REVIEWS. 
71 
beside them were the upper parts of four well-preserved earth-huts be- 
longing to the natives. These were remarkable even in the distance b} 7 a 
small crater, edged with a circle of stones Upon coming nearer 
square open holes were to be seen, half in the earth, built over with strong 
stone walls, from which a massive underground passage led into the open 
air.” Then follows a minute account of “ those curious huts, which certainty 
lead us to class them as an exceedingly primitive style of dwelling. The 
rings were simply the outlines ot a tent, and are common enough in West 
Greenland.” 
We have said enough to show the reader how exceedingly interesting is 
this book, but we have not said enough of the illustrations, which are 
admirably drawn and well painted. Especially can we commend the coloured 
illustrations, which are to our mind some of the very best work of this 
description that we have ever seen. Altogether the book is one which the 
German nation may well be proud of.* 
CHINA, INDO-CHINA, AND THE STRAITS OF MALACCA. t 
A LTHOUGH the present work can hardly be called a scientific one in 
the strictest sense of the word, still, inasmuch as geography is to a 
certain extent unquestionably scientific, it must therefore pass muster in the 
ranks of scientific literature. Still, Mr. Thomson has been, to a certain 
extent, possessed of the powers of observation of a keen naturalist, and he 
has given us in this volume views of China, both with pen and pencil, which 
are perfectly original, and some of them are of the most intense interest. 
Doubtless the present work has been published with a view of bringing 
before the general public those views which the author originally published 
in a much larger and a vastly more expensive volume. However that may be, 
we must express our gratitude to him for the pains he has taken in present- 
ing us with a series of views which we believe were originally photographed 
b} 7 himself, and which therefore have a value far beyond what the mere 
pen-and-ink or pencil sketches of an artist would have, inasmuch as they 
are far more truthful. It is impossible to do more than give three or four 
quotations from this interesting work, which is written in a remarkably 
pleasant style-, which possesses both accuracy of general statement and 
withal runs easily and smoothly to the ear. 
Johore is one of the places visited by the writer, who describes it as 
separated from Singapore by a narrow strip of water, and in its wild forests we 
meet with a “tjqpe of man by far the most primitive that these regions have 
to show. These are the Jacoons, who, like the orang-outang or mias of 
Borneo, are reported to dwell in trees . . . They are said to be the true 
aboriginal inhabitants of the land. The pure specimens among them are 
woolly-haired and dark-skinned ; the same sort of people, indeed, whom we 
* The blocks have been kindly lent by Messrs. Low, 
t “ The Straits of Malacca, Indo-China, and China ; or, Ten Years’ 
Travels, Adventures, and Residence Abroad.” By J. Thomson, F.R.G.S. 
London : Sampson Low & Co. 1875. 
