A Historical Geography of the British Colonies. Vols. III. and
IV., "South and East Africa." By C. P. Lucas. (Clarendon Press.)— Mr. Lucas's two volumes dealing with the history and geography of British South and East Africa aie full of useful and inter- esting information. Mr. Lucas knows his subject thoroughly, and he has the power to impart it in a simple and scholarly manner. His account of how Cape Colony came into our possession is most curious. People sometimes speak as if we stole it from the Dutch. As a matter of fact we paid them ..£6,000,000 sterling for it and British Guiana. Considering that we already had possession by right of conquest, and considering also the prices usually paid for such concessions—for example, America's purchase of the French colonies on the Mississippi—it cannot be said that we showed any very mean or grasping spirit in the transaction. Space does not allow us to say more, but readers may be safely referred to Mr. Lucas's book. It will well repay perusal.
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