Nov. i8, 1875] 



NATURE 



43 



evidently been done. We have examined carefully 

 a large number of the articles, and of course the scien- 

 tific ones especially, and considering the purpose and 

 plan of the work, there is really very little room for criti- 

 cism. All the scientific articles have evidently been 

 written by men who have special knowledge of their sub- 

 jects, and as a rule are masterly specimens of condensa- 

 tion, clear statement, and wonderful fulness of information. 

 Such names of contributors as Tait, Deutsch, Alex. Bain, 

 Alex. Buchan, Goldstiicker, Dr. G. E. Day, Keith Johnston, 

 Dr. Birch, Pengelly, Francis Francis, and many others, are 

 guarantees that in all the principal departments thoroughly 

 competent men have been secured to write. But while with 

 such contributors the quality of the information was bound 

 to be up to the mark, the Encyclopaedia would have suffered 

 much in other respects without a thoroughly competent 

 organising head. It is, no doubt, mainly due to Dr. Findlater 

 that uniformity and due proportion have been secured, and 

 that throughout perfect clearness has been maintained. 

 His singular adaptation to fill the post of editor of such a 

 work has largely contributed to its success. 



But it is not only in the larger and more important 

 articles that accuracy and care are apparent ; even in 

 the case of unimportant towns which may occupy 

 only three or four lines, the information may be 

 depended on, and in the case of British towns at least? 

 was obtained, we believe, in almost every instance 

 at first hand from some one on the spot. But down to 

 the minutest details throughout the work constant and 

 thoroughly intelligent and competent editorial care is 

 evident, and if the Messrs. Chambers are careful to keep 

 their work up to date, and bring out new editions at the 

 proper times, they need hardly fear a rival. 



The edition which lies before us is not strictly a new, but 

 a revised edition ; the work has not been reset, and but little 

 increase has been made in the number of articles. We 

 have, however, taken pains to compare some of the prin- 

 cipal scientific articles in the new edition with the corre- 

 sponding ones in the old, and in every case, where it has 

 been really necessary for such a work, a competent 

 revising hand is evident. "Chemistry," for example 

 which was first written twelve years ago, has been brought 

 fairly up to date, and, as chemists know, this implies a 

 great deal. By a few additional sentences in "Astronomy," 

 the direction of the most striking recent researches is 

 indicated ; so in " Meteorology " and other articles. 

 Indeed, it is quite evident that the work has been subjected 

 to a thorough revision, and that considerable alterations 

 have been effected, quite sufficient to keep the work fresh 

 until a completely new edition is called for : not a^few 

 of the articles have been entirely re-written. The illus- 

 trations are copious and, in the main, accurate and well- 

 draT,\Ti, and there is an excellent selection of maps. 



Of course there are points in the work that are open to 

 criticism ; some subjects may seem inadequately treated, 

 and others at too great length, and evidences of 

 local bias are occasionally apparent, while there is a 

 tendency in many of the biographical articles, to 

 ambitious writing and the "higher criticism," which are a 

 little out of place in a staid book of reference. But these 

 are matters of comparatively small importance, in which 

 Dr. Findlater is probably a much better judge than we. 

 Of the sterling merits of the work throu - bout there can 



be no mistake, and it will long remain a monument cf 

 Messrs. Chambers's enterprise and public spirit, and of Dr. 

 Findlater's practical skill, judiciousnes,s and power of 

 organisation., not to say wide and accurate knowledge. 

 Not its least merit is that, like all Messrs. Chambers's serial 

 works, it was issued in weekly numbers at three-halfpence, 

 and we would advise all who can spare the pittance to be- 

 come possessed of this " golden treasury " of knowledge. 



EGYPT AND THE NILE 

 Four Thoiisa7id Miles of A/rica?i Travel: a Personal 

 Record of a Journey up tJie Nile ana through the 

 Soudan to the Confines oj Central Africa. By Alvan 

 S. Southworth, Secretary of the American Geographi- 

 cal Society. (New York : Baker, Pratt, and Co. 

 London : Sampson Low and Co., 1875.) 



MR. SOUTHWORTH, we may at once state, has 

 broken no new ground ; he has simply followed what 

 3J"B now considered beaten paths, although fifteen years 

 ago there would have been few European footprints on 

 the route ; nevertheless, Mr. Southworth has gathered 

 much useful information. This is given to the public in 

 an agreeable form, with a tinge of American humour in 

 some descriptions that breaks the usual monotony of a 

 book of travels. 



It appears that the author's love of adventure prompted 

 him to visit the Soudan in the hope of following and 

 eventually joining the expedition imder the command of 

 Sir Samuel Baker, in Central Africa. In Chapter III., 

 "The Start for the Soudan," he writes : — "Alarming 

 rumours of the death of Sir Samuel Baker and his whole 

 party had been freely circulated in Cairo." ..." Such a 

 great undertaking as the Baker expedition was regarded 

 by many of the finest minds in Egypt as too gigantic to 

 move successfully among the unknown wastes of Ethiopia. 

 In the first place, it is taking an army into a country foul 

 with the unhealthiest malarias, and charred to desert 

 sands by the fiercest of African suns." ..." Therefore, 

 when news came from Khartoum that Sir Samuel Baker 

 was in distress at some point of the Nile Basin, I pre- 

 pared to go to the Soudan in order to investigate his 

 position and condition." With this object Mr. South- 

 worth started from Cairo in company with two American 

 officers, Generals Starring and Butler, and after a winter 

 journey through the Korosko Desert, the party arrived in 

 Khartoum on the 6th of February. 



Chapter XI. wUl well repay perusal by those who take 

 a desponding view of Egypt's future. The description 

 given of the extreme fertility and boundless resources of 

 the Soudan may be to a certain extent overdrawn ; but 

 even with the deduction of fifty per cent, the value of the 

 country remains enormous. At the period of Mr. South- 

 worth's visit to Khartoum, Moomtaz Pacha was the new 

 Govern or- General of the Soudan, a Circassian of great 

 energ}"^, who was determined to develop the cotton-pro- 

 ducing powers of his almost boimdless territory. Unfor- 

 tunately he had forgotten that a necessary step pre- 

 liminary to cultivation was a railway from Cairo, as no 

 means of transport existed beyond the limited con- 

 veyance by camels. " Tell the American people," said 

 the Governor- General of the Soudan to Mr. Southworth, 

 " that I have found a new America in the heart of Africa." 



