The Beginning of Writing. By Walter James Hoffmann, M.D. (Macmillan
and Co.)—This is a volume of the " Anthropological Series " which is in course of publication under the editorial care of Professor Starr of the University of Chicago. Dr. Hoffmann draws most of his illustrations from the North American tribes. Dr. Hoffmann, of whom it is interesting to hear that he began to practise as a physician at twenty, has seen a good deal of Indian life, and he has drawn up an interesting account of his observa- tions of the symbols which this people use. It is quite sur- prising to see how much they are able to communicate. Abun- dance, hunger, departure, pain, all come within the capabilities of picture-writing. Time is represented. A circle signifies " ten," and the number by which it is to be multiplied is repre- sented by so many tents attached to it. A crescent with one stroke beneath it signifies one month. A girl can even accom- plish a love-letter. On the left hand are the tokens of the writer and the recipient (Bear and Mud-puppy). A line is drawn from the latter to two tents, near to which are three crosses (signi- fying three girls who are Catholics) ; from the left hand pro- trudes an arm with the hand towards the end beckoning. This is a curious volume which has evidently been put together with much industry.
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