The Savage Life. A Second Series of " Camp Notes."
By Frederick Boyle. (Chapman and Hall.)—Mr. Boyle is an indefatigable wanderer. The Diamond-Fields of South Africa, Nicaragua, the Gold Coast, Sarawak, are among the scenes of the adventures which he describes, and of which, for the most part, pars magna fuit. He always writes with simplicity and good-taste, and without leaving any im- pression of exaggeration. Perhaps the most interesting papers will be those on the African diamond-fields, in which the writer records his own digging experiences. What he calls the " sum-total " of his story is :=4 At Pinel I cleared my expenses ; at Bullfontein I made just £1,000, what with diamonds and claim ; at New Rush, £1,125 net. My year upon the diamond-fields—all expenses of travel and illness cleared—returned me £2,000; but the price I paid was heavy." The " price " was a fearful illness, caused by tumbling, or being pushed, it is not quite clear which, into a disputed claim. A propos of diamonds, Mr. Boyle mentions the curious fact that they are actually exported from England to sell at the "fields," so exaggerated is the notion of their value which the diggers obstinately cherish. Of the very various observations which Mr. Boyle has made in all parts of the world, we may commend one relating to Sarawak to the notice of the anti- vaccination party :—" Six subjects of Sarawak have been murdered by Brtmi Dyaks, in the jungle of Baesam, but redress is delayed on account of small-pox raging in that district." Satisfactory it is to note that the plague ceases at the Sarawak frontier, owing to the resolute enforcement of vaccination. There is plenty of very good reading in this book.
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