CURRENT LITERATURE.
The Land of the Muskeg. By H. Somers Somerset. (W. Heine- mann.)—A " muskeg " is, as we understand from Mr. Somerset, a green bog of a very treacherous kind, such as is not unknown in our own lake and mountain districts. The country to which he gives this name is part of the territory of Athabasca. He and his party started from Athabasca Landing, which is not far from the northern frontier of Alberta, and journeyed westward till they reached the Rocky Mountains, which they crossed near the Price River. From the account given of it in this volume the "Land of the Muskeg" is absolutely valueless. Even as a sporting country it is nil, for the game secured was next to nothing,—a few birds, two bear-cubs, and a few beavers about making up the bag. The land is miserably poor. The waters hold very little fish. The few Indians that roam over the country are always near the starvation-line; and some year, when the periodical disappearance of the rabbits takes place—they almost vanish under the stress of a plague every seventh year—will probably cross it for good. Mr. Somerset tells the story of his adventures in a lively fashion, and does no t spare the mendacious re- ports which represent it as fitted for immigration. On this point his plain, unvarnished narrative of experiences will be conclusive. Theparty, with a good Indian guide, and taking with it a stock of provisions that did but need some supplement from game, was nearly starved. They had to eat a horse, and were not far from eating a dog. Mr. Somerset speaks in high praise of the zeal and devotion of the Roman missionaries. The praise seems to be well deserved; but he would have done better, and in every way in a fashion more becoming to a guest, if he had been more reticent about a Protestant host, of whom he gives a very unedifying account.
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