SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1930.

THE WORLD OF BOOKS.

MAIL REVIEWS.

+

"Hunan History," by G. Elliot Smith; Jonathan Cape, Ltd.:

21/-nett.]

Every reader of anthropology knows the name of Prof: G. Elliot Smith and has followed the deve Jpment of his theory with inter- est. A fresh work from his pen is always an attraction-and thit volume is an exception.

Most of my renders will Femem. ber when "The Evolution of the Dragon" first. appeared, and the scathing review with which it was greeted in one of the current weeklies-the 'Saturday Review it my memory does not play me false,

THE

CHINA MAIL.

cf carpentry, the beginnings of clothing and numerous other sug- gestions in this book are all very interesting but are not so stamp ated with that subtle aroma of cou- of viction which makes further ar.

gument needless,

any

Facts which are useless or un-"cess." To the present writer. workable on their theory.

all events, any explanation civilisation, agriculture, or other of the great discoveries of the World which attributes these to sudden inspiration' or 'happy thought' ought to be viewed with grave suspicion..

But the evidence from antiquity. that rice is of more recent domes- tication than wheat and barley is scarcely convincing. It is mostly of a negative type. It seems to have been well established domestic plant in 2300 B.C. in China. Its early and almost com

AN INTRODUCTORY

man

train

In this book. for instance, great euphasis is Inid. an barley, and The Great Heritage of secondarily on wheat, but parti-

Civilisation.

cularly on barley as the earliest cultivated grain.

Ita suggestive share, its resemblances to the Cowrie shell, and its life-giving

Looking to the Morrow. Properties are pointed out as the Then again, why should Prof. cause of this. But throughout Elliott Smith suppose that this whole book there is no men-should be so inferior. In tion of rice.

power to many classes, of animals.

must

On page 303 he says:-"But it

Natural Man had no thought for not be forgotten that

the morrow. have accurred to him in times of It never seems to

plenty to save food for the lean- er times In the futuro." As many different species and even phyla in the animal kingdom have learned to do this we can not see why it might not have oc- curred to different groups of men. to do it also. And the fact that one or two special peoples' as the Australians did not do it is not. sufficient basis to build upon.

Prof. Elliot Smith seems have decided in his own mind that the domestication of planta wax prior to the domestication of animals, and that both domes- tications were for the utilitarian ends they now serve. Possibly as good a cuse could be made out for the priority of the domestica- tion of animals. It just may ba that the domestication of plants was much Inter.

From the curious fabric of cus. tom and belief which surrounds the domestic plant and the domes- tic animal may we not have some foundation for the belief that neither was so simple a, process,

This volume should not be s hardly treated as its predecessor. For one thing. Prof. Elliot Smith's views are better known, and have gradually gained a much larger circle of adherents. Then, too, if we may say so this book is morn systemable and consistent than

the Evolution of the Dragon... Possibly this is due to the fact that the views themselves have become more crystallised in Prof. Smith's own mind. But more par- ticularly so we think because the earlier problem the whole Dragon problem-is very difficult for an explanative treatment apart from undue hypothesis, owing to colossal ignorance ani the immense hiatus in our know ledge,

our

-

It required unbounded courage to tackle the subject at all.'

There have been severn first class anthropologists who have given their reasons for dissenting from the views of Pruf. Elliot Smith. And they are not to be treated lightly. They will prob- bly have much to say on this work. They have even more te say in eriticism of Prof. Smith's great henchman, Prof. Perry, who, to say the least of it, seems al ways very much inore open criticism that Prof. Smith him

HISTORY by

A. H. CROOK, O.B.E, BA. W. KAY, MA.

W. L. HANDYSIDE, M.A., B.Sc.

PRICE $2.00.

NOW ON SALE AT THE PUBLISHERS

The Newspaper Enterprise Ltd. China Mail Offices.

as we

...

at first. are inclined

to

to

think?

So many of the domestic animals, from the cow to the cat

land untouchable or used as totems and the pig, have been sacred

that it looks as if domestication arose from a different source.

On the whole we have yet to find a more ingenious explanation of plants than that of Mr. Grant of the origin of-the domestication Allen.

Interesting Speculation.

There

plete disappearance in a wild condition seems to imply a very early domestication.

Then, too. the fact that it alone of the cereals belongs to an older and disappearing group of the grassee seems to strengthen this implica tion. -

Domesticating a Grain.. Then how are we to explain the domestic cereal of America? barley was domesticated from its thape and its resemblance to the great source of life, why was it not carried over to America with the Children of the Sun' when civilisation reached that contin- ent? Why should the ornamental figure of an elephant reach it but not the great cereal life-giver? And why in America should they to choose to domesticate n zrain

which had no resemblance in ap speculation in this book, but much is much interesting pearance to the cowrie, shell or

is little more than speculation. the great source of life? The The dissertation on the life giv- grain of maize or Indian corn had ing properties of 'gold and the easainly no mystic value in its origin of its charms is interest- shape or appearance- yet it early ing. became a domestic cereal.

but hardly convincing. Though it has nothing do with There is, too, the question of our argument which the hypothesis seems to another group of the greases, the wondering

wo cannot help require. Adverse critics of Her bamboos.

why Prof. .Elliott They are now prac- Smith speaks both in this book bert Spencer used to say that hetically a domestic plant and they and in the Evolution of the Brst made the theory and then don't seem to favour Africa. But Dragon of the lightness of gold went through the literature and this is too large a question to shells, &c. extracted the facts to suit

Surely his discuss here.

any gold hypothesis. And though we could

model of a cowrie would be much Then, too, ought we not to be heavier than the real thing? not accuse Prof. Perry 'or Prof. rather sceptical about any theory thing that strikes one

The Smith of any such method tte which introduces what has often handling any of the gold orna- most in sometimes fee in reading them been called the happy thought' ments that they have. quite unconscious theory of history. "Agriculture," peoples is their excessive weight of the more primitive ly let the facts which favour says Prof. Elliot Smith, a like this being due to the fact that their theory slip into a promin- "the use of fire the invention the gold has no alloy. ent place in their minds to the "was a sudden inspiration and omission or exclusion of those "not the result of a gradual pro

'selt.

A Personal Feeling. Our own personal, feeling is that the theory is being made to work too smoothly and neatly: the past hus not got this consist-

nor civilisation

the unity

ency,

ROUND THE CAMP FIRE

WHAT MAKES A SCOUT ?

Speaking at Witham recently, Mr. Hubert S. Martin, C.B.E, the International Commissioner, said that although he had been a Scout for 21 years, he did not realise when he took the three-fold pro- mlse, that he was entering such a wonderful movement. He now realised the great brotherhood that had been established, which was going steadily ahead in practically every civilised country.

He was sorry that a considerable proportion of the public were ignorant of what the Scout Move- ment stood for is considered judgments thought the uniform an attraction. One thing only made the Scout; one thing only made this remarkable brotherhood the world over, and that was the Scout" Promise.

VISIT TO GILWELL PARK.

FRUIT PICKING.

The fruits of the work of sixty Indian Scouts who spent the day on the Murree 1,167 pieces of iron and glass-an Road, were average of 55 pieces a mile. The frat pieca picked up was a hobnail this particular good deed was done by the front tyre of their first lorry!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK...

the ladder of success, but you There may be splinters in

don't notice them unless you are sliding down.

The "Old Scout's" Column.

The Chief Scout, Lord Baden- Powell, recently accompanied

If you have not party of Oversca visitors around Scout Books, read the Chief Gilwell Park, the Scoutmasters

Scout's book, Training Centre in Epping Forest."Scouting for Boys," no matter The party consisted of Lord how old you are, it is your duty to Clarendon, Governor-General and yourself to get hold of a copy Chief Scout (designate) for South straight away. Better still, buy Africa; Sir Herbert J. Stanley, one. If you have read it, do so Gregor and chter, Scots for again, and then again, for each Ceylon Sir J. Talbot Hobbs, Pre- time you read it something new sident of the Boy Scouts In Western will impress itself upon you A Australia, Mr. B. Levy, Member copy can be obtained for 24 68

of the Scout Council, Western, For a young Scout ust/foining

stralia AMD. Edington,

dan Cubmuster TH

the movement 1 think Roland Phillips's books Letters to

Sumer, Crete, and Grecco, the origin and affinities of their peoples and civilisations Are all so much in evidence now, and the theories about them still in the melting pot that this volume has unique interest and attraction: No anthropologist "can afford to miss it.

UNCLAIMED TELEGRAMS.

THE EASTERN EXTENSION AUSTRALASIA & CHINA

TELEGRAPH CO.,LTD...

WATER RETURN

The level and storage of water in our reservoirs on August 1 is as under:-

City and Hill District,

1920

Lt.

1930 L.

L.

I..

57′0′′D

L..

2' 1"B

0' 5"B

L.

1" "B

0'10"B

Tytam

Tytam Byowash Tytam Intermediate 710"B Tytam Tuk Wong Noi Chung Pokfulum

[Noto: B. denotes "Below ' Over- flow": A. denotes "Above Overflow": L denotes. "Levol with Overflow./JE

Storage in millions and

of gallons.

13

THE

HONG KONG

PENINSULA HOTEL:

HONG KONG HOTEL: REPULSE BAY HOTEL

PEAK HOTEL

AND

SHANGHAI

ASTOR HOUSE: PALACE HOTEL

HOTELS,

LIMITED

In association with the Grand Hotel des Wagons Lits, Peking.

1929 1930 Tythm

38-1,80 384.80 Tytam Byewash.. 24.37 22.37

Tytam Intermediate 151.42 105.90 383.00 1,345.08

20.81 28.34

Under European. Management.

Tel. 57957.

The following unclaimed tele- rams are lying at the E.E.-Tele--Tytata Tak................ graph Co. Office, Hong Kong:- Wong Nei Chung

Phyllis, 15, Kennedy Road, from Pokfutum Shanghal.

Referendis, from New York, Henry J. Sorice, care of as. Pre- sident Van Buren, Dollar Line,

from Jamaica, N.Y.

Souchintra, from Los Angeles.

S. LACK,

66.00 $4.16

Total

1,010,40 2,040.85 Consumption of water in the City and Hill District in millions and de elmals of gallons during the month of July.

1929

1930 Consumption

124.19 389.37"

3

Superintendent.Estimated population 434,280 444,600 Consumption per

Hong Kong, August 7, 1950.

THE GREAT NORTHERN TELEGRAPH CO., LTD.,

OF DENMARK.

head per day.. 9.2

Inéludes 02.51 million

28.2 gallons from Mainland.

Supply by Street Fountains Only During the Whole Month. July, 1929-On July 1, the hours supply were 5-8 a.m. and 0-8.30 Dr. (Park District 4 hours daily). From 2nd-22nd inclusive the hours of supply were 6-8 am. and p. (Feak District 3 hours daily). From 23rd-21st inclusive the hours of supply in the City and High Level Districts were 6 a.m. p.m. Tank Supplies were suspended on July 30,

The following unclaimed tele-of grams are lying at the office of the Great Northern Telegraph Company (Limited) of Den- mark:-

Unimant, from New York. Dairy Lyman,

Farm, Shanghai,

from

E. V. JESSEN,

Superintendent Hong Kong, August 6, 1930:

STANDARD TIMES

SUNRISE AND SUNSET IN COLONY.

Kowloon.

1929 Kowloon Reservoir '0'11"B

Shok Lal Pul

1930

LL.

Reservoir

20' 5"B Reception Reservoir L.

Storage in millions and decimals of gallons.

1929 1930 Kowloon Reservoir 342.97 352.50 Shek Lai Pui

Reservoir

46.55

116.10 13.15

L

L.

33.15

Sunrise and Sunset to Hong of the 120th Moridian, East of Kong for August (Standard time Reception Reservoir Greenwich) are as follow:-

Sunrise Sunset.

6.TO. p.m.

Total

422.87 301.75

Consumption of water in Kowloon

in millions and decimals of gallons during the month of July.

head per day .. 17.5

July, 1920-From 1st-16th inclu- sive the dally supply in all districts was am-6 p.m. From 17th-31st inclusive a constant supply operated in all districts, Constant supply in all districts during July, 1930.

WAS

August

9

5.58 7.00

1929

1930

10

5.68 6.59

Consumption

98.20

139.00

11

6.68 6.69

Estimated population 171,160

12

5.59 6.58

Consumption per

19

6,59 6.67

178,200

25.4

14

5.59 6.56

15.

6.00 6.55

16

6.00 6.54

17

6.01 6.51

18

6.01 6.53

19

6.02 6.52

20

6.02 6.52

21

602 6.51

22

6.03 6.50

29

G.03. 8.49

24

6.03 6.48

25

6.03 6.47

26

6.04 6.46

27.

6.04 6.45

28

6.04 6.44

start of house-building, the origin The origin of irrigation, the

90

81

6.04 6.49 6.05 6.43 6.05 6.48

Patrol Leader on the Scout Lawa" and "The Tenderfoot and Second Class Tests," are ideal. These books cost only 8d. each.

For the more, advanced Scout, "Letters to a Patrol Leader on the First Class Tests," by Stanley E. Ince, is full of extremely useful Information. There is nothing at all dry about these books; in fact, they are so excellent that I earnest ly recommend them to any Soout whether he be a Tenderfoot, Patrol Leader or Scout Master.

***

For

the

PL For The P.L. "Points for Patrol " Leaders" (8d.) may prove useful. System" (Bd.) and "Diaciplino in "The Patrol the Scout Movement" (4d.) should be handy to the older leaders "Tests and How to Fase Them" gives good information on the Tenderfoot, second-class and first- class, but because of its valuable information on the proficiency. badges It ought to find a place on the bookshelf.

Every Scout should know some thing of the Chief Scout's life, but books cost money, and money is not always easy to find. However, there is an excellent little publica tion sold by many Sydney shops, and it only costs 72d. It is en- titled, The Chief Scout," and is wall worth getting.

The only articles required to make this chronometer are a piece of atring and a weight. A lend sinker or an iron nut will do for the weight. Attach the weight to the string, and at the other end of the string make a loop. When the loop is hurg on a nail the length from the top of loop to the bottom of the weight must be exactly 9.4-5 inches. To use this device you merely hang the loop on the nail and swing the weight.

A swing forward and back will take one second. A awing from left to right or vice versa will tako half a second. It does not matter whether the weight travels one long as the length is exactly 945 foot or one inch at each.swing, as inches, it will be strictly accurate.

*

The Government Analyst's reports ahow that the quality of the water is satisfactory.

Total rainfall: July 31, 1920, 37.08; July 31, 1930, 60,44,

Jaly, 1980. Constant Supply dur ing the whole month to districts North of Queen's Road between Mur- ray Road and. Eastern Street. 16 hours' supply (5 am-9pm.) to all other districts from 1st-23rd July inclusive.

Constant Supply throughout the City, Hill and High Level Districts from 24th-31st July inclusive.

"roughing "It was the art of living a comfortable, happy; well. fed life and a useful life wherever a Scout might find himself and whatever his circumstances.

By training themselves in Scout ing, boys are living up to their motto "Be Prepared." They are taught to make the most of their opportunities and to enjoy life to the full.

Happiness, as the Chief Scout says, la not what you get out of life, but is what you put into it, so that this is the reason of a Scout having to do at least "one good turn a day."

"I THINK I CAN."

A few days ago I Pathfinder's was talking to a

The Newcastle-upon-Tyne Boy Stunt. friend-a

Scout Scouts Association issued a novel from a neighbour certificate to successful exhibitors ing troop. In the course of our in their recent Arts

and Crafts conversation be told me the follow... Exhibition. ing game. It is called "The Path-

heading contained, the finder's Stunt," and is played at words "Can I?" " think I can. right time..

A Scout called the hare sets out with a flash lamp. The hare, at the end of 10 minutes, climbs a tree or a wall, or something that must be visible to the remainder of at the A Scouts. (These are the The books I have mentioned all hounds) From his elevated. posi form part of my Scout Library, tion the hare has to wave the light. and therefore I am in authority to for a minute. At this signal the comment on them. However, I hounds set out to try and find the would stress this point: Each spot where the hare was book is a branch of Scouting for After waving the boys and written by brother Scouts goes on for a while,

the Hare, who have had more experience free and waves the than you, who know what the dre talking about, and when their

thejob

vice to you is to read Scouting

catch the fare before he gets back Boys" there must be somethi

to the starting point. worth while in it that cannot be lightly disregarded

Scouting, a lot of Roughing It! parents bellevé, yida teaching à boy how to "rough its so they prevent

in the life of a Scout' their sons, from joining the Boy

There are many times

chronometer would be found very

Brouts MEN

Scouting, as Baden-Powell, prac- tised it and taught it, w

-The

"I thought I could!" Thess. wore illustrated by sketchéa of Scouts in appropriate stages of model making

The certificate itself was to the effect that the possessor. “DID SUCCEED with his exhibit."

SOLUTION

CROW

AIRLIE HOTEL 23.25, NATHAN ROAD,

KOWLOON.

Three Minutes From Ferry, EXCELLENT CUISINE— MODERN APARTMENTS. TERMS MODERATE.

TYPHOON

MAP

OF THE

CHINA SEA

Cable Address: "AIRLIR"

The Landsman's Handy Guide to Locating the Centre of a TYPHOON"

Price 40 Cents.

NOW ON SALE AT THE PUBLISHERS

THE NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISE LTD.

China Mail Office, 3A, Wyndham Street.

DAILY CROSS-WORD PUZZLE.

(This cross-word puzzle has been made by an expert but our readers are warned to look out for ocecsional phonetic spellings, such as harbor, plow, and altho.)

13

10 13

12.

15

19

23

25 26

16

29

30

33

34 35

36

37

38

41

142

43

46

48

49

HORIZONTAL »

HORIZONTAL (Cont.){ (4-A÷farge body of men 35-3&B

Pats 7-Youth 9-island in infand-

water 10-Harvestor 18-Add 15-A nocturnal flying

mammat 16–The Scandinavian

people 18-Feminina'níma: 19-Fahrle having s

corded surfano. 21-A tras -22-Llable

23-Thin, narrow strip *gn of wood

25-Not concerted"; 27-Arabia (abbr.). ‚28-A éɔllège degree, (9) (ablars), a

29-The dye Indigo

31-A genus of herbs,

eylaiding an edible

$4-Feminina name 30-Deface:</

38-Assist

39-Palo

41-Female deer 43-8conte 43-That which erodes

or wastes 47-Born (Pronah) 48-Prefix-throa 40-Prefix-before. 80-Paradise.

VERTICAL

1-Green fadder for

Onitie

VERTICAL (Cont.) 12-Part of a plant 13-Entreate 14–Masculine name

(short):

17-Egyption sunged. 20-To set in the ground

for growth

22-A back for holding,

photographa 24-Arizona (ibbr.). 20-Propeller

29-Engor

30-Qiri...

31-In 'new way 32-Capital of Spain.

35-Goal

Pa

38-New Hampshire.

2-Piccon of split rock: 37-Fish eggs S-Strike gentlyby

4A plunge

B-Time (Munlo):

6-Latera

(38-A continent GA85-Boverage play

40 Luca falle TV

A 42-Ireland (Poot.)

Balfe Shelteredäldo

Monkey

11-Organ of hearing

48–Matrio land here-

urea

The solution of the above cross-word puzzle will appear in

stonday's fazer along with a new cross-word puzzle.):

Share This Page