they have long had it in the rupee and its fractions, nor is there any evidence to show that silver coins have ceased to suit them, nor that they desire any change." He also asserts that, if his argument is sound, the reopening of the mint to silver is necessary, "with such power of treating exports and excise duties as shall be needful for the support of Government finance."

Persian Women and their Creed, by MARY R. S. BIRD, C.M.S. Missionary in Persia (London: Church Missionary Society). A pleasantly written description of missionary efforts, especially among the women of Persia, the habits and customs of the country, and the progress of the mission, with many interesting and well-executed illustrations.

The Wooing of Nefert; being the Chronicle of Mena of Memphis, by H. H. WARNER, author of "Songs of the Spindle," etc. (N. I. Powell and Co., Limited, London). A love-story, charmingly told, in the simple language of the East, on the Nile, 3,000 years ago, and in ancient Memphis and Thebes, well printed, with interesting illustrations. The reader, when he begins, will be so fascinated that he will not rest until he has reached the end of the story.

Bartholomew's New Map of Australia (John Bartholomew and Co., Edinburgh). Although this is a reduced Survey map of the whole of the vast region of Australia, it is on a large scale, distinct, and remarkably well executed. It also contains plans of the five capital towns, and a portion of New Guinea.

Descriptive Atlas of Western Canada, showing Maps of the Provinces of Manitoba and British Columbia, and Districts of Assiniboia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, also of the World and the Dominion of Canada. Issued by the authority of the Minister of the Interior, the Hon. Clifford Seton, Ottawa, Canada, with letterpress descriptions of the various Provinces and their form of government. A very useful and handy atlas of the whole region of Canada, containing also a list of the various towns, with sketches of farms and agricultural industries.

Historical Atlas of Modern Europe from the Decline of the Roman Empire, comprising also Maps of Parts of Asia and of the New World connected with European History, edited by REGINALD LANE POOLE, M.A., PH.D. Part XXII. contains Central Europe, 1795-1810, by H. A. L. FISHER, M.A., and the Four Eastern Patriarchates, by E. W. BROOKS, M.A. (The Clarendon Press, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and New York; also W. and A. K. Johnston, Edinburgh.) This work was projected some years ago, and is the first work of its kind in England. It combines clearness of presentment with fulness of details, contributed by eminent English authorities, and will be most useful to students of history.

Letters received by the East India Company from its Servants in the East, Vol. III., 1615. Edited by WILLIAM FOSTER, B.A. Published under the patronage of the Secretary of State for India. London; Sampson Low, Marston and Co.

We beg to acknowledge also the receipt of: Mittheilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien;-Biblia, the American monthly of Oriental

THIRD SERIES. VOL. VIII.

P

Research (Meriden, Conn., U.S.A.);-La Revue des Revues (Paris);— Questions Diplomatiques et Coloniales, Revue de Politique extérieure (Paris); La Revue Générale Belge (Brussels);-The Minerva (Rome);-The Contemporary Review (London: Isbister and Co.);-The National Review (Arnold and Co.) ;-Le Polybiblion (Paris: Rue St. Simon) ;-Le Bulletin des Sommaires (Paris);-The American Weekly, Public Opinion (Astor Place, New York);-Le Mémorial Diplomatique (Paris);-The Canadian Gazette (London);-The Indian Magazine and Review (London: A. Constable and Co.);-Comptes-rendus de la Société de Géographie (Paris);-Le Tour du Monde (London and Paris: Hachette);-From Geo. Newnes, London: the three last numbers of The Strand Magazine ;- The Strand Musical Magazine, The Navy and Army, and Country Life ;—The Land of the Midnight Sun (Parts VI.-XII.);-Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales (Parts I-XIV.);-The Wide World;-The Monster Table Book ;-The Monster Cricket Book; The Monster Holiday Book; - Fashions and Fancies;-Woman's Life ;-The Captain, a magazine for boys and "old boys" (Parts I-IV.);-Through the Dark Continent (Parts I.-XIII.); The Royal Atlas of England and Wales (Parts I.-VIII.;-The Arabian Nights (Parts I. and II., to be completed in 20 parts);- The Book of Cricket (Part I.); -The North American Review, April to June, 1899 (New York);-The American Journal of Semitic Sciences and Literatures (Vol. XV., No. 3), continuing "Hebraica" (The University of Chicago Press, and Luzac and Co., London);-China, Anglo-America, and Corn, a lecture by MR. GRANVILLE SHARP (Hong Kong Daily Press Office);-The Currency Schemes of Lord Northbrook and Mr. Lindsay, and the Locating of the Gold Reserve, opinions of the Indian Press (The Pioneer Office, Allahabad);-Detailed Report of an Archæological Tour with the Buner Field Force, by M. A. STEIN, PH.D. (Panjab Government Press, Lahore, 1898); -Progress Report of the Archæological Survey of Western India, for the Year ending June 30, 1898 (Government of Bombay, General Department);-Proceedings of the Council of the Governor of Bombay, 1897, Vol. XXXV. (Government Central Press, Bombay, 1898) ;—Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1896 (Government Printing Office, Washington, 1898);- The Unity of the Human Species:-A Study of the Omaha Tribe;-The Import of the Totem;-Recent Research in Egypt;A Preliminary Account of Archaeological Field Work in Arizona in 1897; -A New Group of Stone Implements from the Southern Shores of Lake Michigan, all reprinted from the Smithsonian Report for 1897 (Washington Government Printing Office, 1898).

For want of space, we regret that we are obliged to postpone reviews of the following important works till our next issue: The New English Dic tionary on Historical Principles, founded mainly on the materials collected by the Philological Society, edited by Dr. JAMES MURRAY, with the assistance of many scholars and men of science. Parts, Heel-Hod; Hod-Horizontal. Vol. V. (Clarendon Press, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and New York.) Genesis des Mahābhārata, von JOSEPH DahlMANN, S.1. (Berlin: Verlag von Felix L. Dames.) Les Grandes Com

pagnies Coloniales Anglaises du XIX Siècle, par EDMOND CARTON DE WIART. British North Borneo (1881), Niger Company (1886), British East Africa Company (1888), British South Africa Company (1889). (Libraire Académique, Perrin and Co., Paris.) The Second Afghan War, 1878-80: its Causes, its Conduct, and its Consequences, by COL. H. B. HANNA. Vol. I. (Archibald Constable and Co., Westminster.) Saladin and the Fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, by STANLEY LANE-POole, m.a. (G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London; Heroes of the Nations Series.) China and the Chinese, by EDMUND PLAUCHUT, translated and edited by Mrs. Arthur Bell, with illustrations. (Hurst and Blackett, London.) Lord Clive: The Foundation of British Rule in India, by SIR ALEXANDER JOHN ARBUTHNOT, K.C.S.I., C.I.E. (T. Fisher Unwin, London; Builders of Greater Britain Series.) Asiatic Studies, Religious and Moral, by SIR ALFRED C. LYALL, K.C.B., D.C.L. First and Second Series. (John Murray, London.) The Founding of South Australia, as recorded in the Journals of Mr. Robert Gouger, First Colonial Secretary, edited by EDWIN HODDER. (Sampson Low, Marston and Co., London.) The Excellence of Zoroastrianism (the religion of the Parsis), by ARDESHIR N. BILIMORIA and DINSHAH D. ALPAIVALA. (Parsi Orphanage Captain Printing Works Bombay.) The Letters and Inscriptions of Hammurabi, King of Babylon about B.C. 2200, to which are added a Series of Letters of other Kings of the First Dynasty of Babylon, by L. W. KING, M.A., F.S.A. Vol. I. Vol. I. Introduction and the Babylonian Texts. (Luzac and Co., London; Luzac's Semitic Text and Translation Series. Zoroaster, the Prophet of Ancient Iran, by A. V. WILLIAMS JACKSON. (Macmillan and Co., London and New York, 1899.)

SUMMARY OF EVENTS.

INDIA FRONTIER.-Owing to the peaceful state of affairs on the Chitral frontier, the despatch of reliefs to that place was countermanded. Numerous raids and counter-raids continue to be made by the Turis and their Afghan neighbours at the head of the Kuram Valley.

In consequence of outrages committed by Pathans, notably the murder of Colonel Le Marchant, the Government ordered the disarmament of the Peshawar Division as to pistols and daggers; the disarmament of all transborder Pathans at the frontier, and of all persons, not possessing licenses, in all municipalities and cantonments within the division.

It has been decided that the Khaibar Rifles shall consist of two battalions of 600 men each, eight of the twelve companies being selected from the Pass Afridis, and four from the Shinwari, Adam-Khel, and other tribesmen. The force will be commanded by a British officer.

GENERAL.-A severe type of influenza prevailed at Simla in April and May. The Viceroy, Lady Curzon, and many officials were attacked.

The celebration of the Queen-Empress's birthday was observed in all parts of India. Prayers and thanksgivings were offered in the temples and mosques of all sects and shades of religious opinion.

There is a marked decrease in the plague mortality in the Presidencies of Bombay, Karachi, and Calcutta. A few cases occurred at Madras, but

Bangalore is entirely free.

A strike of native signalmen occurred in May, on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. Inconvenience was occasioned for a time, but the strikers being dismissed, their places were at once filled by new men.

Riots have occurred in the neighbourhood of Travancore, between Maravars and Kullars on the one hand, and Shanars on the other.

NATIVE STATES.-The marriage of the minor Maharajah of Vizianagram with the daughter of Thakur Surajbakhsh Singh, a leading taluqdar of Oude, was celebrated at Kasmanda with great rejoicings.

Great

BURMA. At the end of April the delimitation of the southern section of the Burmo-Chinese frontier was completed to the Salween. progress is being made on the Keng-tung frontier.

The result of the Yun-nan Company's survey operations shows the feasibility of extending the Burma railway to Lu-chan in Szuchuan, a distance of about 1,000 miles from the proposed terminus of the MandalaySalween Railway.

AFGHANISTAN.-The relations between the Amir and the Indian Government continue to be cordial. The latest news reports that the Amir is in his usual health.

TURKEY IN ASIA.-The Mittualis of Tyrus in Palestine have petitioned the Sultan against the systematic administrative injustice under which they suffer. The Mittualis are Shiites, numbering about 100,000 in Palestine and Syria.

The Porte has arranged with the Administration des Phares, to build

and administer on Government account four lighthouses off the Arabian coast in the Red Sea.

The situation in Yemen is worse than at the outbreak of the revolution. Abdullah Pasha, the Turkish commander, was forced to retire, his force having been reduced to 2,000 men from scarcity of food, disease, desertion, and Arab night attacks.

PHILIPPINES.-Hard fighting has occurred between the American forces and the Filipinos. General Otis has declared that peace can only be brought about by the surrender of the insurgents.

SAMOA.-The High Commissioners appointed by the Great Powers to restore tranquillity, arrived at Apia about the middle of May. Considerable success has attended their efforts. Disarmament and disbandment of the natives, the voluntary resignation of the kingship by Malietoa and Tanu, and the concurrent abolition of the kingly office by the Commissioners, have taken place. Outward peace has been restored.

CHINA. An agreement has been concluded between the Governments of Russia and Great Britain in regard to their respective interests in China. It settles the dispute as to the Niu-chwang Railway concession, and provides against mutual interference with each other's enterprises of a similar nature in future. Both Powers agree to uphold the integrity and independence of China.

The Russian demand for a concession for a railway connecting Port Arthur with Peking has caused considerable excitement. The Chinese Government is said to have informed the Russian Minister that it is unable to grant the demand, basing the refusal on a circular of last autumn, in which it was intimated that no more concessions could be granted till the lines already sanctioned were in working order.

On account of an attack by Chinese soldiers on the British in Kaulung, the city was taken possession of on the 16th May by a British force which disarmed the garrison and then returned to Hong Kong, leaving 50 Fusiliers to hold the place. The Chinese made no resistance.

The French Minister has demanded 1,200,000 taels, and mining rights around Chun-kiang, as an indemnity for outrages on French missions in Szu-chuan.

The preliminary contract for the Anglo-German Tien-tsin-Chin-kiang Railway loan was signed on May 18th. The amount is £7,400,000, with interest at 5 per cent.

A British steamer has been attacked by pirates on the West River, and $7,000 of money and property carried off.

JAPAN. The total foreign trade of Japan last year amounted to £45,249,039, of which the imports were £28,304,743, and the exports £16,920,694, being an increase on 1897 of nearly five and a half millions in imports, and quarter of a million in exports.

BRITISH NORTH BORNEO.-Mat Salleh, having raided Tambunan village, killing some inhabitants, and carrying off cattle, the villagers, in revenge, destroyed Mat Salleh's stronghold during his absence.

EGYPT.

The receipts of the Suez Canal Company in 1898 amounted to 87,906,000 francs, which is in excess of any previous year.