The History of th.e Yorubas. By the Rev. Samuel Johnson.
Edited by Dr. 0. Johnson. (Routledge. 21s. net.)—This noteworthy book was written by a native missionary and has been edited by his brother. It appears to be based largely on oral tradition, preserved by the hereditary court historians, and, for the latter half of the last century, on the evidence of eye-witnesses. Written history must have begun in this way everywhere, but it is interesting to have an actual example of the process.. Mr. Johnson's account of his own people, who occupy most of the country between Lagoa and the Niger, begins with mythical kings and comes down to the establishment of the British Peace between 1892 and 1897. Wars occupy most of the narrative. The last war continued for sixteen years and was only ended by two British expeditions, which tamed the people of Ijebu and the Emir of Rohn. The Ijebus had obstructed the trade route to the interior and made themselves obnoxious to their neighbours. florin offended in a similar way. It is clear that the British Protectorate has
benefited this once distracted region, simply by forbidding tribal war. The author devotes the first part of his book to a short Yoruba grammar, and to a description of Yoruba institutions. The Yorubas think that they came originally from Mecca, but the author holds that they came from Upper Egypt, at any rate from the eastern parts of Africa. The chapter on manners and customs is particularly interesting.
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