24 JUNE 1899, Page 12

The City of the Caliphs. By Eustace A. Reynolds-Ball, B.A.,

F.R.G.S. (T. Fisher Unwin. 10s. 6d.)—A nice-looking book with rough edges, artistically bound, and effectively illustrated, but rather a budget of odds and ends, a mosaic of quotations than a work of original research or shrewd observation, and disfigured by many misprints. The strangest of these is Sir " Garneh " Wolseley, while for Sir Alfred Milner we have occasionally Sir Alfred " Milnes," and for Nubar Pacha, "Nubao Pacho." Moreover, the author's English is scarcely worthy of a "B.A." and an " F.R.G.S." He writes "different to," and speaks of a "description describing" something. There are also other solecisms. Nevertheless, Mr. Reynolds-Ball has given us a readable volume of the guide-book order, containing, however, much useful information not to be found in ordinary guide-books. Travellers bound for the Nile who are not well up in the lore of Egypt Would do well to add The City of the Caliphs to their literary compagnons de voyage. For this purpose its value is rather increased than diminished by the numerous quotations from the writings of Professors Flinders Petrie and Mahaffy, Mr. Stanley Lane-Poole, Miss A. B. Edwards, and others with which the author interlards his text.