[Book Reviews]

Abstract

HERR SCHMIDT'S book is a plain, straightforward narrative of a tour through Southern India, in the course of which he visited Madras, Travancore, made an excursion to Cape Comorin, proceeded by Trivandrum to Cochin, and thence by Coimbatore to the Anamalay Hills, going afterwards to the Nilgiris, and finishing at Calicut. The object of the journey was mainly to study the native peoples, and numerous ethnological photographs give a certain value to the book. There is, however, nothing new in the way of an important contribution to science in the work, which is most interesting as showing the impressions produced on an intelligent and observant German by a visit to Southern India. The style is lively, but perfectly serious, and cannot fail to be of much value in Germany, where it appears few books have been published dealing with the lighter aspects of Indian life. It is pleasant to note that Herr Schmidt found the English officials and planters everywhere very hospitable and cordial, ready to assist him in his inquiries as to the people, and able to give him much valuable information on the subjects which he was studying.

Reise nach Südindien.

Von Emil Schmidt. Mit 39 Abbildungen im Text. (Leipzig: Wilhelm Engelmann, 1894.)