19 APRIL 1890, Page 41

CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Land of an African Sultan. By Walter B. Harris. (Sampson Low and Co.)—The "land of an African Sultan" is Morocco, with which a long acquaintance has made Mr. Harris- familiar. The book consists of three parts, the first being the narrative of a journey through Northern Morocco ; the second giving the author's experience when he accompanied the mission of Sir W. Kirby Green to the Court of Morocco ; the third, a trip to Wazan and Sheshonan. It is in the second we have what is perhaps the best part of a most interesting book, the chapter which describes the person and surroundings of the African Sultan himself. It is true, indeed, that Mr. Harris did not see much of the great man,—who, by-the-way, has, we are told, Negro blood in him. Three brief interviews are all that he has to describe, but he heard much, but not much, certainly, of good. He seems, indeed, to be a bad ruler, and absolute to a degree which it would not be easy to match elsewhere. Mr. Harris saw much of his capital. The visit to the city was followed by a trip to the Great Atlas •Mountains, a journey only effected against much opposition on the part of the local Governors. The journey to Wazan and She- shonan takes us over ground that is comparatively strange to European travellers. Here we have a curious account of the Beth M'Sara, a mountain tribe, very fair in complexion, who are pro- fessional robbers, but of whom, nevertheless, our author seems to have a favourable opinion. Some of the experiences related are strange enough. On one occasion a hunt had been ordered. The huntsman arrived late, and it had to be put off. The man began to make excuses. The Shereef interrupted him. "We will hunt to-morrow instead. Put the huntsman and hounds in prison. We will then make sure of their being in time." We are sorry to say that Mr. Harris gives a sad account of the fortunes of the English lady who married Sidi Hadj Absala.m, the Shereef. The marriage has not been a successful experiment, but the fault lies entirely with the husband, who, in Mr. Harris's opinion, belied all the promise of earlier days.

We are glad to see that Dr. Bryce's able book, The American Commonwealth (Macmillan), has reached a second edition (the fourteenth thousand, it should be stated, that our readers may understand the full significance of the fact). The work has been revised throughout, and the chapter on "The Tweed Ring in New York City" has been omitted, pending the litigation that is now going on in the Courts.