Some Pages of Levantine History. By the Rev. H. T.
F. Duck- worth. (Alex. Moring. Is. 6d. net.)—The three subjects dealt with in this volume, put in chronological order, are "Athena in the Twelfth Century "—the period taken in extends beyond this date—" The Latin Conquest of Cyprus," and "Great Britain and Cyprus." The first introduces us to a very obscure region of history; but Athens is always an interesting place, and at this epoch it shows itself not wholly unworthy of its fame. The second subject is more familiar; Mr. Duckworth tells the story in more
detail than is commonly given in histories of the Crusades. In the third a question which is of present interest iediscussed. The author's view of the matter is that we took possession of Cyprus for our own ends, and that we have not fully discharged the obligations with which this action bound us. That something has been done for the island is certain. Good roads have been made ; education has been advanced; agriculture has been im- proved, the checking of the locust plague being one of the benefits conferred. On the other hand, the Cypriotes are taxed more heavily than they were during the Turkish domination. Perhaps the fair solution of the difficulty would be that we should pay the tribute (490,000). Our equivalent for it would be found inthe greater security for our interests in the Mediterranean that the occupation of the island gives us.
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