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that agricultural Arawaks and/or Caribs had occupied the island by at least looo a.d. 
Nor does this view allow for ecological disturbances, such as tree-felling and the 
introduction of feral livestock, resulting from the occasional visits of European 
mariners in pre-colonial times. 
In the third and fourth chapters, which deal respectively with forest clearance 1627 
to 1665 flnd plant introduction 1627 to 1800, we arc on firmer ground. Very thorough 
use has been made of documentary sources for these periods and an impressive ac- 
count emerges of the stages by which native vegetation was modified and widely 
replaced by alien crops, ornamentals and weeds. The information on the dates and 
routes by which species were introduced will be of particular interest to students of 
plant exchange within the tropics, but it is regrettable that no attempt has been made 
to present these data in the form of maps or diagrams and that references are cited 
without page numbers. 
Ecological generalizations are offered in a few concluding paragraphs, but they 
reinforce the impression that the value of this monograph lies more in its well docu- 
mented record of forest clearance and plant introduction than in its rather sketchy 
interpretation of the present and past ecology of Barbados. D. R. Harris 
WEST INDIES. By Philip Sherlock. London: Thames and Hudson ^ 1966. 8*ax6 
inches; 215 pages; illustrations ^ maps, 35s 
Most of the many books on the West Indies that have been published in recent years 
have been written from a European or North American viewpoint. The most usual 
approach has been that of the bemused visitor who has fallen under the spell of the 
islands* exotic scenery and romantic history. This fine book is an exception. Its 
author is a native-born Jamaican, now Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West 
Indies, and he describes with sympathetic insight the blend of American environment, 
African traditions and European institutions that makes West Indian ‘colonial* 
culture unique. Like the West Indian novelist, V. S. Naipaul, Dr. Sherlock knows 
that colonialism has a much deeper meaning for the West Indian than for the more 
fortunate African, who ‘has never been wholly severed from the cradle of continuous 
culture and tradition*, and his writing carries the more conviction because he inter- 
prets West Indian history and society from this point of view. 
The book deals essentially with the English-speaking islands and the first eight 
chapters are devoted to an historical account of the discovery of the West Indies, their 
peopling from Europe and Africa, and their economic, political and social evolution. 
In the last four chapters Dr. Sherlock briefly analyses current economic problems, 
examines family organization, religion and education, explores the richness of West 
Indian folklore and concludes with a perceptive interpretation of the themes that most 
concern modern West Indian writers. The value of his book is further enhanced by 
well chosen illustrations, a bibliography and two short factual appendixes listing 
people and places. D. R. Harris 
SOUTH AMERICA 
AMAZON SOILS. A reconnaissance of the soils of the Brazilian Amazon region. 
By W. G. SoMBROEK. WageningeUt Netherlands: Centre for Agricultural Publica^ 
tions and Documentation^ 1966. 9*»x6*a inches; 292 pages; text-figures ^ tables^ and 
photographs^ 6 fold-out maps and diagrams^ two accompanying tables, gos 
Amazon soils is in essence the study in fair detail of the soils of some restricted locali- 
ties. Four of these areas are in the east of the basin — three on the coast near Belem 
and one along the highway which cuts south towards Brasilia. This new road provides 
on the way a wealth of fresh cuttings which reveal some surprising sections of the soils 
and of the plinthite. One more sizeable area near Manaos has been surveyed, and for 
the rest of the basin 1 1 sites (mostly on the main rivers) have been examined. 
The soils and the plinthite in these areas have been surveyed and analysed thoroughly. 
The examination Of the plinthite reveals some very useful distinctions between fossil 
