BOOK NO TICES. 579 
Aboriginal American Authors: By Daniel G. Brinton, A. M., M. D. Oc- 
tavo, pp. 6^. Philadelphia, 1883; Boards $1.00, 
This is a novel contribution to the history of literature, being an extended 
review of the literary efforts of the red race in their own tongues and in other 
languages — English, Latin and Spanish. The work is founded on an address pre- 
sented to the Congress of Americanists at Copenhagen in 1883, and will be found 
of most decided interest to ethnologists, linguists and historians. Beginning with 
an exposition of the literary faculty in the native mind, Dr. Brinton divides hi& 
subject into narrative literature, didactic literature, oratorical literature, poetical 
literature and dramatic literature, giving under each head accounts of native 
authors and their works that are calculated to arouse the interest of the reader in 
the subject and in many instances excite his surprise at the ability, talent and 
versatility displayed. He refers especially to the literary efforts of the Esqui- 
maux, the Delawares, the Iroquois, the Creeks and Cherokees, the Aztecs, the 
Maya tribes, the Peruvians, etc., and points out many marked instances of skilled 
narrative, oratorical and dramatic writing by natives of various nations and 
tribes. 
Dr. Brinton, who has published and is now publishing several works upon 
kindred subjects viz.: the Maya Chronicles, the Iroquois Book of Rites, the Com- 
edy Ballet of Gueguence, American Hero Myths, etc., aims in this work to 
engage the interest of scholarly men, learned societies, enlightened governments 
and hberal institutions and persons of the United States, particularly, in the coL 
lection, preservation and publication of such monuments of the Nation's literature. 
He should not plead in vain. 
Round About Rio: By Frank D. Y. Carpenter. 8vo., pp. 415. Jansen,. 
McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1884. For sale by M. H. Dickinson; $2.00. 
To write a book of travels and combine in it accuracy of scientific observa- 
tion and piquancy of description, and at the same time maintain in it a love 
story, is rather an unusual undertaking and one to be regarded as comprising, 
some of the incompatibles ; but all this has been done by Mr. Carpenter, who, 
likewise, throws in many dashes of sarcastic wit at the peculiar customs of the 
people he describes. 
Mr. Carpenter held for several years the position of geographer of the Geo- 
logical Survey of Brazil, and under these peculiarly favorable conditions he 
acquired the material which, returning to America, he has made the basis of his 
book. Valuable as is the work for its information, it owes still more to its liter- 
ary treatment. The author's studies of Brazilian life and manners, and his method 
of presenting them, are unique, and his book occupies a place quite its own 
among works of travel. It has but little of dry narration and sober details of 
general information; and yet, with all its vivacity and variety, it is doubtful if 
there is anywhere to be found so good a picture of life and scenes in and about 
the great metropolis of the Southern Hemisphere — Rio de Janeiro. The obser- 
