THE ROXBURGHE PRESS; Westminster.

32. Reminiscences of an Indian Police Official, by ARTHUR CRAWFord, C.M.G. The author has had long experience in reference to crime by natives of India. He tells, in a graphic way, enlivened with numerous pictorial illustrations, remarkable stories of plots, conspiracies, thefts, murders and other atrocious crimes on land and sea, committed by natives. The work demonstrates how essential it is that those who have the charge of the criminal department of India should be well acquainted with the languages and social habits of the people, and cherish sympathy with them in their pursuits and difficulties. His stories, moreover, amply confirm the well-known truth, that in the East, as well as in the West, "the heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked."

33. From Jungle to Java; the trivial impressions of a short excursion to Netherlands India, by ARTHUR KEYSER. This is the account of a trip taken by a Straits Settlements officer, who having lived some years in the jungle of the Malay Peninsula, was recommended to go for a change to Java. The result is that he gives us an interesting sketch of the civil and military life of the Dutch, their treatment of the natives, and their troubles and vicissitudes in the war with the Lomboks; besides his own impressions of the Javanese, and of the mode of living and travelling in that country. The author's object is to assist those who intend to visit the beautiful island.

SALVIUCCI; ROME.

34. Manuale e Glossario della Lingua Indostana o Urdú, par CAMILLO TAGLIABUE (Collezione Scolastica del R. Istituto Orientale in Napoli); 1898. There are some Italians resident in India; but the number of such is not large when the whole population is taken into account. Yet still the publication of this work shows that in the opinion of the Royal Oriental Institute in Naples there is need for it. The issue of such a work shows very commendable enterprise on the part of that Society's publishers, and the elaboration of it tells of a genuine penchant for Oriental languages on the part of the compiler. The paper; type, and general get-up are everything that could be desired in a work of this nature.

=

It is the second volume of a grammar of the Hindustani language, and is designed for the use of Italians, or of other persons who would arrive at a knowledge of that language through the medium of the Italian tongue. As a Manual" it contains Lessons and Exercises, and these are arranged on the progressive principle-from short and simple sentences (such as Tu non sei scontento - Tú ná-ráz nahín hai) up to sentences long and difficult. There are fifty-four sections in the book-each section consisting of a "Lesson" and an "Exercise "; the "Lesson consists of a score or so of idiomatic conversational sentences given first in Italian and then in Urdú (that is, Hindustani), and it is followed by the paragraph of Exercises in Italian to be done by the student into Urdú. The volume does not contain a "Key" to the Exercises. At the end, however, there is a very full Glossary of all the words occurring in the Exercises; and in connection.

with each word or phrase therein given the number of the Exercise in which it occurs is also carefully marked. There are no references to the preceding volume, which contains the Grammar with which the Manual stands connected; nor did it fall within the province of this book to supply the rules of grammar which the Lessons and Exercise illustrate : there are, however, many valuable foot-notes, both grammatical and philological, which will render pleasurable the labour of the student.

In the Urdú portions of the work the vowel-marks are given in connection with every word-and this as well in the body of the work as in the Vocabulary: this will be helpful to the student; but he will not often find the vowel-marks given in works published in India by native writers. The reader of Urdú, like the reader of unpointed Hebrew, is supposed to know already what particular vowel-marks ought in any instance to be supplied. On first blush this may seem difficult; but after a little practice it becomes so easy that the vowels come in at their proper places as if by intuition and quite involuntarily. The student, therefore, need be under no apprehension that he will stumble when the crutches are taken away. Urdú is a beautiful language, and with regular practice in the spoken tongue it becomes remarkably easy and flowing.

The type-founding of the Urdú of this Manual is very well executed— more so than is usually the case in Urdú published in England; but here and there we note a point in which it might be amended. For instance, the semi-vowel ye (the last letter in the Urdú alphabet) has three formsthe final, the initial, and the medial form. Now, in the work before us the final form proper is not once used, but in place of it the form for the vowel is used-the pair of dots belonging to the final being, quite properly, omitted. The effect is confusing till one gets accustomed to the phenomenon, as the form is neither long i nor e, properly speaking. The final form of this semi-vowel, used by the native writers themselves, is quite different from the one used in this Manual; and it has the advantage of leaving no room for misunderstanding in rapid reading. The form of it used in this volume points to a different sound entirely from the one required. The practical seriousness of the mistake will be evident to the Urdú scholar when it is pointed out that the remark affects all instances of the inflected form of the masculine in all substances, verbs, participles, prepositions, post-positions, and adjectives-in all the inflectible parts of speech, in fact. Instead of "háthke," for instance, we have "háthkî ”; in other words, it gives us a feminine in every instance in which we should have a masculine. The mistake will, to be sure, remedy itself in practice; yet surely it would have been better if the type had been properly cut in the first instance. With this exception-which, however, runs right through the book-the work is a really scholarly production, and to the Italian student will be found to be everything that a Manual of spoken Hindustani ought to be.

B.

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT AND Co.; LONDON. 35. The Anti-Christian Crusade, by ROBERT P. C. COOFE. This is a convenient collection of opinions of Bishops, Deans, and other dignitaries

of the Church of England, with respect to their support of what is called "evolution" and "higher criticism,"-the object of the collector being to show in what direction apparently the teaching of the clergy of the Church is drifting.

SMITH, ELDER AND Co.; WATERLOO PLACE, LONDON.

36. Egypt in the Nineteenth Century, by D. A. CAMERON. The author gives a clear and a concise history of Egypt from the time of Mehemet Ali in 1769 down to the English occupation in 1882, with map and index of proper names. He is confident that Egypt will yet become one of the most valuable countries in the world-the Nile opened up from Nyanza to the sea, and by railways and steamers, the whole country, and its fertility will be rapidly developed, hence the duty of England to study carefully its prospects and certain prosperity.

MR. ELLIOT STOCK; LONDON.

37. Indian Village Folk, their Works and Ways, by T. B. PANDIAN. No more interesting or trustworthy book on the village folk of Southern India has been published, than the one just issued by the Reverend T. B. Pandian, a native Christian of that Presidency. The ramifications of a certain banking community are as extraordinary as their co-operation with their brethren in distress is sympathetic, whilst their heartlessness to their debtors is repulsive. The love-making that takes place amongst the dhobys (the washer folk), the life of a village, the tricks and myths of trades and artisans, the employments, and amusements in leisure hours, the tyrannies of petty officials, and the attitude of the villagers towards Western people, are as full of information as is possible to convey in 212 pages. The style of the work is charming, and the only thing we can find fault with, is that the author, in order to make his book attractive, has too often applied English terminology to Indian parallels.

SWAN SONNENSCHEIN AND Co.; London.

38. Studies in Little-known Subjects, by C. E. PLUMPTRE; 1898. This work consists of a series of articles from the pen of Miss Plumptre which have already appeared in sundry periodicals. As to the propriety of re-publishing in a volume contributions to the periodical press there is much that might be said both pro and contra. The literary value of such a volume must ultimately depend in great measure on the permanent nature of the subjects dealt with. For instance, soon after the decease of Mr. Charles Bradlaugh it was found that he died considerably in debt. With the view of aiding in the liquidation of his debts an effort was made at the time to awaken a desire in the public mind to purchase volumes from Mr. Bradlaugh's library, and also to buy the productions of his everactive pen. With a view to stimulate public interest in the disposal of the books an article was written by Miss Plumptre and published in one of the periodicals (the name of which is not given). But that was nearly ten years ago, and we may be pardoned if we fail to see that the public interest demanded the republication of the article so long after the time of that THIRD SERIES. VOL. VII.

movement. It may be doubted also whether an article on the Census of 1890 is of sufficient live interest to the general reader to require republication so many years after the time. For the belated politician or curiositymonger it may possibly have some interest; but readers of this class are extremely few and far between. And similar remarks might be made touching the brace of articles on "Japan" published so long ago as 1886, and touching other articles in this volume. They were doubtless of great value at the time they were published, but the propriety of asking people to buy them again so late in the day may reasonably be doubted. And the same might be said respecting the article on Dean Ramsay's Reminiscences, and other articles-the interest of which is in great measure ephemeral.

Disparaging, however, as these remarks may be, there is much in the volume that calls for commendation. Miss Plumptre exhibits much miscellaneous information, and has a facile pen and a very pleasant way of turning wide reading to account. She is master of a good style and can interest her readers in subjects that have their charm for herself. And some of the articles here reprinted are of more or less permanent public interest and value. B.

C. TINLING AND Co.; LIVER pool.

39. A Journey through South Africa (illustrated), by ELLIS EDWARDS. The outcome of the author's trip through South Africa is this interesting book, which gives much information regarding the Cape Colony, the Transvaal, and Natal. Among the subjects touched upon are the trade and trade outlets of Cape Colony, the different railway routes, the Transvaal, how the diamond mines were discovered and the untold wealth of Kimberley, terminating with an account of Natal and its capital, Durban. A very readable and instructive book.

ROWLAND WARD, LIMITED; LONDON.

40. The English Angler in Florida, by RowLAND WARD, F.Z.S. A charming book for the sportsman, whose delight is among the finny tribe. It is full of illustrations, not fanciful, but genuine. The monsters of the deep, such as the tarpon, the sword-fish, the monster marine perch, are all minutely described and beautifully photographed, as well as smaller game. Excellent hints as to the kind of tackle, and where to find it, the boats, and other necessary information for a season of sport in Florida are all given with an exactness which the author of the "Records of Big Game" and the "Sportsman's Handbook" could alone give.

W. H. WHITE and Co.; Edinburgh.

41. The Nicetical Christ, by S. H. PLAYFAIR. The object of the author in this short essay is apparently to show that in the life of Christ and His sayings there is a common ground and basis of faith in the Christian Churches of the East and West and in the teachings of the Koran.

OUR LIBRARY TABLE.

Freedom of the Press in India: its Origin and Progress, by MAHADEV RAJARAM BODAS, M.A., LL.B., Poona. A well-written and instructive pamphlet. The learned author concludes his treatise with these judicious words "We ought to guard the 'freedom of the Press' from external encroachments, as well as misuse by ourselves."

The Indian and Eastern Engineer Diary, 1899. (50, Fenchurch Street, London. This publication, while handy and useful for entries day by day throughout the year, contains a vast amount of new statistical information relating to India, China, Siam, Japan, and the Straits Settlements. The Index to the numerous Engineering Advertisements is well executed. The Calendar is distinct in reference to the Christian, Hindoo, and Mahommedan systems. The Steamship Lines, the Railways, the Indian Stamp Duties, the Government of India, and its Provinces, Banks, Clubs and Hotels, vernacular numbers, Indian weights, measures, currency, English value of foreign weights and measures, Decimal equivalents of coins and weights, postal and telegraph information, Imports and Exports relating to India and the East, common chemical terms and their scientific equivalents, and a vast amount of other information, valuable to all commercial classes having dealings with the various countries of the East, are all given in this publication. The illustrations of the various kinds of machinery form of themselves a most interesting scientific picture-book. Tarjuma-Ámoz-i-Fársi, or Easy Steps to Persian Composition, being exercises for translation from English into Persian. (The Mission Press, Surat, India, 1897.) Part I. (For the use of the Persian Students of the Sixth and Seventh Standards. By Munshi N. A. Hajib-i-Shahi, and revised by Moulvi Farid-ud-din Ahmad, B.A. 3rd edition. We recommend this most useful text-book to those desirous of acquiring a knowledge of Persian composition. The glossary at the end, which contains idiomatic Persian phrases in the Persian text, will be much appreciated. The work is remarkably free from errors.

Korean Sketches, by REV. JAMES S. GALE, B.A. (Toronto University), of the American Presbyterian Mission, Wönsan, Korea. (Oliphant, Anderson and Ferrier, Edinburgh and London.) These sketches of Korean life. and character, written by one who has passed some years in intimate association with all classes of the people of the Hermit kingdom, will be found very interesting and instructive.

Catalogue of the Wade Collection of Chinese and Manchu Books in the Library of the University of Cambridge, by HERBERT A. GILES, M.A., LL.D. (Cambridge University Press.) This interesting Catalogue classifies all the Chinese works collected and presented to the University Library by the late Sir Thomas Francis Wade, British Minister at Peking. The Collection consists of 883 works in 4,304 volumes. Section I. consists mainly of Chinese Classics and exegetical works of the Confucian Canon ; Section II., History, Biography, and Statutes; Section III., Imperial Geography; Section IV., Leading Novels and Plays; Section V., Dictionaries and Concordances; Section VI., Pamphlets especially during the T'ai-p'ing