A fascinating, if imaginative, story of the birth of a
people introduces us to the Waehagga, who form the subject of Miss Eva Stuart-Watt's Africa's Dome of Mystery (Marshall Morgan and Scott, 10s. 6d.). It is a difficult book to assess, though none would deny its interest. Part reminiscence, part a his- torical retrospect of German rule, which was not as harsh as a preface by Admiral Sir H. H. Stileman represents, part description, including an account of the author's climb to the crater of Mount Kibo, it also contains a good deal of shrewd observation on Chagga culture. It is surprising, however, to find one of the author's experience so totally at fault in esti- mating the place of women in African life. They are mostly as bad as savage women can be " " the African knows not the meaning of purity " : they sell their women to the highest bidder, and so on, with as much prejudice as a Parliamentary ComMittee. The Masai are incorrectly stated to be Nilotic and to have found their beginnings in the " Latuka " tribe ; and there are even some errors in the glossary. These short- comings are a pity, as otherwise it is a book of more than usual perception.
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