Africa.

Selous, Frederick Courteney (C.M.Z.S.)—Travel and Adventure in South-East Africa. 8vo. Pp. xviii-503. London: Rowland Ward & Co. Ltd. 1893. (Price 25s.)

Considerable interest attaches to this work in view of recent events in South Africa in which the Author has played so prominent a part. The travels of Mr. Selous have been brought prominently before the public during the past year by means of lectures, and also articles contributed from time to time to the "Field" newspaper, but nevertheless the work in its collective form possesses a freshness which cannot fail to secure for it a wide circulation. Lion stories and hunting adventures naturally predominate, but a considerable amount of general information, with descriptions of the various parts of South Africa visited by the Author and the native inhabitants and other subjects of general interest, are dealt with in a pleasant and entertaining style. The book is divided into twenty sir chapters narrating the personal experiences of the Author amongst the South African Boers, and embodying many anecdotes; an account of two expeditions sent against the Batauwani by Lo Bengula; the devastations committed by the Matabele in Mashonaland, and notes upon the Bushmen, &c. Then follows an account of the Author's journeys beyond the Zambesi to the countries of the Mashukulumbwi and Barotse tribes. The remainder of the book, with the exception of two chapters, deals with the past history and present condition of Mashonaland—a subject upon which Mr. Selous is thoroughly qualified to speak, and whose opinions, after so long a residence in South Africa, are of the greatest value to all interested in the country. Regarding the existence of gold, it is stated that the industry, which is at present in its infancy, is likely, with the introduction of mining machinery, to make rapid strides, and so have the effect of starting townships in each of the gold-bearing districts. Each of these mining sections, Mr. Selous states, will support a large farming population, so that as the mining towns grow so will the land be occupied and cultivated, till at no distant date the homesteads of British and South African settlers will be scattered throughout the length and breadth of the breezy downs of Mashonaland. The pioneer expedition to Mashonaland, with the difficulties encountered, is an interesting record of settlement in a new country, and forms one of the most important portions of the book, con- page 103 taining as it does an account of the negotiations of Mr. Selous with Lo Bengula for the safe passage of the expedition through his territory. Referring to the statement that it was only the extreme friendliness of Lo Bengula and the Matabele people that made the expedition to Mashonaland possible, Mr. Selous differs entirely from such a view, adding: "We cut the road to Mashonaland in defiance of them, and our advance would most certainly have been resisted but for two circumstances. The first was the fact that during the progress of the expedition a well-equipped force of five hundred mounted men of the Bechuanaland Border Police were encamped on the south-western border of Matabeleland; and the second that after the expedition crossed the Tuli, and until it reached the plateau of Mashonaland, Lo Bengula and his people never knew where we were." The settlement of the country is described as well as the troubles and difficulties attendant upon taking over a new country, together with its native population. The Author's knowledge of the topographical features of the country, obtained after many years of travel as a hunter and collector of natural history specimens, proved of incalculable value to the pioneer force, and so enabled it to make the rapid progress which under other circumstances would have been impossible. The work is well illustrated with hunting scenes and phases of native life, the representations of the former being drawn from the Author's own descriptions, whilst an excellent index completes a work which is interesting from beginning to end.

Brown, Robert (M.A., Ph.D., F.L.S., F.R.G.S.).—The Story of Africa and its Explorers. Vol. II. 4to. Pp. viii-312. London: Cassell & Co., Ltd. 1893. (Price 7s. (6d.)

The story of African exploration is so interesting a subject that it is not surprising to find so many works appearing from the press dealing with the subject from various points of view, and relating to different parts of the vast continent. In this work the subject is dealt with as a whole, and is continued from the first volume, which appeared a few months hack, and embraces chapters on the rivers of Egypt, the great lakes, Victoria Nyanza, the travels of Dr. Livingstone, and the exploration of the Congo. Of these, Livingstone's travels occupy considerable space, and give a very complete record of the great traveller's services to African exploration, whilst the recent settlement of the British South Africa Company in Mashonaland occupies attention, as well as the various expeditions which have recently had the effect of giving to the world a more intimate knowledge of those portions of Africa which for centuries past have remained closed to the civilised world. A considerable amount of information may be gained by the hunter, trader, and scientist from that portion of the book devoted to the fauna and flora of different parts of the country. The work, which has been compiled by Dr. Robert Brown, is profusely illustrated with reproductions from photographs, &c.

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Noble, John.—Illustrated Official Handbook of the Cape and South Africa. 8vo. Pp. xvi-568. Cape Town: J. C. Juta & Co. 1893.

Owing to the fact that South Africa is daily growing into prominent and awakening wide interest, the issue of a new and revised edition of Mr. Noble's handbook will prove of considerable service to those interested in the progress of the Colonies and States of Southern Africa. It is now seven years since the first edition of the work was published, and during that period remarkable developments have taken place, not only in the Cape Colony, but in South Africa generally. The present issue, therefore, embraces some account of the past and present conditions, not only of the Cape of Good Hope, but also of the other Colonies, States, and territories of South Africa, and it presents to the public a fuller and more perfect knowledge than is commonly possessed of the natural history, products, and resources of that portion of the African continent, and of the political and social changes which have marked the advance of colonisation throughout it. Several special chapters have been contributed by leading authorities, and add considerably to the value of the work, amongst them being an account of the Flora of South Africa, by Mr. Harry Bolus; the Diamond Mines, by T. Reunart; Gold Mining at Witwatersrand, by Mr. F. Spencer; and the Climate and Health Resorts, by Dr. C. Lawrence Herman. The work is, in fact, a complete encyclopaedia of South African information, and contains a large collection of illustrations of the scenery, public buildings, and natives of the country.

Ellis, Colonel A. B.—.l History of the Gold Coast of West Africa. 8vo. Pp. xi-400. London: Chapman & Hall, Ltd. 1898. (Price 10s. 6d.)

Colonel Ellis has for some years done good work in drawing attention to the various settlements on the West Coast of Africa, where he has had exceptional opportunities of gaining a mass of information regarding both the country and the people. In his latest work he gives a general account of that portion of the coast known as the Gold Coast, commencing with the voyages made from the Mediterranean along the Western Coast of Africa, both by the Phoenicians and the Egyptians, many hundred yean before the Christian era, and carrying his historical review to events of the past few years. Included in that long period the Author discusses many questions of considerable interest, embracing the Portuguese discoveries in West Africa, and the formation of a settlement at Elmina, the early English voyages, the inauguration of Dutch rule, and the hostilities between the Portuguese and the Dutch, in which the former were eventually expelled. The account of the formation of English settlements and trading stations is of considerable interest in tracing the progress of the British settlements of the present day. The formation of the Royal African Company in 1672, and an account of its rights and territories, may page 105 be read with advantage in comparison with the question of settlement by companies now so prominently before the public. Colonel Ellis embodies all the chief facts regarding the treaties with the natives, and an account of the various expeditions which have proceeded to the interior for both peaceful and hostile purposes. The causes which led up to the Ashanti War of 1873-74, as well as the policy pursued by the Governor of that period, are graphically described, as well as the events of the war itself. Events since that period, including the Abolition of Slavery (which, the author states, was a recognised institution in the Protectorate up to the year 1874), the trade of the Colony, the Boundary Commissions, &c., are treated in chronological order, and complete a work which may be classed as the standard one upon the Gold Coast Colony.

Theal, George McCall.—History of South Africa from the Foundation of the European Settlement to our own Times (1834-1854). 8vo. Pp. 629. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co. 1893. (Price 15s.)

Mr. Theal, in issuing the present volume of his important work, carries the history of South Africa up to the year 1854. The matter deals with a period of twenty years, commencing with the sixth Kaffir war of 1834-35, during the administration of Sir Benjamin D'Urban, who, in 1837, was recalled on account of his dealings with the Kafirs. The question of the Governor's action which led up to this decision is clearly discussed by Mr. Theal, who states that it was afterwards generally admitted, both in England and South Africa, that he had acted wisely in those dealings. Another event with which the Author deals at length was the abandonment of the Cape Colony during 1836-37 by many thousands of burghers, who were intent upon seeking a new home in the wilderness, where they could be free from what they regarded as intolerable misrule. The event is of historical interest, inasmuch as the band of emigrants settled the country which is now the Transvaal, and at that period included the greater part of the present South African Republic, fully half of the Orange Free State, and the whole of Southern Bechuanaland to the Kalakari Desert, except the district occupied by the Batlapin. Following chapters are devoted to an account of the emigrant farmers in Natal; the administrations of Major-General Napier and Sir Peregrine Maitland; the seventh Kafir war; events in the territory north of the Orange River; and the creation of the Orange River sovereignty. The events connected with the Sand River Convention are also contained in this volume, and convey fully the terms of the Convention, as well as the events which led up to it. The volume is one of the most interesting of the series, dealing as it does with questions affecting the whole of South Africa. One important feature is an Appendix containing a list of the works referring to the period embraced in the volume, giving the title, author, date, and place of publication, together with a short notice of the contents of each.