FIVE BOOKS OF TRAVEL.
To Abyssinia through an Unknown Land. By Captain C. H. Stigand. (Seeley and Co. 16s. net.)—Captain Stigand tells us that he long wished to strike out a new route, which should start from a point to the south-east of Lake Rudolph and reach Addis Ababa through the practically unknown dis- tricts north of British East Africa and south of Abyssinia, and in this highly interesting volume he relates how this wish was accomplished. He gives a graphic account of the incidents of a day of African travel; he has a keen eye for the characteristics of the country which he traverses, and for the conditions of life among the inhabitants. He introduces us to tribes which may be described as unknown. Among one of these a white man had never been seen ; it surprises us to read of the nonchalance with which they regarded him, and of their civility. Not less striking is it--aliguid noni ex Africa—when we are told that in the course of two days he came across the most advanced and the most primitive of African agricultural implements. It is a rare good fortune nowadays for a traveller to explore an "unknown land," and Captain Stigand has made excellent use of tho opportunity. We learn much from him about African Nature and African men.—The most interesting portion of in Wildest Africa, by Peter Macqueen (George Bell and Sons, Is. 6d. net), is that in which he relates how he and his companion, M. Peter Dutkewich, nearly succeeded in making the ascent of Kilimanjaro. Unfortunately a fall crippled the Russian explorer, but we owe to him some beautiful photographs. Besides the mountaineering narrative, we have much useful information about the resources of Central Africa, together with pleasing descriptions of scenery and native life.—Across the Sahara, by Hamm Vischer (Edward Arnold, 12s. fkl. net), gives us a vivid picture of the fascination which the desert exercises over the imagination. The traveller journeyed from Tripoli to Bornu, and so put himself in the way of encountering the maximum amount of desert incidents, sandstorms and heavy marches among them. Towards the end of the expedition there came the proba- bility of a raid executed by those incorrigible robbers, the "abandoned of God," as they are locally known, commonly called the Tuaregs. The story of this caravan journey will realise the most sanguine expectation of what might be looked for in crossing the Sahara. It is indeed a most exciting narrative. Mr. Vischer assures us that the caravan was practically saved by an old woman, a returning pilgrim, and her son ; the two insisted on being conveyed to their Bornu home as "a reward of merit." They got their reward, and it reached to others. Something, too, was done by the brave old soldier who had served under Gordon, and was returning to his Bornu home. Side by side with these almost heroic people we see the noisy, reckless negroes, the uncertain, ill-tempered Arabs, and the perpetual fights among the women. One and all seemed wholly without principle, yet there was a code of honour among them. We can only say in this case what we have to say in so many : we do not under- stand.—Motoring in the Balkans. By V. Kinsley Hutchinson. (Hodder and Stoughton. 12s. 6d. net.)—One of the attractions of the Balkan region is that it contains spots rich in
archaeological treasures. Trieste, Spalate, Zara, and Ragusa are such. If, therefore, any one combines antiquarian tastes with the possession of a motor-car, having also the spirit to put up with some discomforts, and the needful supply of cash, he may well follow the example set by Mr. Hutchinson. He will see not a few remarkable objects, will come across some splendid scenery (notably in Bosnia and the Herzegovina), and generally will meet with ample compensation for all that he may have to bear and to spend.—..4 Journey to Southern Siberia. By Jeremiah Curtin. (Sampson Low, Marston, and Co. 12s. 6d. net) —The late Mr. Curtin was a linguist of quite extraordinary attain- ments and an anthropologist of generally recognised ability. This book, which he left in manuscript at his death, gives us an account of the neighbourhood of Lake Baikal and of the Buriats. It was from this region that there issued the Mongols who overran China, Burma, Persia, Russia, and Hungary, and of this exodus we have a description from Mr. Curtin's pen. From the Buriats of to-day ho collected the customs, the legends, and the folk-lore of their nation. It will be seen, therefore, that the book will have much value in the eyes of the anthropologist and the ethnologist. It cannot be said to have much literary charm, but its picture of these nomads is at least clear and definite. They remain very much as they were a thousand years ago,—perhaps we might indefinitely multiply the figure. And they have every desire to remain as they are. The most prominent feature of their customs is the great horse sacrifice. Nomads in the strict sense they no longer are ; but this great rite is a witness to what is their domi- nant feeling. It is noticeable, too, that the horse stands out in their folk-lore as the mainstay and chief friend of man.
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