10 AUGUST 1929, Page 18

Years and diligence have made Mr. A. T. Bryant our

most erudite interpreter of the Zulu, and in his book, Olden Times in Zululand and Natal (Longmans, 12s. ad.), he presents us with an historical account of the " Zulu '' peoples, their origin and migrations, their wars, mutual animosities and disruptions. We shall look forward to his promised volume on their "Descriptive History," which we take to mean their social organization and culture : for, strange as it may seem, there is no book in existence which gives a satisfactory account of the " Zulu " and kindred peoples. Mr. Bryant has sifted his evidence well, and we are glad to find that he confirms our belief in the historical value of myth and legend, which are too often and too lightly rejected as the fantasies of simple peoples. His short chapter on the Angoni is the most illumina- ting account we have yet read of this " Zulu " off-shoot, and the author is probably right in giving November, 1835, rather than June, 1825, as the date on which they crossed the Zam- besi. We have read the book with extreme interest, and take the opportunity of congratulating the Union Government on facilitating its publication.