East Africa (British). 4 Compiled by Somerset Playne. Edited by F.
Holderness Gale. (Foreign and Colonial Compiling and Publishing Company. Cloth, 25s. ; morocco, 84s.)—This very handsome volume is worthy of its subject. It commences with a history of the region. 'This may be said to begin with the Portuguese occupation in the early years of the sixteenth century. The present regime dates from 1895, when the British Government took over the Protectorate from the British East Africa Company. The finance is not as yet satisfactory. For 1909-10 the estimate shows an income of £535,385. Adding the grant-in-aid from the Home Treasury of £138,000, we get a sum short of the estimated expenditure (745,725) by £72,340. There is a Reserve Fund of £45,910 which is to be applied to the deficit, but will leave an adverse balance. Information is given about the native tribes, about the supply of labour—Mr. Playne has some suggestions under this head which illustrate the difficulty of dealing with the native question—about rainfall, &c. Details about agriculture, sport, &c., follow. We have also information about churches, schools, and cognate matters.
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