The Constitution and Laws of Afghanistan, by MIR MUNSHI SULTAN MOHAMMED KHAN, F.R.G.S., Barrister-at-Law, Advanced Student of Christ's College, Cambridge (John Murray, London, 1900). This work is a collection of the laws, both private and constitutional, of Afghanistan, with the view of affording an opportunity of comparing the modern laws of European countries with the immature laws of Afghanistan. The present Amir is the first who has endeavoured to bring order out of chaos, and to put the law of his country into a uniform mould, with the view of enforc ing the same throughout the country. The present work is the first attempt to place these laws and constitution in the English language, and this is done in a clear and distinct manner.

Koang-sin et Tse-hi, Empereur de Chine et Impératrice-Douairière. Décrets Impériaux. Par JEROME TOBAR, S.J. ("Serie d'Orient"-No. 4) (Oriental Press, Shanghai). This is a French translation of Imperial decrees from June 10, 1898, to February 24, 1899, and its value consists in its being a trustworthy history, or chronicle, of the coup d'état period which has now culminated in a great war. The pamphlet is enriched by a preface and explanatory notes by J. Em. Lemière, editor of the Shanghai Echo de Chine. Father Tobar has shown great foresight in preparing this volume, which, like all Jesuit work, is of a very thoroughgoing kind.

Natal and the Boers: the Birth of a Colony, by T. ROWELL (J. M. Dent and Co., Bedford Street, London, 1900). This is a short history of Natal, derived partly by two years' residence in Natal and the Transvaal, and partly from the well-known histories of Theal and Bird, and other sources. It does not enter upon the question of the present war, but narrates briefly the history of Natal from its discovery down to the time when the war began. The author's descriptions of the scenes which he himself witnessed are well told. His short history will be read with interest.

British Enactments in Force in Native States in India (published at the office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, 1900). These valuable publications have been carefully revised. The volumes before us, relating to Central India, Southern India (Hyderabad), and Rajputana, have been compiled by J. M. MACPHERSON, Secretary to the Legislative Department of the Government of India, and revised and con tinued by A. WILLIAMS, LL.M., I.C.S. The volume relating to Central India has been brought up to August 1, 1899; that relating to Rajputana to August 15, 1899; and that relating to Southern India to October 15, 1899.

China: Correspondence Respecting the Insurrectionary Movement in China, No. 3, 1900. This important correspondence has been published by Parliament. It begins with a telegraphic message from Sir Claude Macdonald, dated January 4 last, in reference to the murder of Mr. Brooks in Shantung Province, and ends with a telegraphic translation, on July 13, of the Imperial Edict of June 29 respecting the situation, and orders given for the protection of Legations.

We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following: The Bombay Plague; being a History of the Progress of Plague in the Bombay Presidency from September, 1896, to June, 1899, compiled under the orders of Government by Captain J. K. Condon, I.S.c. (Bombay, Education Society's Steam Press, 1900);-Report on the Administration of the Local Boards in the Bombay Presidency, including Sind, for the year 1898-99, also Proceedings of the Council of the Governor of Bombay assembled for the purpose of making Laws and Regulations, 1898, vol. xxxvi. (Bombay, Government Central Press, 1900);—Archæological Survey of India; Lists of Antiquarian Remains in His Highness the Nizam's Territories, compiled by Henry Cousins, M. R.A. S., Superintendent Archæological Survey, Bombay (Calcutta, Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India, 1900);— Notes on the Law of Territorial Expansion; with Especial Reference to the Philippines, by Carman F. Randolph, of the New York Bar (the De Vinne Press, New York City);— The South African Crisis, by Professor A. Kuyper, D.D., LL.D., reprinted from the Revue des Deux Mondes, for February, 1900, translated and prefaced by A. E. Fletcher, first English edition (London, Stop the War Committee, 4, Clock House, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C.); -Cambridge University Library: Report on the Library Syndicate for the year ending December 31, 1899 (Cambridge, printed at the University Press, 1900);-Some Questions on the Settlement in South Africa, by the Right Rev. Allan B. Webb, D.D., sometime Bishop of Bloemfontein, and lately Bishop of Grahamstown (London, Skeffington and Son, Piccadilly, W., 1900);Journal of the Buddhist Text and Anthropological Society, edited by Sarat Chandra Das, C.I.E., vol. vii., Part I., 1900 (Darjeeling, Bengal Secretariat Press; London, Messrs. Kegan Paul and Co., Messrs. Luzac and Co.; published by the Buddhist Text Society, Calcutta) ;The Journal of the Anthropological Society of Bombay, vol. v., No. 2 (Bombay, Education Society's Press, Byculla; London, Kegan Paul and Co.) ;-La Cina e la questione dell estremo Oriente, due conferenze tenute, richiesta dell Associazione Nazionale Italiana degli Scienzati, Litterati ed artisti in Napoli il 22 e 29 luglio, 1900 (Edizione della Rassegna Italiana, Napoli, 1900);-George Newnes, Limited: The Captain for July, August, September-The Wide World Magazine for July, August, September-The Sunday Strand Magazine for July, August, September - The Strand Magazine for July, August, September-The Traveller-Khaki in South Africa, Parts 2, 3, 4-Unbeaten Tracts in Japan, by Mrs. Bishop, Parts 7 and 8 (now completed)—The Arabian Nights, Part 20 (now completed); -The Indian Review for June, July, August (G. A. Natesan and Co., Madras; The Argosy for July, August, and September ;-La Revue des Revues (Paris); — Minerva, Rivista delle Riviste (Rome); — Biblia, a monthly journal of Oriental research (Meriden, Conn., U.S.A.) ;-The Contemporary Review (London, the Columbus Co., Ltd.) ;-The Indian Magazine and Review (London, Archibald Constable and Co.);-Le Tour du Monde (Hachette, London and Paris);-Questions Diplomatiques et Coloniales, July-September (Paris);-Le Bulletin des Sommaires, Revue de la Presse (Paris);—Public Opinion, the American weekly (New York); -The Living Age (Boston, U.S.A.);-The Monist (the Open Court THIRD SERIES. VOL. X.

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Publishing Company, Chicago, U.S.A., and Kegan Paul and Co., London);-Current Literature (New York, U.S.A.);-The Canadian Gazette (London);-The Harvest Field (Foreign Missions Club, London); —Die Kultur (Vienna and Stuttgart);—Journal of the Royal Colonial Institute (the Institute, Northumberland Avenue, London);-Palestine Exploration Fund Quarterly Statement, July, 1900 (London, 38, Conduit Street, W.);-The Light of Truth, or Siddhanta Deepika, June, July, August, 1900 (Black Town, Madras) ;-The Madras Review, August, 1900 (Madras);—The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures (continuing "Hebraica "). July, 1900 (University of Chicago Press);Mittheilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien, vol. xxx., Part 3 (Alfred Hölder, Vienna);The North American Review, July, August, September (New York); -The National Magazine (Babu K. P. Dey, Calcutta); Canadian Journal of Fabrics (Toronto and Montreal);Catalogue of the Library of the India Office, vol. ii., Part II. Hindustani Books, by J. F. Blumhardt, M.A. (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1900).

For want of space we are obliged to postpone reviews of the following important works till our next issue: European Settlements in the Far East -China, Japan, Corea, Indo-China, Straits Settlements, Malay States, Siam, Netherlands, India, Borneo, the Philippines, etc., also The Remarkable History of the Hudson's Bay Company, including that of the French Traders of North-Western Canada and of the North-West X. Y. and Astor Fur Companies, by George Bryce, M.A., LL.D (London, Sampson Low, Marston and Co., Ltd., 1900);—British America (London, Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner and Co., Ltd., 1900);- South Africa; its History, Heroes, and Wars, in four books, by Professor W. Douglas Mackenzie, assisted by Alfred Stead (London, Horace Marshall and Son, and the Monarch Book Company, Chicago and Philadelphia);-Personal Narrative of Occurrences during Lord Elgin's Second Embassy to China in 1860, by the late Henry Brougham Loch (Lord Loch), third edition, also Leading Points in South African History, 1486 to March 30, 1900, arranged chronologically, with date-index, by Edwin A. Pratt (London, John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1900);-The Story of the Australian Bushrangers, by George E. Boxail (London, Swan Sonnenschein and Co., Ltd., 1899);-Sir Stamford Raffles, England in the Far East, by Hugh Edward Egerton, M.A. (London, T. Fisher Unwin, 1900);-The Practical Study of Languages, a Guide for Teachers and Learners, by Henry Sweet, M.A., PH.D., LL.D. (London, J. M. Dent and Co., 1899);-Four Months Besieged, the Story of Ladysmith; being Unpublished Letters from H. H. S. Pearse, the "Daily News" Special Correspondent (London, Macmillan and Co., Ltd., New York, the Macmillan Company, 1900);-China, the Long-lived Empire, by Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore (New York, the Century Company, 1900);-A History of Ottoman Poetry, by E. J. W. Gibb, M.R.A.S., vol. i. (Luzac and Co., 1900).

SUMMARY OF EVENTS.

INDIA: GENERAL.-Cholera still prevails in Ahmadābād, Karachi, Kashmir, Panjab, and many of the cantonments.

The plague seems to be increasing; over 1,000 deaths occurred in the first week of September. The places most affected are Calcutta, Bombay, and the Central Provinces.

Rain has been general all over the country, and the prospects of the crops have greatly improved, whilst the famine areas have been benefited generally.

On July 17 the total numbers receiving famine relief were 6,148,000. A steady decrease continues, and on September 17 the following totals were registered: Bombay, 1,132,000; Panjab, 36,000; Central Provinces, 1,756,000; Berar, 189,000; Ajmir Merwara, 54,000; Rajputana States, II1,000; Central India States, 60,000; Bombay Native States, 142,000; Baroda, 53,000; North-West Provinces, 1,000; Panjab Native States, 20,000; Central Provinces Feudatory States, 34,000; Haidarābād, 279,000; Madras, 4,000; Bengal, 13,000; total, 3,884,000.

The officers and men of the Imperial Service Corps have rendered valuable services in connection with the famine and carrying out relief measures, notably those of Bikanir, Jaipur, Alwar, Jhind, and Nabha.

The wheat crop this year has been estimated at 4,890,596 tons, against 6,339,603 tons last year.

The opium revenue, which made a good show in the last Budget, promises equally well for the next.

INDIA FRONTIER.-It is reported that a meeting of Afridi chiefs has been held to decide their action in regard to railways through their country, and it was decided that the railway must be allowed to be constructed to Jamrud.

A raid has been made by a band of Afridis on the Jamrud road, and some tools carried off.

Two local corps have been organized to ultimately replace British troops in WAZIRISTAN. Each consists of 800 men, and is known as the Northern and Southern Waziristan Militia. The former will be commanded by Captain Ferguson Davie, of the Tochi Levies, and the latter by Major Harman, 3rd Sikhs.

Lieutenant-Colonel Muhammad Aslām Khān, C.I.E., late Commandant of the Khaibar Rifles, has been granted a special pension of Rs. 400 a month, in addition to his ordinary pension, by the Secretary of State in recognition of his exceptionally meritorious services on the North-West frontier.

INDIA: NATIVE STATES.-The Government having recognised the succession of Rao Raja Sawant Singh, the second son of H.H. the Maharaja of Orcha, and adopted son of the late Maharaja Bhan Partab Singh, of the Bijawar State, the installation ceremony was carried out at Bijawar on June 28 by Captain Pritchard, the Political Agent.

An application from the Maharaja of Patiala for the services of a financial adviser as a temporary measure is under the consideration of the Government. His Highness has commenced carrying out such reforms as seemed to him necessary for his State.

The Government has been compelled to remove the Maharaja of Bharatpur from power. He will, however, continue to reside in the State under surveillance, receiving a suitable allowance. His infant son will succeed as Maharaja. The Diwan, as heretofore, will administer the State.

The young Prince of Bhurtpur has been installed on the gadi.

An agreement has been made between the Gaekwar of Baroda and the British Government, under which the native currency of the Baroda State will be gradually changed into British India currency.

His Highness the Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior has fitted up a hospital ship for the use of the Indian troops in China. Colonel A. M. Crofts, I.M.S., is in charge.

His Highness the Maharaja of Jaipur, who has endowed the Indian People's Famine Trust with 15 lacs, has decided to increase his generous gift thus: The present price of Government paper being between Rs. 94 and Rs. 95, His Highness has directed the purchase of promissory notes of the face value of 16 lacs. This will form the endowment of the fund. The marriage of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore took place in June last.

Mr. Thumbo Chetty, senior counsellor to the Maharani Regent, has been appointed to act as Diwan of Mysore during the absence on sick leave of Sir Seshadri Iyer.

The Maharaja of Kapurthala has offered to the Panjab Government the use of his troops for service in China.

The Jodhpur Lancers, commanded by Major Turner, with Sir Partab Singh and staff, embarked at Calcutta for China on August 25.

The Maharaja of Bikanir has been granted the honorary rank of Major in the British Army. He will be attached to a Bengal Cavalry regiment. The Raja of Nabha has given Rs. 10,000 to the Transvaal War Fund in honour of Lord Roberts' occupation of Pretoria.

CEYLON. The total export of tea from January 1 to June 12 this year was, to the United Kingdom, 50,362,473 lb., against 42,671,212 lb. during the same period last year; to all other countries, 14,082,747 lb., against 10,273,436 lb. during the same period in 1899.

The revenue for the first six months of the current year amounted to Rs. 13,119,96110, as against Rs. 12,015,61144 in the corresponding period of last year.

The mortality from rinderpest, notably in the Kalutara, Negombo, Ruanwella, and Dehiowita districts, is very great. It is hoped that inoculation will result in the stamping out of this terrible cattle scourge.

BALUCHISTAN.—The trade by the Nushki route to Persia in April, 1898, was valued at Rs. 31,000 only. In 1899 it was Rs. 38,000, and in April last was estimated at Rs. 218,000.

PERSIA, H.I.M. the Shah has much benefited by his stay at Contrexé