A History of South Africa. By. W. Basil Worsfold. M.
Dent. Is. 6d. net.)—This is a volume of "The Temple Primeri." We do not see that Mr. Worsfold has anything absolutely new to tell us ; but he. certainly gives the story very succinctly and clearly. The further we go back, and the more thoroughly we examine the matter, the plainer does it become that the Dutch have not been an' influence for good in South Africa. Their mental condition is represented by their dialect, the Taal, and the Taal, as Olive Schreiner, no hostile witness, -putt; it, cannot " express a subtle emotion, or abstract conception, or a wide generalisation." The misfortune is that we shirked the responsibilities to which we were called, and. to. which .we were equal. " We abdicated the sovereign position, and, as. Sir Bartle Frere prophesied in words of singular foresight, the abdica- tion has had to be heavily paid for in blood and treasure." —With this may be mentioned The Relief of Ladysmith, by John Black Atkins (Methuen and Co., fis.) Mr. Atkiiis republishes here letters that originally appeared in the Man- chester Guardian. It will be understood that the title includes the story, not of the relief only, but of the operations, successful or unsuccessful, which led to it. There is plenty of criticism, which, as written before the publication of the familia despatches and of Lord Roberts's memorandum, will have a special interest. Into such matters we do not follow Mr. Atkins. Indeed, we do not care to do more than chronicle the appearance of these volumes. The public need no urging to read a war-book which comes with- the imprimatur of a leading provincial paper.— Bacon's, War Atlas of South Africa (G., W. Bacon and Co.; is.) contains sixteen maps—the last of them being of the, environs of Pretoria—general sketches • of South African history, and a glossary.—Native Life on the Trammed Border, by. W.. C. Willoughby (Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.), is a very interesting collection of photographs, with explanatory texts. It has to' do with the Bechuanaland Protectorate, and gives, among other pictures, portraits of Khania and his family.
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