212 



♦ KNO^ATLEDGE ♦ 



[July 1, 1887. 



is, the rough ajjprenticeship ^vhich he had served in explora- 

 tions of the great continent led to his selection as head of 

 the Geographical Societ}''s expedition to the land of the 

 ferocious Masai, and well did he justify the choice. The 

 story is one of unHagging interest and excitement, told with 

 manly simplicity, and with touches of humour which once 

 more belie Sydney Smith's charge of its absence in Scotch- 

 men. How Mr. Thomson, at starting, could hire only a 

 scratch crew, made up of the scum and riff-raff of Zanzibar, 

 which he converted by his firmness and tact into loyal and 

 decent men ; how that same tact carried him along his 

 perilous route, .save when buffaloes gored and tossed him, 

 and fever brought him to death's door ; how he had to play 

 the part of medicine-man, and with the aid of saliva, false 

 teeth, Eno's fruit salt, and theodolite, work wonders in 

 bringing rain, healing cattle, and other marvels of a 

 character which we must leave our readers to learn for 

 themselves, are all told in a book brimful of good things for 

 the general reader, and of valuable notes on the manners, 

 customs, and vague beliefs of the Masai for the anthi-opo- 

 logist. 



Social History of the Races of Mankind, Papuo- and 

 Malaj/o-Mf'.lanesians. By A. Featherman. (Triibner & 

 Co.) — This closely-packed volume is as difficult to review as 

 an encyclopaedia. Dealing with the physical environment 

 and character, the modes of life, dress or the absence of it, 

 enjoyment, business, food, dwellings, government, language, 

 birth, wedding and death customs, superstitions, legends 

 (though too sparsely), and religions of two branches of the 

 great Melanesian stock, embracing many grades of culture, 

 from the savage Papuan to the more important and 

 advanced people of Malay proper, it is essentially a working 

 and, on the whole, an excellent vade ineciim for the 

 sociologist. In the enormous mass of detail, gathered and 

 deftly woven together from numerous authorities duly 

 scheduled at the end of each section, no microscope is needed 

 to see that the author does not always seem awake to the 

 significance of isolated facts ; but we wonder that no refer- 

 ence should be made to the totem-signs and names of 

 various members of the groups as indicative of belief in 

 animal ancestry. Mr. Featherman is ill-advised in giving 

 some reviewer of his former book occasion to blaspheme by 

 the long preface which has only indirect relation to the 

 subject-matter of the volume. We respect his independent 

 exercise of judgment in treating of the inti'icate prolslem of 

 geographical distribution, but his arguments in support of 

 various originating centres ignore much that has come to 

 light in further support of Sir. Wallace's theory since its 

 first enunciation. 



The Geolofjy of England and Wales. By H. B. Wood- 

 ward. (G. Philip it Son.) — This new edition of Mr. 

 Woodward's work is wanted. The book has deservedly 

 taken its ])lace as the standard authority on English and 

 Welsh geology, especially for practical application by 

 engineers and others engaged in mechanical industries by 

 virtue of its ample references to the principal localities where 

 the several formations may be studied, and its consequent 

 interpretation of the maps of the Geological Survey. It is 

 copiously illustrated with figures of sections and accompanied 

 by a good geological map in loose pocket. 



The Blood Covenant : a Primitive Bite and its Bearings 

 on Scripture. By H. Clay Trumbull, D.D. (George 

 Eedway.) — This book is by an American divine who starts 

 with the intention, which of course is fulfilled, to make the 

 facts square with certain Christian dogmas. He has col- 

 lected from various ancient and modern sources a number 

 of interesting references to the widespread rite of inter- 

 transfusion or mutual tasting of blood as imparting a sacred 



and binding character to covenants between individuals or 

 tribes, and it is not difficult to see how the early identifica- 

 tion of blood with life would lead to its symbolical use in 

 the relations of man with gods and with his fellow-man. 

 But of course so simple an explanation suffices not for 

 theologians, who regard all barbaric rites and ceremonies as 

 distorted vestiges of a pure original revelation, and hence 

 Dr. Trumbull sees in the blood- covenant an obscured ante- 

 type of the communion which Jesus has established with all 

 believers in the drinking of his blood, symbolised by the 

 wine of the Eucharist. Except for its facts, therefore, which 

 are honestly cited, the book is valueless. 



The Metal Turner's Handijhooh. By Paul N. Hasluck, 

 A.I.M.E. (London : Crosby Lockwood &. Co. 1887.) — 

 The reputation gained by Mr. Hasluck by his now familiar 

 book, " Lathe Work," is sustained in the smaller volume 

 before us, in which within the compass of 140 pages he 

 contrives to impart a very consideraljle amount of informa- 

 tion on the subject of metal-turning. In his description of 

 the various types of lathe and accessory apparatus, he ap- 

 pends in each case the price at which the things described 

 are purchaseable ; but as he ranges over the forms con- 

 structed by a considerable number of makers, this innovation 

 can scai'cely be said to assume the form of advertising. Cer- 

 tainly it will be found useful by the beginner possessing a 

 definite knowledge of his own pecuniary means, but hazy 

 and uncertain as to what is procurable with them. The 

 illustrations are numerous and excellent, there is a good 

 index, and, in short, the beginner in metal-turning will find 

 this a trustworthy guide to a recreation at once serviceable 

 and pleasant. 



Notchooh on Plane Geometrical Braiviiir/. By Robert 

 Harris. (London : Hamilton, Adams, & (Jo. 1886.) — This 

 work may be confidently recommended to all who wish to 

 master the technicalities of geometrical drawing; its author's 

 ob\'iously intimate personal acquaintance with his subject 

 enaljling liim to simplify his explanatory text so as to render 

 it easily apprehensible by the beginner. His chapter 

 " Concerning Scales " is particularly good ; while that on 

 " Ciraphie Arithmetic and Statics" will open a wholly new 

 world of investigation to a good many of his readers. But 

 why will he say (p. Ill9) "The double .accent (") signifies 

 inches " 1 It does not signify inches, any more than " £ " 

 or " cwt." signify inches. It signifies seconds of arc and 

 nothing in the world else ; and every one who has the 

 purity and definite connotation of scientific terminology at 

 heart is bound to protect with all his might against the 

 perpetuation of such a solecism as is contained in the 

 sentence we have quoted. 



Iron Bridges of Moderate Span, their Construction and 

 Erection. By Hamilton Weldon Pendred. (London : 

 Crosby Lockwood & Co. 1887.) — Intended as an instruc- 

 tion book for the practical constructor of iron bridges of some 

 140 or 1.50 feet span, we can only regard Mr. Pendred's 

 little volume as the very model of what such a work should 

 be. The formula; more or less recondite with which modern 

 works on engineering are so largely occupied find no place 

 in his pages, and the working student who opens them in 

 fear that they will be found to swarm and pullulate with 

 equations for the estimation of thrusts and strains will find 

 to his delight that nothing of the sort appears between its 

 two covers. Written by a man quite obviously personally 

 familiar with the minutest details of the operations and 

 materials he describes, this book contains just the kind and 

 amount of information needed to en.able its readers them- 

 selves to repeat what is so very clearly expl.ained. The work 

 is a credit to " Weale's Series." If we knew of any higher 

 pi-aise, we would be.'^tow it. 



