C URRENT LITE RAT URE.
TENT AND TESTAMENT.
Tent and Testament. By Herbert Rix, B.A. (Williams and Norgate. 8s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Rix, who, we regret to say, did not live to see the publication of his book, describes some things which do not come within the experiences of ordinary travel in Palestine. He crossed, for instance, the Jordan below the Lake of Gennesaret, and visited Gadara and Pella, both in the Decapolis. His narrative of travel is that of an intelligent and well-informed traveller who went without prepossessions and was both able and willing to weigh evidence. His observations were careful. Now and then he is able to correct even so great an authority in Palestinian topography as Dr. George Smith. Much of the volume is devoted to an examination of the various theories and traditions relating to the "sites." Into this controversy we do not propose to enter ; nothing adequate could be said in the space at our command. It must suffice to say that Mr. Rix's contribu- tion is one that must be taken into account. His other experiences of travel are good to read. Among the most graphic are those that concern the Lake, to which he seems to have devoted much time. One of the things which he saw here was a flight of locusts, and his description of the sight is impressive. He gives interesting details also about the fish and the methods of fishing. And here is a little picturesque touch 2—" The girls of Nazareth have a coquettish way of balancing the full pitcher all awry." Unfortu- nately, the paraffin-tin is displacing the pitcher, because it does not break. It would require niuch art to make the pose of a paraffin-tin 'effective.
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