of interest changes and fastens upon the hardships of this little band of almost naked men in their weary marches through the tropical jungle. Without shelter from the tropical rains, with no food but occasional game and wild fruits, with fever-racked and emaciated bodies, and with discontent and mutiny among them, they dragged their way, aided by the remaining small canoe, 200 miles through the forest toward the out- skirts of civilization. Twenty-six days can seem a lifetime and proved to all but six of the party of fourteen their closing days.
But it would be a mistake if I were to give the idea that the book is a gloomy account of hardships. On the contrary, it is full of a sparkle of inci- dent and vividness of description that makes it stand out from the common- place of ordinary works of travel and worthy of a place on the same shelf of honor of a naturalist's library with Darwin's and Humboldt's travels, Wallace's " Malay Archipelago," and Belt's "Naturalist in Nicaragua."
David Fairchild,
Agricultural Explorer.
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898
IT is strange that Messrs Arthur H. Clark Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, have not received better support for their magnificent series of volumes on the Philippine Islands. The history of the islands during the first three centuries after their discovery is buried in letters and manuscripts which were inaccessi- ble until the Clark Co. began their pub- lication under the editorship of Miss Blair and Mr Robertson. As to under- stand the Filipinos we must understand their complex past, the publication is patriotic as well as enterprising in plan. The publishers have issued the follow- ing statement :
"The support accorded our publication, ' The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898,' has been so inadequate that we are facing a serious financial loss upon it. We have issued the
work faithfully from month to month, and ex- pect to complete it and fulfill our obligation to those who have supported it, even at a loss to ourselves. Thus far less than 100 sets have been placed in this country, although a larger number have been placed in the important libraries of Europe, India, Australia, the Far East, and the Philippines. Of the sets in this country nearly all are in public institutions ; the remainder are in large private collections, which are not likely to come into the market for many years, if ever.
" With much regret we are now compelled to limit the edition to the number of sets act- ually ordered. Beginning with volume 22, to be published February 1, 1905, only enough of each volume will be printed to fill orders re- ceived before that date Of the volumes al- ready issued the excess above the subscribed number will then be destroyed, and the work will never be reprinted.
" The series is the only work making these sources available in any language, and its use- fulness and importance to public men, stu- dents, and in large private libraries must in- crease from year to year, particularly when the current volumes cover more recent years and when the index volumes make the sources moie easily available.
" Our interest in the islands must grow greater year by year because of the complex oriental problem, the conflicting claims of other nations in the Far East, the Chinese problem and race question, both in the South and Far East, the educational and religious situation, the failure of Philippine tariff sys- tems of the last four centuries, the comparison of Spanish, British, and American colonial policies, etc.
" This set furnishes the final sources indis- pensable for a proper understanding of these problems. Few subjects are discussed so widely, yet so ignorantly, as matters relating to the Philippines.
" Only seven sets exist outside of public in- stitutions, and all free sets for review must be discontinued."
BOOKS RECEIVED
Along the Nile with General Grant.
By Elbert E. Farman. Pp. 339. 8^x5^ inches. New York : The Grafton Press. 1904. Out of the Northland. By Emilie Kip Baker. Pp. 165. 5^ x % inches. Mew York : The Macmillan Com- pany. 1904. 25 cents.
Select List of Books Relating to the Far East* Compiled under the direction of Appleton Prentiss Clark Griffin.
