19 SEPTEMBER 1903, Page 25

Gold Coast Native Institutions. By C. Hayford. (Sweet and Maxwell.

15s.)—" Thoughts upon a Healthy Imperial Policy for the Gold Coast and Ashanti" is the subtitle of Mr. Hayford's book, and the author's general object is given by him in his " Preliminary " as "the imperialisation of the Gold Coast and of Ashanti on purely aboriginal lines, leading ultimately to the imperialisation of West Africa." Beyond the principle that it is bad policy to make a clean sweep of native institutions, and build, or endeavour to build, entirely de novo on European foundations, we cannot go. The subject requires special know- ledge, and we must be content with introducing the book to the notice of our readers.