Our Book Shelf

Abstract

ALTHOUGH these two volumes cover a very wide field, neither of them can be said to break on new ground. Mr. Coote does not profess to be much more than a tourist, but as he tells the story of his wanderings pleasantly, and touched at a few places concerning which our information is scanty, he may be held to have sufficient excuse for bringing the record of his journey before the public. He spent some time in the Australian Colonies and Fiji, and visited Norfolk Island. His wanderings further embraced the Hawaiian Islands, the New Hebrides, the Banks and Torres Islands, the Santa Cruz and Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and the Loyalty Group. China and Japan, and Central and South America were also embraced in his extensive tour. Mr. Coote is a good observer, and the information he gives concerning what he saw in the less frequented islands, the New Hebrides, the Santa Cruz, Solomon and Loyalty Islands, is a welcome addition to existing knowledge. He is chiefly interested in the people, habits, houses, implements, and weapons, and therefore the ethnologist may find something in his volume that will be of service. The illustrations are good, and the volume as a whole is extremely pleasant reading.