In Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals (Harrap, 21s.)
Dr. Ramsay Smith puts Australian culture yet one more volume further away from permanent extinction. The myths and legends which he has here collected will appeal to the anthropologist, but still more to those readers who love the colour and verve of primitive mythology. The arrange- ment of the myths will be found particularly helpful to the latter class of readers, who will find sufficient of the cultural context explained in Dr.. Smith's annotations. They could not, however, guess at the complicated marriage systems from this account, though possibly enough is said to enable them to take an intelligent interest in the myths. The sixteen colour plates by Alice Woodward are a mistake, since they suggest fairy-stories of a mawkish sentimentality rather than the vigorous mythology of virile aboriginals.
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