11 JANUARY 1930, Page 23

Then I saw the Congo, by Grace Flandrau (Harrap, 12s.

6d.), is not nearly such a bad book as its title and flamboyant dust-cover suggest. It is well written and disarmingly candid : an inquiring mind, and her sense of humour, saved the author from her friends. " This statement," she says cau- tiously, " is Father Paul's responsibility, not mine." So when she writes about pygmies and the little-known Mangbetu, we believe her more readily than we should less critical travellers. She gives us a picture of court life among the Mangbetu which is very attractive, and almost justifies her contention that they are the most highly cultured natives of the Congo. Almost—but, recalling the Bushongo, we wonder whether there are no other claimants. The photographs are excellent, and well chosen.