13 JANUARY 1912, Page 26

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

[Under this heading we notice ouch Bode of the 'seek as have not been reserved for review in other formal A Bishop amongst Bananas. By Herbert Bury, D.D. (Wells, Gardner, Darton and Co. Os.)—Dr. Bury was consecrated to the diocese of British Honduras and Central America in 1908 and held it for something more than two years. Honduras itself is not a very exacting sphere of action. It is about as big as Wales, but than some nine-tenths of the country are unexplored, while its population is about two-thirds of that of Cardiff. But Central America is another matter. This region consists of six States, in all of which there is an English-speaking community. The Isthmus itself, with the American Canal, now in course of con- struction, is outside the boundaries. This district has been handed over to the Episcopal Church of the U.S. Here the popu- lation contains a large element of Jamaican negroes, who did not appreciate being handed over. 'They are very British and greatly value the concession made to them that they should continue to use the Collects for the King and the Royal Family, " State prayers" which are often treated here with much less respect. Bishop Bury paid a visit to this part of Panama, and his chapter describing what he saw is very full of interest, as is that which follows, dealing with the canal itself. A very serious subject is dis- cussed in the next chapter, " White and Black." In the States the " Colour Line " is of the most rigid kind. However white a man may look, any known admixture of colour in his pedigree is an absolute bar. In Jamaica, where the circumstances have been closely similar, the race problem does not exist. Bishop Bury evidently took the opportunity afforded by his brief episcopate to acquire some very useful knowledge.