One of the most interesting chapters of Mr, Werner's very wonderful book deals with "The Origins of the Chinese" and throws a new light on a matter which so far has baffled all attempts in that direction. The reviewer cannot do better than quote what Mr. Werner has to say regarding that particular point Admitting that (2) is supported by acceptable testimony of a western origin, the position would seem to be this:—"China" was, largely at least, A thickly wooded country, inhabited Cly wild animals, with settlements here and. there of aborigines who may have been descendants of tne Cathayslans (who, in turn, may have been either the original stock, or one of the original stocks, of mankind) Or, at any rate, of à Very early type man. "Into this primitive country Comes, from the north-west, through the country to the North of tne Nan Shan ranges, and by the corridor of the Wel Valley in Shensi, a tribe or tribes, already highly civilized, of skilled agriculturists, whose ultimate Origin is yet unknown, They may have originated, as Dr Shirokogoroff and others believe, in what is now West-central China or in north-west Kansu, or they may have been emigrants from one or other of the Temarkably developed civilizations of Blain, Assyria, Babylonia, or. they may have had their origin long before in Central Asia. These questions are for the future to decide.
Mr. Werner's book is only the first of a series and when the whole work is completed it will constitute the most complete and up-to-date scientific work of the kind that has ever been undertaken.
Volume I, which is under review, deals with a brief study of the Chi ese language, a complete survey of the origin of China and of the Chinese, and a thorough study of domes-lie institutions in China, sexual, marital and filial relations. Furthermore, there is a wealth of illustrations,. photographs, maps and diagrams which make of this splendid Work a precious asset for any person interested in China, its population and its ancient civilization—R. d'A.
British Test Pil lots at Work A heavy load of responsibility rests on the shoulders of Britain's test pilots and their mechanics.
In these Service trials the general suitability of every plane is gone into very thoroughly. Armament and engine tests are made and each machine is given, a period of intensive flying during which its stability is put to every possible stress and strain.
The tests are necessarily stringent and, once the aircraft has successfully passed them, a pilot knows that the plane he is flying is as perfect as human skill and care can produce. In the pictures a test pilot is seen looking over his machine (1), entering it (2), choosing Verey lights for signalling (3), and finally making obs vations at 20,000 feet (4).
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.