February io, 19 i6] 



NATURE 



651 



ticularly to the Barr and Stroud type. A full descrip- 

 tion of Service instruments may be found in the 

 • Handbook of Artillery Instruments," 1914 (Wyman 

 and Sons, price \s. 6d.). 



Reflection of light from plane surfaces. Reflecting 

 prisms. Bending of a ray of light by prism. Lenses, 

 positive and negative. The mekometer. Full descrip^r 

 tion of Barr and Stroud range finder. Time required, 

 about three hours. 



Explosives. 



In general, it will be found advisable to restrict the 

 teaching of this subject to officers, the treatment being 

 decided by the time available and the previous chemical 

 knowledge possessed by the class. The common ex- 

 plosive compounds and mixtures may be dealt with, 

 stress being laid on the precautions to be taken in 

 handling. The Service "Text-Book of Explosives" 

 may. be consulted, but can no longer be regarded as 

 up to date. Be- 

 yond imparting 

 general ideas 

 and useful hints, 

 this subject is 

 too specialised 

 for the average 

 teacher to under- 

 take to advan- 

 tage. 



It is hoped 

 that the above 

 hints will prove 

 of service to the 

 numerous cor- 

 respondents who 

 wrote me con- 

 cern ing my 

 letter in Nature 

 for January 20, 

 to whom I have 

 not been able to 

 reply individu- 

 al ly. The 

 syllabus may be 

 amplified at the 

 discretion of the 

 teacher if time 

 permits. What 

 is here given 

 is the minimum 



an excellent summary of the political history of 

 the Territory, which began with a jealous scramble 

 between South .Australia and Queensland, who 

 were inspired by blind lust for acres; it records 

 the slow disillusioijment of the successful claim- 

 ant, the transfer of the country to the Common- 

 wealth, and the attempts now in progress to dis- 

 cover its possibilities and determine the best 

 methods of developing them. 



The author indicates the chief questions which 

 the country is putting to its administrators, but 

 does not answer them. She is doubtful whether 

 the aborigines can be saved from extinction, and 

 bears emphatic testimony to their amiability and 

 intelligence. 



"The quickness of the average native is a surprise 

 to those who have ahvavs heard that the Australian 



.N.ative paintings on a rock near the Alligator River. From " An Uni 



information that should be imparted. 



Chas. R. Darling. 

 City and Guilds Technical College, Finsbury, E.C. 



A LAND OF DILEMMA A 



THE most perplexing Australian problem is 

 that of the Northern Territory, and all in- 

 terested in the present efforts to solve it will wel- 

 come Miss Masson's interesting sketches of that 

 vast land of dilemmas. The book deals with 

 various phases of life and work in the Northern 

 Territory, and records the impression of a keen 

 and sympathetic observer who had unusual oppor- 

 tunities *for insight into its present condition and 

 prospects. The work owes part of its charm to 

 its graphic expression of the attractiveness of the 

 country and the author's friendly sympathy with 

 all classes of its people. The first chapter gives 



1 " An Untamed Territory. The Northern Territory of Australi*." By 

 Elsie R. Masson. Pp. xii + i8i. (London : Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1915) 

 Price ds. 



aboriginal belongs to one of the lowest races extant. 

 The blackfellow's mind is that of an absolutely 

 uneducated, intelligent child. He has the sarne acute- 

 ness of observation, the same power of mimicry, the 

 same irresponsible nature, the same unerring sense of 

 justice that tells him whether he is being fairly treated 

 or no. He is as unhesitating in his likes and dis- 

 likes, as difficult to compel, as easy to persua-'e" 

 (P- 154)- 



Miss Masson explains that the demoralisation 

 of the blackfellows has been due to the Chinese, 

 and gives an illuminating account of the trial of 

 some blacks for the murder of a white trader. 

 Of the guilt of the accused there was no real 

 doubt, but the court obviously gave them every 

 advantage; some of them, though clearly guilty, 

 were acquitted owing to a technical lack of evi- 

 dence, inevitable when legal processes evolved 

 in the Old Bailey are adopted in untamed bush. 

 The death sentence on those convicted was altered 

 to imprisonment for life in the luxurious security 

 of the Darw in jail. The account of the trial leaves 



NO. 2415, VOL. 96] 



