21 MARCH 1931, Page 40

We 'were not amused by this " powerful and convincing

tale," as the publishers describe Congo Gods, by Otto Liitken i(Constable,. 7s. 6d.). It is built up on a series of remarkable coincidences and based, if a knowledge of language is any criterion, on a very deficient understanding of the Bantu natives whom it attempts to portray. The account of Belgian 'official life is no leis sensational and libellous. The anonymous translator is only tolerably efficient, and why should a book piinted and published in England be defaced by Americanisms such as " motivated," " maneuvered," " gayety," " favored," and others too numerous to detail ? Only careless proof-reading can account for the number of misprints. * * * *