592 



NATURE 



[July 8, 1920 



numerous cedar woods. There is also a complete set 

 of exhibits demonstrating the various uses to which 

 timbers are put, as floors, panelling, veneers, ply- 

 wood, furniture, and articles of everyday use. Many 

 decorative exhibits are of great interest. The pre- 

 paration of jjaper-pulp from bamboos is also shown. 

 An exhaustive catalogue of the exhibits has been pre- 

 pared. This gives both the botanical and trade names, 

 the countries of origin, and names of shippers and 

 importers. Each wood is fully described as regards 

 its general characteristics, tension strength, and other 

 useful data. The information in the catalogue has 

 been compiled by the various Forest Departments of 

 the Empire, and has a scientific as well as a com- 

 mercial value. 



The half-yearly report of the Department of Civil 

 Aviation on the progress of civil aviation from 

 October, 19 19, to March, 1920, contains many 

 features of general interest. A very detailed survey 

 of the results which have been achieved is given 

 with regard to activities both in the British 

 Empire and in foreign countries. Tabulated figures 

 concerning the operation of air services between 

 England and the Continent show that a slow 

 but definite progress has been made. The importance 

 of the International Air Convention is emphasised, 

 and it is satisfactory to note that this Convention 

 has now been signed by all the Allied Powers. The 

 record of activities in foreign countries shows that 

 many attempts are being made to develop commercial 

 flying for both inland and international trade. France 

 and Italy show the most promising results, and both 

 are making efforts to exploit the possibilities of com- 

 mercial aviation in Asia and South America. In late 

 enemy countries many aviation companies have been 

 formed to develop commercial flying, but no actual 

 results have yet been achieved owing to the economic 

 conditions prevailing. The first paragraph of the con- 

 clusion of the report is worthy of quotation as an apt 

 summary of the present position. The Controller- 

 General says: — "The discovery of a new method of 

 increasing the speed of inter-communication has in 

 the past generally indicated a fresh step in the march 

 of civilisation. In aviation a means of transport has 

 been obtained twice as fast as any other previously 

 existing. The majority of countries which are im- 

 bued with the spirit of progress appear to realise 

 that the future of aviation cannot be neglected, and 

 by various methods, such as the creation of aviation 

 departments, research, subsidies, and the conduct of 

 experimental services, are striving to adapt aviation 

 to commerce." Progress may be somewhat slow 

 under the unsettled conditions which now prevail 

 throughout the world, but there is little doubt that as 

 the general economic situation improves, so will the 

 advance of civil aviation become more rapid. 



In 19 10 Dr. W. Max Miiller was enabled, through 

 the liberality of the Carnegie Institution of Washing- 

 ton, to visit the doomed island of Philae, and to glean 

 the epigraphic material left by the Berlin expedition. 

 His immediate purpose was the decipherment of the 

 famous bilingual inscriptions engraved on the walls 

 of the large court between the first and the second 

 NO. 2645, VOL. 105] 



pylons. This was exceedingly difficult, as the small, 

 shallow-engraved signs become distinctly visible only 

 during the short time of the day when they receive 

 strong light. The Carnegie Institution has now pub- 

 lished in a suitable style the result of Dr. Max 

 Miiller 's labours. He give? complete facsimiles, 

 transliterations, and translations of the inscriptions, 

 and a learned introduction adequately reviews the 

 historical information thus collected. The work is in 

 every way creditable to the learned explorer and the 

 Carnegie Institution. 



In the University of California Publications in 

 American Archaeology and Ethnology (vol, xvi.. No. 6) 

 Miss Lucile Hooper gives a valuable account of 

 Shamanism among the Cahuilla Indians, one of the 

 largest surviving tribes in Southern California, At 

 one of their fiestas or annual rites the Shaman first, 

 took a dark substance from his breast; then "he 

 reached into the fire with his foot and kicked out a 

 few coals. One of these he picked up ; it was about 

 the size of a dollar He immediately put it into his 

 mouth. I was only a few feet away, and one of the 

 sparks from his mouth, as he blew, fell on my hand, 

 so I can testify that they were hot. The glow from 

 the coal could be seen on the roof of his mouth. He 

 swallowed it in about a minute. He swallowed three 

 coals in this way." The dancing and singing are 

 part of the rite. One man intended to eat the coals, 

 "but his song had not gone right; he had forgotten 

 part of it, no doubt due to some disturbing influence 

 among those watching, or perhaps because of some 

 spirit preventing his success. Since his song did not 

 go right, he could do nothing." Other marvels of a 

 similar kind are reported. " Another man saw a dove 

 walking around ; he raised his hands and clapped them 

 together. The dove dropped as though dead, and 

 blood flowed from its mouth. He then picked it up, 

 threw it into the air, and it flew off as though nothing 

 had happened." The report includes a full account 

 of the religious and domestic rites practised by the 

 tribe. Their pottery, which was of an interesting 

 type, has now disappeared with the use of manufac-' 

 tured articles. 



.^N interesting report, by Mr. R. S. White, on an 

 outbreak of pellagra amongst Armenian refugees at 

 Port Said during 1916-17 has been published (Reports 

 and Notes of the Public Health Laboratories, Cairo, 

 No. 2, 1919). Much controversy has occurred with 

 regard to the nature of this disease. In the outbreak 

 in question the weight of evidence points entirely to 

 a faulty diet as the causal factor, and the disease was 

 eradicated from the camp by correcting this, all other 

 conditions remaining the same. The diet at the 

 time had an energy-value of about 2000 Calories only, 

 which is very low, the protein amounting to but 

 46-48 grams, of which some 90 per cent, was derived 

 from vegetable sources and was of low biological 

 value. Maize had no direct causal relation to the 

 disease. No protozoan or bacterial cause was dis- 

 covered, nor could any connection with biting insects 

 be found. The results of the inquiry are in accord- 

 ance with the findings of Goldberger in the United 

 States. 



