The Northern Territory of Australia, though it was the first
part of the continent to be explored by white men, is still scarcely touched by advancing civilization. An Untamed Territory, by Elsie R. Masson (Macmillan and Co., 6s.), gives an excellent idea of life in this remote Colony. Although the Overland Telegraph and other cables now connect the Northern Territory with the rest of Australia, yet it is a fortnight's sea voyage from Sydney. From 1863 to 1907 South Australia was responsible for the administration of the Territory; but it is now attached to the Federal Government of the Common- wealth, with its population of about fifteen hundred Europeans and forty thousand aborigines. The author's accounts of the latter are particularly interesting, and especially a chapter describing a murder trial. This is the way in which the Judge administered the oath to one of the witnesses :- " The Judge said, pointing to the prisoners, 'Now, Ada, you
savvy those blackfolla there P ' Yeas, me savvy.' You see those white gentlemen there I' (motioning towards the jury).
• Yas,s, mo see 'cm.' All right, Ada. Now, you toll those gentle- men all you savvy about those blackfella. And you talk straight fella." Yaas." And loud fella.' Yaas.' " The volume is well illustrated with photographs and maps.
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