

Nov. 3, 1870] 

the labour of removing the interior part of the handle must 
have been very great. and the work exceedingly tedious. 
Even with European tools it would have been a difficult 
_ piece of workmanship, and the difficulty is greatly en- 
] 
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b 
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: 
; 
4 
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the work for themselves. 
word of praise for the illustrations, which are extremely 
numerous, whilst maay are original, and drawn from 
‘implements in Mr. Wood’s own collection. We miss an 
hanced by the fact that the native who carved it had 
nothing but a sharp stone or a shark’s tooth lashed to a 
handle by way of a knife, The head of the adze is made 
of stone, and is lashed to the handle in a way exactly like 
that which is employed by the New Zealanders, except 
that it is far more elaborate. Asif desirous of giving him- 
self as much trouble as possible, the maker has employed 
the finest possible sinnet, not wider than packthread, and 
quite flat. It is laid on as regularly as if wound by 
machinery, and the native artist has contrived to produce 
-the most extraordinary effects with it, throwing the various 
portions into a simulated perspective, and making the 
a 

THE MANGAIAN ADZE 
lashing look as if there were four distinct layers one above 
_ the other.” 
We wish we had space to give the account of the 
activity of the Monkey Men of New Guinea; of the 
manipulative skill of the canoe-builders of Fiji, of the 
Zarabatana with their blow-gun, of the New Caledonian 
with his sling and javelin, of the extraordinary and cruel 
rites of the Mandans in the initiation of their youth into 
manhood, of the cruelty of the Tongans, and a hundred 
other details of interest ; but our readers must refer to 
We cannot conclude without a 
index. H, Power 
NATURE 


3 
NOTES 
In stating that we believe that the English Eclipse Expedit’on 
is now finally arranged, it is due to the Government to add, and 
we do so with the greatest pleasure, that it is now quite clear 
that only a small part of the blame, which certainly attaches to 
some one, can be laid at their doors. In fact, explanations 
certainly are due from those who have had the management of 
the now famous Joint Committee. It appears that a depu- 
tation was named, and accepted the trust of representing the 
requirements of Science to the First Lord of the Treasury, which 
trust they neither fulfilled nor handed back to the Committee 
in order that another deputation might be appointed. We next 
hear of a letter written to the wrong Government department; 
and last of all, we are informed that the letters of the Govern- 
ment department —the last, we believe, written not Jater than 
the beginning of September—stating, among other things, that 
an application should be made in October, when the possibility 
of granting ships could be better discussed—have not yet been 
brought before the Joint Committee, which has just been sum- 
moned by the Secretary for the 4th of November, that is, to- 
morrow. It is not for 
but it is our clear duty 
matter will be taken up. 
us to censure such conduct as this, 
to point it out, and we hope the 
In spite of this mismanagement, 
however, hear that the Government are prepared to 
aid both by money and ships when an application shall be 
made, and we cannot doubt that application will be made. 
There is still ample time to organise an expedition which shall 
do much good work, though perhaps it is too late to send out 
and erect the largest class of instruments. Large instruments, 
however, will be in the hands of the members of the American 
Government Expedition, so that this is the less to be regretted. 
we 
We have great pleasure in announcing that Prof. Wyville 
Thomson. F,R.S., has been appointed by the Crown successor 
to Prof. Allman in the chair of Natural History in the University 
of Edinburgh. A vacancy is thus caused in the chair of Natural 
History at Queen’s College, Belfast, for which we understand 
there are already many candidates. 
Tne difficulty of providing funds for the establishment of ‘a 
Professorship of Physical Science in the Univers'ty of Cambridge 
has been overcome by the colleges, at a meeting of their heads, 
taking upon themselves a quota of the rates for improvements 
and other purposes in the town of Cambridge, which was 
formerly charged uvon the University funds. This sum amounts 
roughly to more than twelve hundred pounds per annum ; so that 
the University will speedily be able to avail itself of the munifi- 
cent offer of the Duke of Devonshire, and will doubtless proceed 
at oace to establish a Professorship of Physical Science, and 
obtain the other aids in the way of laboratory, apparatus, and 
assistants, that the Professor may require, 
TuE following notices of lectures this term in Cambridge show 
that there is great increase of activity in teaching the various 
branches of Natural Science in that university. Professcr \Liveing 
gives a course of lectures on the ‘‘ Experimental Laws of Heat,” 
| and also gives instruction in practical chemi-try in the University 
Laboratory three days in the week. Professor Humphry gives 
a course on ‘* Practical Anatomy,” also a course on “* Anatomy 
and Physiology,”’ and connects with these a ‘* Microscopical De- 
monstration” once a fortnight, and instruction in ‘* Practica? 
Histology ” once a week. Professor Newton gives a course on 
“*Zoology-and Comparative Anatomy.” Professor Willis pives a 
course on ‘*Mechanics and Mechanism,” and their application 
to “‘ Manufacturing Procesges” and the ‘‘ Steam-engine.” Pro- 
fessor Miller gives a course on “ Elementary Crystallography and 
Weighing.” Professor Sedgwick gives a course on ‘‘ Geology.” 
In Downing College, Dr. Bradbury lectures on ** Comparative 
Anatomy,” and Mr. Danby on ‘‘Geology.” In Trinity, Mr. 
