The method 

 of putting it on is thus described : — A piece of rush, cut and smoothed to the 

 proper size and length, is closely twisted round with sinew, and formed into 

 a circle by uniting the ends ; with sinew it is then sewn to the roots of the 

 hair, which in every other part, even within the circle, is entirely removed, 

 and the ring thus closely fitted on the scalp, and blackenedover with the black 

 wax of a honeycomb, is completed. 



"Being composed of several tribes and conquered nations, a great difference 

 of complexion is perceptible among the Zoolus ; some few are nearly as light 

 a copper colour as the bushmen on the borders of the colony, but a dark cho- 

 colate is the prevailing shade, though others, especially from the neighbour- 

 hood of De la Goa Bay, are jet black. Dingarn himself is nearly so. The 

 generality of the men are of the middle size, light, active, and well-propor- 

 tioned; they are excellent wplkers, and will almost compete with the Syces of 

 India in running. Although far from cleanly, crawling into their houses upon 

 their bare knees, and accustomed to tread about with unconcern in all 

 the filth of the cattle-fold, both men and women are fond of bathing, for 

 which purpose they generally repair to the nearest stream once a day, and 

 after first smearing themselves over with blue clay, if it can be procured, by 

 way of soap, return greatly embellished by the operation. 



" The war dress consists of a thick, full kilt, composed of cats' tails, descend- 

 ing nearly to the knee, the shoulders and upper part of the body are decorated 

 with the long hair of ox tails, and the head is protected by an otter skin cap ; 

 the whole has a very martial appearance. The common tails worn at other 

 times, a few in front, and some longer and more widely apart behind, are 

 strips of wild cat and monkey skins, and worn with the fur outside." 



The volume is copiously illustrated with plates and maps, which greatly 

 enhance its value. They are executed in lithography, and are certainly 

 among the greatest triumphs of that useful art which have come under our 

 notice. 



The Encyclopeedia Britannica. PartLXXII. Edinburgh: Adam & 

 Charles Black. 



This valuable work proceeds -with unabated vigour. It is now about half 

 completed. When it has reached a close, it will constitute one of the greatest 

 literary achievements of modern times. Every successive part bears testi- 

 mony to the careful editorial supervision to which the work is subjected. 



The History and Antiquities of the Round Church at Little Mapple- 

 stead, Essex. By William Wallam, F.S.A. John Weall. 



This is one of the many books whose titles are, to a great extent, mis- 

 nomers. Only a comparatively small portion of the work is occupied with 

 the Round Church at Little Mapplestead ; the far greater part of it is devoted 

 to an account of the Crusades in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. We do 

 not like this practice of giving us one subject under the name of another. Mr. 

 Wallam's reason for the course he has pursued he states to the circumstance of 

 the Round Church at Little Mapplestead having been built by the Knights 

 Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, who took so prominent a part in the 



