SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Notice in this column does not necessarily predude subsequent review.]
Historic Jamaica. By F. Cundall. (Published for the Institute of Jamaica by the West India Committee, London. 5s. net.)—The Institute of Jamaica has done well to publish. the studies of its secretary and librarian in a consolidated form. It is right that these antiquarian records should be put into permanent and accessible shape. The writer's scheme is to take, after an introduction of some length, each parish in turn, and give its history, extracts from records that concern it, accounts of the principal plantations and owners, epitaphs in the churches, and so on. Where earthquakes and hurricanes so frequently -work devastation, those things are too liable to be forgotten. But the total result is rather a medley of small things not meant for continuous reading. Such matters of the island's general history as the struggles of English, Spanish, and French forces, nava* or military, are only mentioned in ex- planation of battles connected with the parish which occupies the author for the moment. The most important event by far of the last century, the emancipation of the slaves, is only mentioned by allusion. No one therefore must expect this to be the " History of Jamaica " which it does not pretend to be. It is excusable if Mr. Cundall is more interested in an Arawiik kitchen midden than a modern building, but as he does treat of new or restored buildings, the single reference to Sir Charles Nicholson's work in Kingston and St. Andrew since the last earthquake seems inexcusably meagre. The book is illustrated by small sketches and reproductions of old prints. In another edition a good modern map would be an obvious advantage to the reader who does not know the island intimately.
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