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Abstract

THIS little work forms the fifty-seventh volume of “Das Wissen der Gegenwart,” a scientific series which has already done so much for the spread of useful and accurate information amongst the Germanic populations. The author, himself personally acquainted with some of the localities here described, gives as clear and comprehensive an account of the various insular groups in the Indian Ocean as was possible within the available space of 150 pages. Of this space over two-thirds are devoted to Madagascar, whose physical constitution, natural history, ethnology, and political relations are treated with great ability. The best authorities, such as Gran-didier, Shaw, Richardson. Sibree, and Hildebrandt, have been carefully consulted, and room has even been found for the discussion of such controversial questions as the existence of Sclater's vanished Lemuria, the origin of the Malagasy people, the affinities of their language, the presence in the island of the Vazimba and other aboriginal non-Malayan and Negrito tribes. Dr. Hartmann is inclined to accept the statements made by Commerson and Modave regarding the woolly-haired and dwarfish Kimo people of the southern districts, and suggests possible affinities either with the South African Bushmen or the Andamanese and Aeta Negritos of the Philippine Islands. The Malagasy he regards as essentially a mixed race, Polynesian, Malay, and African (especially Galla and Somali) elements being found diversely intermingled amongst the Hovas, Sakalavas, Betsimisaracas, and other native communities. The Comoros, Seychelles, and Mascarenhas (Mauritius, Réunion, and Rodriguez) archipelagoes are treated with equal thoroughness, and the work is provided with a map of the Indian Ocean, an index, and numerous well-executed woodcuts.

Madagaskar, und die Inseln Seychellen, Aldabra, Komoren, und Maskarenen.

By Prof. Dr. R. Hartmann. (Leipzig and Prague, 1886).